This Weekend: Winter Transitions
Posted in Programs and Events on January 25 2013, by Matt Newman
In the last few months, thousands of children have come and gone through our Ross Hall, each doing his or her part to help Thomas and Friends™ navigate their way to Brendam Docks. And while it’s been a memorable holiday season for everyone involved, it’s finally time to bid our adieus for one more year; this weekend marks your last chance to catch Thomas before he steams his way home! With six showings between Saturday and Sunday, you’ll find at least a few more opportunities to get in a little sing-along time with your kids–so long as you make a point of registering in advance!
For those who appreciate the lively nature of the NYBG in winter, Debbie Becker returns this Saturday morning to lead her long-running Bird Walk, scoping out the Red-tailed Hawks, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and elusive owls that often call the Garden home. And while it may be a bit nippy outdoors, layering up and hitting the Forest trails is well worth the chilly toes (ski socks are a lifesaver)–winter is hands-down the best time to catch some of our most magnificent avian species on the wing.
Of course, our would-be snowbirds are just as welcome to fly in for a visit, come sun, snow, or any frosty combination of the two. Tropical Paradise is the cure for all things frigid! Inside the Conservatory you’ll find the gems of our permanent collection on special display, highlighting the botanical beauties and curiosities of sunnier climes. For those with a knack for camera work, or anyone who just wants to learn, really, our garden photography experts will be on hand once each weekend, holding workshops for shutterbugs of all skill levels. It’s the ideal warm-up for our Tropical Paradise photography contest, running throughout the exhibition and open to anyone with a Flickr account!
Indoors or out, the NYBG is packed to overflowing with fun activities running all weekend long. Check out the rest of our schedule below!
Saturday, January 26
All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ – 11 a.m., 1:30, and 3:30 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Bring your camera to have a photo-op with Thomas and capture the special day.
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.
Tropical Paradise Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory entrance
Take refuge from winter by retreating to Tropical Paradise — a showcase of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s permanent collection, including orange-yellow crotons, fuchsia bromeliads, and more. Tour the many surprises in the Victorian-style glasshouse, where the harsh outdoor weather gives way to warm rain forest mists, soaring palm trees, and bright desert landscapes. You’ll feel like you are on vacation without leaving New York.
Sunday, January 27
All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ – 11 a.m., 1:30, and 3:30 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performance adventure by helping Thomas find his way from Knapford Station to Brendam Docks using teamwork, friendship, and discovery. Bring your camera to have a photo-op with Thomas and capture the special day! At today’s afternoon performances, pre-registered members of Kids Club THIRTEEN will participate in the fun and enjoy additional learning activities
Tropical Paradise Tour – 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory entrance
Take refuge from winter by retreating to Tropical Paradise — a showcase of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s permanent collection, including orange-yellow crotons, fuchsia bromeliads, and more. Tour the many surprises in the Victorian-style glasshouse, where the harsh outdoor weather gives way to warm rain forest mists, soaring palm trees, and bright desert landscapes. You’ll feel like you are on vacation without leaving New York.
Photography Tips and Tricks – 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory Palms of the World Gallery
Join our expert on hand in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to dispense garden photography tips, encouragement, and critique for budding photographers. Each week, participate in a photo contest, “Picturing Paradise,” for a chance to win a spot in a photography course given at the NYBG this coming spring. The contest is run through the Garden’s Group Pool on Flickr. For more information visit nybg.org/tropical
Ongoing Programming, January 19 – February 24
Adventures in Adaptation
A free scavenger hunt that leads you through the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and Garden grounds
Welcome to Adventures in Adaptation! Using your powers of observation, search for Dr. Ed Apshon, one of our scientists who has been traveling all over the world for his research on plant adaptations. To help us find him, you must locate the plants he has recorded in his field notebook and determine where he has been–and where he’s going next!
Tropical Paradise Photography Contest
After viewing the award-winning photographs from the International Garden Photographer of the Year display, take a spin through the Conservatory and snap your own pictures for entering into the Tropical Paradise Photography Contest. This year’s contest is all about picturing paradise: find paradise in the natural beauty of the Conservatory, be inspired by the award-winning photographs from paradises around the world, and find inspiration to picture paradise in the community of your fellow photographers in the NYBG Flickr Group Pool.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Thomas & Friends™ Playstation
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Join us at the Station for Thomas & Friends™ playtime and crafts. Engines and tracks and toys abound, making your little engineers the conductors of their own adventure. Supported by Fisher-Price.
Tropical Discoveries and Wintertime Wonders
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, through February 24
Weekends and holiday Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / Weekdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Inside the cozy Discovery Center kids of all ages can take a closer look at the differences between tropical and temperate plants. Pot up a specimen plant to take home and compare its characteristics with foliage in your neighborhood. Make bark rubbings, count tree rings, and head back into the winter garden with a field notebook to discover the vital sparks of life that lie just below the surface of this quiet season.
