Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 27 2013, by Matt Newman
The Bronx River, Twin Lakes, and the Wetlands are all (at least partially) imitating sculpture at the moment. There are upsides to cold snaps!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 26 2013, by Matt Newman
Nothing so suits a plant sans soil as does cheesy title wordplay. While you’re in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for Tropical Paradise, hunt down the epiphyte wall and take a moment to appreciate these “air plants” in full regalia.
Tillandsia duratii — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
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!
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 25 2013, by Matt Newman
Beauty is a fleck of ice or scoop of melting snow, just far enough away to be enjoyed from the relief of a heated space. Stay bundled, New York, and happy Friday!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Science on January 24 2013, by Scott Mori
Scott A. Mori has been studying New World rain forests for nearly 40 years. He has witnessed an unrelenting reduction in the extent of the forests he studies and, as a result, has become concerned about their future. The following blog is based on a chapter in his recent book, Tropical Plant Collecting: From the Field to the Internet.
The future of plant and animal diversity in Latin American rain forests depends on an understanding of how fragile the plant and animal interactions found in this ecosystem are. The relationships between plants and animals in the tropics are so closely co-evolved that man’s utilization of tropical forests always results in loss of biodiversity. After a 40-year career of botanical exploration in the New World tropics, I conclude that human beings had little to do with the evolution of biodiversity anywhere on the planet, especially in the tropics, and, as Thomas Friedman said in his book Hot, Flat, and Crowded, “We are the only species in this vast web of life that no animal or plant in nature depends on for its survival–yet we depend on this whole web of life for our survival.”
I believe that increasing human population and consumption throughout the world is not compatible with the preservation of the world’s biodiversity, but that rings especially true in the tropics. Moreover, many tropical forests grow on soils that are so nutrient poor they will never support high human populations without massive inputs of fertilizers and pesticides. If tropical areas are not productive enough today to provide significant resources to a world population of 6.5 billion, what makes humans think that they will be able to contribute to supporting a population of nine to 11 billion humans by 2050? The consumptive power of a resident of today’s Amazon rain forest is several orders of magnitude greater than that of the pre-Colombian inhabitants who based their economy on fertilizer- and pesticide-independent agricultural systems. In short, residents of the tropics–and the world in general–will not be able to protect biodiversity at the level it needs if both human population growth and consumption are not controlled.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 24 2013, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on January 23 2013, by Ann Rafalko
Forget the Valentine’s Day bouquet, give her (or him) a rainforest full of flowers instead! Thanks to our partners at MasterCard® this year we are offering two exclusive events that are the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.
Experience an inspired and romantic departure from the average date as we transform the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into New York City’s most romantic Valentine’s Day date destination. The evening begins with chocolates and champagne at Shop in the Garden. After experiencing these delicious plant-based treats head over to the Conservatory for a tour through the sultry warmth of Tropical Paradise. The tour will have a special focus on plants that are well-known for their love-inducing qualities, including delicious chocolate! Buy your tickets. Currently Sold Out. For Wait List, call 718.817.8716
Schedule of Events:
– 4:00-4:30 p.m. Champagne and chocolate in Shop in the Garden
– 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tour of Tropical Paradise
– 5:30-6:00 p.m. Free time to explore the Haupt Conservatory
Chocolate, Beer, and Herbal Aphrodisiac Series on February 9
If you and your sweetie are more into the science behind the romance, then our Botany of Indulgence classes are for you! Delve into the world of plant-based aphrodisiacs with this three-part class at our Midtown Center. Explore how chocolate, beer, and herbal aphrodisiacs have been used through the centuries to influence human behavior. Begin the day by concocting your own “love potion,” then explore the science and art of fermentation. In the afternoon sample several varieties of chocolate and study the neurobiological effect of theobrome, the ingredient in cacao that can simulate the feeling of “being in love.” Class participants will leave with a goodie bag filled with treats including two All-Garden Passes you can use to visit the Garden and drop some serious science about the biology of love on your companions! Buy your tickets.
Class Schedule:
– 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Herbal Aphrodisiacs
– 12-12:45 p.m. Lunch break
– 12:45-2:45 p.m. Home-brewing
– 3-5 p.m. The Temptation of Chocolate
Posted in Exhibitions on January 23 2013, by Matt Newman
Think of surviving winter as a pie chart: a good chunk–maybe 50%–is made up of boots and scarves; another 30% boils down to keeping a cheerful attitude while you go to town on your iced over windshield; and that last 20% is all about escapism. For some, that means hitching a jet to South Beach and waiting out the bitter months by a rooftop pool, sipping chilled mimosas. For us, it’s a 20-minute transit ride up to the Bronx for a steamy stop in New York City’s largest living rain forest.
Yeah, I know, not exactly the first place you’d plan for a jungle excursion–but the NYBG is your best bet! Our yearly Tropical Paradise event is put together to offer New Yorkers sanctuary from the humdrum icebox of the city, so you can leave your hand warmers at the door and pretend, if only for a moment, that it’s not snowing sideways in the five boroughs. This year’s focus falls on the permanent collection inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where exotic tropical plants such as vanilla orchids, zombie palms, and the jade vine–a perennial favorite deserving of a little idolization–step front and center.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 23 2013, by Matt Newman
You know, “witch-hazel” as a common name really belies the true nature of Hamamelis–that being party streamers and good cheer. Seek out these lovelies in the Ross Conifer Arboretum.
Hamamelis vernalis — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Gardening Tips on January 22 2013, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.
Last week we talked about the discovery of Cattleya labiata in the Brazilian forests in 1817, and the stir that it caused when it flowered the following year at William Cattley’s home in Barnet, England. Cattleyas are the archetypal orchid flowers; they are the ones you see in a corsage or plastered on the cover of magazines–divas suitable for any artistic photo shoot. Cattleyas ooze exoticism, sensuality, and many of them emit a fabulous perfume to add to their enticing aura.
There are somewhere in the range of 60 species of cattleya that are native to Central and South America. The number of hybrids and intergeneric hybrids (crosses with more than one genus) are too many to count.
Cattleyas fall into two main groups: unifoliates (single leaf) and bifoliates (double leaf). In the unifoliate group, the orchid has one leaf per pseudobulb (the swollen stem). These orchids generally grow to be between 12 and 18 inches tall, and produce large, five- to seven-inch flowers. Unifoliate species can be found growing in Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru, and Brazil.