In a nice change from the norm, we manage to leave the field station on time this morning. But that doesn’t mean we leave the harbor straight away. We load our gear back onto the trusty Don José Miguel and essentially move back in and then we do a little last minute grocery shopping. As we enter the Beagle Channel I am surprised by the rough seas. I look to the skies, which don’t look particularly threatening, and decide to blame the turbulence on our running perpendicular to the waves, rather than parallel. But, even when we turn west, into the wind, the choppiness continues. That said, it cannot delay lunch.
The author climbing a small tree with French climbing spikes.
One of the most beautiful arboreal observations I have made during my long career occurred during an ascent into a large tree, one that happened to be adjacent to a legume tree scientifically named Hymenaea courbaril–more commonly known as the stinky toe tree. It was given this repugnant name because of the similarity of its fruits to a malodorous human toe. While botanical literature had already reported at the time that this species relied on bats for pollination, I wanted to confirm this observation by climbing a nearby tree from which I could see into the canopy as night fell, just as nocturnal animals started to make their appearances.
I was especially eager to make this climb because one of my research focuses has been the interactions between bats and the plants pollinated and dispersed by them. This was a rare opportunity to observe the crown of this 115-foot-tall tree in full flower, and as my job was to document the species that occur in the lowland forests of central French Guiana, as well as to discover the interactions that the local plants have with animals, I could not pass it up.
Cocktail umbrellas are kitschy. That slice of citrus rimming your highball glass–quaint. But there can be so much more to an imaginative drink, and that goes far beyond what’s poured into it! Returning for another year of glitzy, romantic nights on the town, Orchid Evenings in 2013 are prepped and ready to turn the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a hub of tropical escapism, complete with color, music, and just enough tasty tipple to set the tone for a perfect date.
During five Saturday evening gatherings throughout March and April, the Conservatory opens its doors for a few rare, after-dark viewings of our magnificent Orchid Show, sans daytime crowds. DJ Julio will be on hand to provide the ambiance with traditional world and electronic music, while bespoke cocktail creations from the likes of St. Germain, Tirado, Jack From Brooklyn, El Buho, and LiV cap each evening with a worldly spirit mixed right. Under tens of thousands of blooms from around the globe, lit with the soft glow of the Conservatory at night, we dare you to find a more romantic spot to ring in spring in New York.
Dr. Robert F.C. Naczi, the Arthur J. Cronquist Curator of North American Botany, at the New York Botanical Garden, delivered the following keynote speech at the School of Professional Horticulture, Class of 2013’s graduation, March 1, 2013. This post features photographs ofThe Orchid Show which this year has a scientific focus and is designed by Francisca Coelho, the Garden’s Vivian & Edward Merrin Associate Vice President for Glasshouses & Exhibitions and School of Professional Horticulture graduate.
The Critical Importance of Scientific Training to Today’s Horticulturist
Congratulations to you, the 2013 graduates of the School of Professional Horticulture! You have much to celebrate because you have achieved so much. First, you rose to the challenge of the rigors of the program. For example, in a little over two years, you took over 40 courses, and passed them all. Yes, I know first-hand from you that some of these courses caused you considerable pain, but you made it! You deserve praise, too, for completing a whopping 30 plant walks and all the quizzes that followed them. As well, you completed internships that were, all at once, innovative, demanding, and fulfilling. All through these activities and many more, you excelled at multitasking, delaying gratification, and working really hard. On top of all this, you kept your cool. Sure, each one of you shed blood, sweat, and tears, but you persevered.
It is good you persevered. For this is an exciting time to be a professional horticulturist. One of the aspects of your education in the School of Professional Horticulture that sets you above many other horticulturists is your grounding in science. Your foundation in science opens doors for you to a whole range of scientific advances, and will continue to open these doors. Today, I would like to address the promise and power of a scientifically-grounded education in horticulture, such as you now possess.
This is our last day on the north shore of Isla Navarino. The weather forecast bodes well for an ascent of Pico de la Bandera. As predicted, we get a slow start to the morning. Blanka and Laura are driven out to Puente La Cascada to see if they can find more interesting hepatics where they found the Lethocolea. Ernesto then heads to his 8:30 appointment with the naval commander to see about getting us permission to access the three islands east of Navarino; Pictón, Nueva, and Lennox islands. He then returns to pick up Blanka and Laura who have indeed found several additional interesting liverworts. Next, a stop to retrieve some laundry, then a stop to pick up lunches from a local store, and then finally we reach the trailhead for the ascent of Pico de la Bandera around 11:30 a.m.
Darwin’s star orchid is a rare treat for visitors to this year’s Orchid Show. Like the vanilla orchid, it’s seldom we get to flaunt this beauty in full bloom.
Angraecum sesquipedale — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
First Overall — Dennis Frates, “Penstemon Sunrise”
“… The photographer has waited for exactly the right moment, on the right day and he has made a huge effort to be in the right place. The ‘Wildflower Landscapes’ category is all about plants in their natural environment, and this image is a fantastic example of the sheer tenacity and adaptability of plant life.”
— Philip Smith – International Garden Photographer of the Year Project Director
Have you been biting your nails much over the final results of the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest? I admit we’ve done a bit of that! Not least because our exclusive U.S. partnership with IGPOTY garners us our own unique photo category among the many being judged for the 2013 announcement. It’s pretty exciting stuff! And with long lists of entrants, an even greater number of photographs to judge, and a fierce level of competition between some of the world’s most capable nature photographers, the stakes are high enough to warrant the nerves. But no longer!
The day breaks overcast and drizzly which is a sort of relief; at least now I know that some alien climate has not taken residence in Patagonia! Today is the first day we have to fix our own breakfast, which leads to a late start and only an hour and a half to collect at our first site, which, according to last night’s plan will be on the north shore highway. We now have to hope that tomorrow will prove better for ascending Pico de la Bandera.
It is raining only lightly when we head out, but soon the skies open and we drive through a steady rain all morning. Our first site is Vuelta de Perro, about 18 kilometers east of town. It is a very wet site with lots of downed logs. I had been here about 10 years ago and thought it would be a good place to take the group. Since I have been here before and collected extensively, I focus only on the small things, finding lichenicolous fungi and even a couple of fungi over bryophytes, all the while keeping an eye out for interesting mosses. The site proves a little disappointing when compared to our previous pristine sites. It has been heavily disturbed by tree cutting and grazing cattle. Plus, it’s our first day out in the rain.
It’s not just wishful thinking anymore. With any luck, we’ll be coasting into spring proper on a spate of sunny days. And if you’re looking for snowdrops, the lawn alongside Tulip Tree Allée is a must-see. Otherwise, take a peek into the Perennial Garden!
In a nice change from the norm, we manage to leave the field station on time this morning. But that doesn’t mean we leave the harbor straight away. We load our gear back onto the trusty Don José Miguel and essentially move back in and then we do a little last minute grocery shopping. As we enter the Beagle Channel I am surprised by the rough seas. I look to the skies, which don’t look particularly threatening, and decide to blame the turbulence on our running perpendicular to the waves, rather than parallel. But, even when we turn west, into the wind, the choppiness continues. That said, it cannot delay lunch.
