This Weekend: Relax
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on November 30 2012, by Matt Newman
Whether you’re coming in to catch the Holiday Train Show before December’s crowds pile in, or to glean a bit of feathered wisdom from Debbie Becker’s Saturday morning Bird Walk, this weekend is squarely focused on relaxation. Because we know that in between the crush of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and winter holiday preparations, there’s hardly a sliver of space to squeak in your chill time! Of course, at the NYBG there’s a wider window for taking it easy.
With a light schedule and reasonable temperatures promised for Saturday and Sunday, this is your opportunity to explore 250 acres of New York City’s finest natural sanctuary. If you’re looking for activities, there’s always the Bird Walk for picking up a new hobby, or maybe you’d rather take a load off with the heat on? For that, stop by the Holiday Train Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory before hoofing it over to Ross Hall for a bit of history on our decades-long tradition.
Over in the education department, you can join in a two-hour rundown of the herbal arts through a course on making tinctures, salves, and oils from nature’s bounty. And, of course, there’s Gingerbread Adventures waiting for the kids in our Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Why would you even consider passing up a hand-decorated cookie (of your own artistic creation, of course) before leaving?
We’re going to be here all weekend, enjoying the tail end of what fall has to offer, so give a little thought to paying us a visit! Bring your scarf, tuck a pair of light gloves into your coat, and I’m sure you won’t regret your time spent exploring the Garden.
Saturday, December 1
Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
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 an expert.
Film Screening: Holiday Train Show with David Hartman – 11:30 a.m., 1, 2, and 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
A PBS documentary narrated by David Hartman explores how the Holiday Train Show goes from imagination to creation and features exclusive interviews with designer Paul Busse.
Herbal Preparations Workshop – 2 p.m.
Instructor Ursula Basch teaches you how to select fresh and dried herbs and make teas, decoctions, tinctures, herbal oils, and salves from them. Learn the basics of herbal preparations. Homemade products are fresher, last longer, and are more economical than store-bought herbal products. You can even make your own herbal tincture to take home. Register here: Non-Members: $55 / Members: $51 / Price includes $10 materials fee.
Sunday, December 2
Film Screening: Holiday Train Show with David Hartman – 11:30 a.m., 1, 2, and 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
A PBS documentary narrated by David Hartman explores how the Holiday Train Show goes from imagination to creation and features exclusive interviews with designer Paul Busse.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Gingerbread Adventures
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Open all day for exploration
Guided activities: Weekdays, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. / Weekends, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Children explore the spices that make up a classic gingerbread recipe. Kids can step inside a child-sized gingerbread playhouse and also decorate a gingersnap cookie with frosting and candies. All ages will enjoy viewing a display of gingerbread houses made by New York City-area bakers.
