A Memorial Day Weekend in Nature’s Showplace
Posted in Around the Garden on May 25 2012, by Matt Newman
Three-day weekend? We’ll take it! After a virtual roller coaster of activity here in the office, we’re as relieved as you are to see that calming stretch of calendar squares laid out before us. Entering the opening days of the year’s most anticipated exhibition was one thing, but biting our nails over the conclusion of the Partners in Preservation competition made for an atmosphere a few notches below peaceful! We’re immensely proud of what we have accomplished, and with smooth sailing from here on out, there’s plenty to celebrate at the NYBG this Memorial Day (yep, we’re open Monday, too!)
Monet’s Garden is dazzling thousands of visitors in its first week. Even with those few dreary days of drizzle, the grounds have been alive with guests taking the tram to see the Conservatory‘s own Giverny, viewing the masterworks of the great Impressionist in the Library, and everything in between. As if we weren’t already enjoying the outcome, the cherry on the sundae arrived Tuesday morning. Thanks to you, our many generous supporters, The New York Botanical Garden will receive a grant of $250,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, being used to restore and preserve our long-treasured Rock Garden. A month of campaigning for votes (not to mention the patience of our fans) paid off with a spot in the winner’s circle!
We may not be able to articulate just how grateful we are for the support, but we nonetheless invite you to come along and see what it is you’re keeping alive. And if we’re making the most of this holiday weekend, you should, too–the Rock Garden is lush, the Rose Garden is peaking, and New York never looked so green!
Saturday, May 26
Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our expert, Debbie Becker, searching for the birds of the season and learning about bird-friendly plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites. Word has it that some incredibly rare species have been seen in the Garden as of late, making this spring a great time to pick up the birder’s habit.
Film Screening: Monet Double Feature
In Ross Hall
The Impressionists: Monet – 1 p.m.
This film is a look at the life and art of Claude Monet, the originator of “Impressionism.” Examine several paintings, location footage, and expert analysis. Also featured is footage from L’Orangerie and from Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, as well as special film shot at London’s Savoy Hotel, where Monet painted his famous views of London.
Monet’s Palate – 3 p.m.
Embark on a culinary tour of Claude Monet’s beloved Normandy, a region of France just north of Paris along the Seine River. This region inspired Monet’s passion for art and his passion for fine cuisine. Both Monet’s palate and his palette met at this home in Giverny, surrounded by his beautiful gardens. This film, connecting the painter’s love of art, gardens, and his profound appreciation for food is introduced by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, featuring commentary from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard, and other renowned chefs. Screening of Monet’s Palate made possible by MonetsPalate.com.
Home Gardening Demonstration — Fine Herbs: From Garden to Table – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center
Take home tips on how to grow and cook with herbs. Tantalize your taste buds with simple yet delicious recipes from the garden. This French-themed home gardening demonstration is part of Monet’s Garden, a stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcasing a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art.
Monet’s Garden Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Join one of the Garden’s Tour Guides for a tour inside the galleries of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where horticulturists of The New York Botanical Garden bring to life stunning re-creations of Monet’s most iconic gardens at Giverny. In the Conservatory Courtyard, the focus on the artistry of the great Impressionist continues with a display of water lilies.
Sunday, May 27
Rose Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden
Immerse yourself in the fragrance, color, and beauty of the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden on a tour with a Garden Tour Guide. Learn the differences between Heritage and Modern roses and between floribundas and hybrid teas, as well as facts about rose history, cultivation, and folklore.
Film Screening: Monet Double Feature
In Ross Hall
The Impressionists: Monet – 1 p.m.
This film is a look at the life and art of Claude Monet, the originator of “Impressionism.” Examine several paintings, location footage, and expert analysis. Also featured is footage from L’Orangerie and from Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, as well as special film shot at London’s Savoy Hotel, where Monet painted his famous views of London.
Monet’s Palate – 3 p.m.
Embark on a culinary tour of Claude Monet’s beloved Normandy, a region of France just north of Paris along the Seine River. This region inspired Monet’s passion for art and his passion for fine cuisine. Both Monet’s palate and his palette met at this home in Giverny, surrounded by his beautiful gardens. This film, connecting the painter’s love of art, gardens, and his profound appreciation for food is introduced by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep, featuring commentary from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard, and other renowned chefs. Screening of Monet’s Palate made possible by MonetsPalate.com.
Home Gardening Demonstration — Fines Herbs: From Garden to Table – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center
Take home tips on how to grow and cook with herbs. Tantalize your taste buds with simple yet delicious recipes from the garden. This French-themed home gardening demonstration is part of Monet’s Garden, a stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcasing a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art.
Monet’s Garden Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Join one of the Garden’s Tour Guides for a tour inside the galleries of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where horticulturists of The New York Botanical Garden bring to life stunning re-creations of Monet’s most iconic gardens at Giverny. In the Conservatory Courtyard, the focus on the artistry of the great Impressionist continues with a display of water lilies.
Monday, May 28
Conservatory Tour – 1 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s Tour Guides. Take an ecotour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays.
Film Screening: Monet Double Feature
In Ross Hall
The Impressionists: Monet – 1 p.m.
This film is a look at the life and art of Claude Monet, the originator of “Impressionism.” Examine several paintings, location footage, and expert analysis. Also featured is footage from L’Orangerie and from Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, as well as special film shot at London’s Savoy Hotel, from where Monet painted his famous views of London.
Monet’s Palate – 3 p.m.
Embark on a culinary tour of Claude Monet’s beloved Normandy, a region of France just north of Paris along the Seine River. This region inspired Monet’s passion for art and his passion for fine cuisine. Both Monet’s palate and his palette met at this home in Giverny, surrounded by his beautiful gardens. This film, connecting the painter’s love of art, gardens, and his profound appreciation for food is introduced by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep and features commentary from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard, and other renowned chefs. Screening of Monet’s Palate made possible by MonetsPalate.com.
Home Gardening Demonstration — Fines Herbs: From Garden to Table – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center
Take home tips on how to grow and cook with herbs. Tantalize your taste buds with simple yet delicious recipes from the garden. This French-themed home gardening demonstration is part of Monet’s Garden, a stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcasing a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Children’s Outdoor Nature Explorations: Observe and Create
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, May 19 through September 30 — Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Let your inner Monet run wild and be inspired by nature to create art in all different forms. Movement, music, drawing and painting abound in this outdoor studio for children. Stop by Inspiration Station to play our outdoor marimba. Paint with water and experiment with colors in our Color Clash Studio. Step inside to experiment with the engineering behind aquatic plants. Nature is art–discover it at the Adventure Garden. Also on view: an exhibition by students from Studio in a School.
Salad Days
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, May 19 through June 15 — 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The “salad days” of the Garden year are here! The finale of spring is a bonanza of ripe roots, succulent stems, glorious greens, and a kaleidoscope of colorful–and edible–flowers. Use real plants and flowers to decorate a salad bowl collage. Learn tips on how to combine this array of plant parts into an assortment of salads and prepare a healthy dressing to take home.
Cooking demonstrations at 2 and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
