One Last Week of Orchids in Spring
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on April 13 2012, by Matt Newman
This weekend we enter the home stretch of the Orchid Show balanced on a bittersweet note. Thousands of visitors have had the opportunity to experience Patrick Blanc’s inspiring vertical architecture, stepping under, around, and between the reaching walls of tropical foliage and luxuriant orchid flowers. This year’s spring display is a masterwork only “The Green Man” could have conjured.
Going into the final week of our tenth anniversary exhibition, we encourage everyone who hasn’t yet made the short trip to the Bronx to put on some comfortable shoes and step out for a day at the Garden. Between the sunlit brilliance of these spring afternoons and the rare form of the Orchid Show, there are few excuses for missing out.
The sweet end of that note is just around the corner, of course. Once the green walls have gone on their way and the Conservatory is returned to a semblance of its normal routine, another makeover is right there waiting. Monet’s Garden will bring the sprightly classical nuances of the great Impressionist’s French garden to New York, recreating the muse that inspired so many of Monet’s priceless paintings. It’s definitely in your best interest to line up ticket reservations well before the May 19 opening.
Not that you have to rely on the treasures in the Conservatory to plan a day at the NYBG! Spring’s not-so-subtle touch has nudged life into each and every collection on the grounds. Tulips and daffodils stand cheerful in the sun, while the crabapple trees are making a play for MVP of April’s blooming beauties. This is absolutely the time to get outside and wander!
Saturday, April 14
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: An Artist on the Orchid Trail — 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
With tens of thousands of orchid species, there will never be a shortage of fascinating subjects for an artist, whether here in New York or in the tropics. Seeking out rare orchids and capturing them in paint cultivates relationships with institutions, scientists, conservationists, horticulturists, and galleries. Today’s botanical artists build on a lengthy history but live in a modern world, with increased opportunities to connect with orchids long known or recently discovered. Award-winning botanical artist Carol Woodin guides you along the trail of painting orchids, uncovering the backstories of each plant and exploring the vagaries of orchids, robust or delicate, from an artist’s viewpoint.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Troubleshooting Orchids — 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Is your orchid distressed? Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a lesson on basic orchid care and a list of dos and don’ts that will keep your plants thriving. Discuss some of the most common mistakes and maladies and gain tips on how to rescue ailing orchids.
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 15
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.
Bronx Arts Ensemble Family Concert: Ferdinand the Bull – 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Garden Terrace Room
Ferdinand the Bull, a gentle bull who prefers the aroma of wild flowers to fighting, is mistakenly chosen to face a matador after an unfortunate bee incident…and that’s just the beginning. The audience will be introduced to each instrument and join in the adventure.
History and Mystery of Orchids: Featured Film — 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: Troubleshooting Orchids — 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Is your orchid distressed? Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a lesson on basic orchid care and a list of dos and don’ts that will keep your plants thriving. Discuss some of the most common mistakes and maladies and gain tips on how to rescue ailing orchids.
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.
