Spring Break Weekend!
Posted in Around the Garden on April 6 2012, by Matt Newman
Cherry blossoms and Easter pastels make for a fair combination, don’t you think? The calendar’s once again rolled into a holiday weekend at The New York Botanical Garden, which just happens to fall in line with the start of spring break for the schoolyard set. That makes for a rare opportunity: a Monday opening! This weather is too marvelous for the kids to sit at home.
The Orchid Show is, of course, the belle of the ball right now, but our 250 acres are making a strong showing as new plants and trees burst into their spring finery with each passing day. Walk among the fields of daffodils and tulips, admire the hellebores, or peek in on the early azaleas–and don’t forget the brilliant cherry and plum blossoms brightening trees throughout the Garden.
Oh, and Saturday marks the yearly reopening of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden! It’s a chance for kids and their parents to get in on the annual renewal of one of our favorite cozy spots. Everyone’s welcome to join us for sowing seeds, laying compost, and doing a little digging to ensure the Family Garden kicks off its new year on the right foot. At the very least, this gives you the chance to point your little ones’ ceaseless energy toward something constructive (rather than terrorizing your very last nerve).
Here’s what’s up this weekend and going into next week’s school break.
Saturday, April 7
Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Search for the many songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and other avian creatures that call the NYBG home. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our seasoned bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those migrating through. With the owls out and about, and a growing family of Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing. Be sure to have a look at some of the NYBG birding classes outlined by Joyce Newman in her hawk update.
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
French Cabaret – 12 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Expanding on the French roots of The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens, the final four weekends of the exhibition will feature French Cabaret. Popular singer Cate Cox returns to the Garden with a sultry style that evokes the nightclub performances of a bygone Paris, and perfectly complements the elegance and sophistication of this year’s orchid extravaganza.
History and Mystery of Orchids: Film Screening — Vanilla: The Sacred Orchid — 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Learn the intriguing life process—from flower to pantry—of the world’s favorite flavor. This scenic film examines the full-year cycle of this spice from Veracruz, Mexico. The orchid is still cultivated by the same indigenous people who have been growing it for centuries. The film is directed by Curtis Craven and runs 27 minutes.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Easy Orchids – 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a discussion of some of the easiest orchids to grow at home. Learn basic maintenance routines that will enable your orchids to thrive and flower for years.
Orchid Evening – 6:30 to 9 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Enjoy a signature cocktail while viewing the Orchid Show and its thousands of spectacular flowers. Elegant beauty and the excitement of live DJs combine to create one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. Your Orchid Evenings ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special offers from our outstanding partners, including some of New York’s best restaurants. Shop in the Garden will be open throughout the evening, offering a variety of exotic orchids, so you can take home a piece of the magic!
Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over) Includes one complimentary cocktail. Advance tickets recommended. Choice of 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. entrance times.
Support provided by: Dylan’s Candy Bar
Sunday, April 8 – EASTER SUNDAY
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
French Cabaret – 12 & 3 p.m.
Expanding on the French roots of The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens, the final four weekends of the exhibition will feature French Cabaret. Popular singer Cate Cox returns to the Garden with a sultry style that evokes the nightclub performances of a bygone Paris, and perfectly complements the elegance and sophistication of this year’s orchid extravaganza.
History and Mystery of Orchids: Taming Enticing Epiphytes from Exotic Locales – 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Many of the most popular orchids are epiphytes, plants that grow on other plants. Ellen Zachos, author and certified commercial horticulturist from the Botanical Garden, will discuss the intrepid explorers who first carried these tropical beauties out of the rain forests, and how to grow epiphytic orchids in your home. Many make excellent, low maintenance houseplants that simply require a little specialized care.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Easy Orchids – 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a discussion of some of the easiest orchids to grow at home. Learn basic maintenance routines that will enable your orchids to thrive and flower for years.
Monday, April 9
Orchid Talks – 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Meet in the Palms of the World Gallery in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Before entering The Orchid Show, get an introduction to the biology of orchids in a brief, informal presentation by a Garden docent.
Tour of The Orchid Show – 3 p.m.
Meet in the Palms of the World Gallery in the Conservatory
Tour The Orchid Show with an expert volunteer guide who provides in-depth looks at rare and extraordinary orchid specimens.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Outdoor Nature Explorations: Little Landscapes
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden — Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
*For Spring Break Week, April 7–15: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Growing tiny worlds in a jar is the latest craze in the gardening world, though terrariums have been around for ages. Look closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and create your own rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar to take home. Use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium specimens such as moss, lichens, and rocks.
Hands-On Gardening Activities: Wake Up, Garden!
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden — April 7 through April 20 — 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Rise and shine Family Garden! Help get the garden off to a good start by sowing seeds, planting seedlings, spreading compost, and digging. Observe the rapid changes and new growth on the trees, shrubs, and bulbs in our meadow, and explore germination of seeds up close with microscopes and magnifiers.
