This Weekend: Gone to the Birds
Posted in Programs and Events on September 13 2013, by Matt Newman
The Garden goes to the birds this weekend with outdoor activities geared toward the wildlife lover in all of us (you’ll get a pass if you have an ongoing feud with pigeons—that’s almost rote for any New Yorker). And because it just so happens to be migratory season for a number of bird species, the timing couldn’t be better. So bring your binoculars, your kids, and an open mind toward gardening for critters, because we’ll be making room for all three over the next couple of days.
For birders new or established, Debbie Becker is back after a brief summer hiatus with Bird Walks each Saturday at 11 a.m. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks for the colorful puffballs known as warblers that should be making pit stops in the Garden during their fall migration. In the Native Plant Garden, we’ll have experts on hand teaching home gardeners the ins and outs of attracting wildlife—such as beneficial insects—to backyard beds. And in among the vegetables of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, kids are welcome to dig to their hearts’ content during activities that highlight the hands-on aspects of keeping a garden. Our Pollinator Pals program also highlights the importance of the bees and butterflies that pollinate our crops.
Also on offer are Native Plant Garden and Rose Garden Tours, cooking demonstrations highlighting fresh seasonal ingredients, and more. And don’t forget that there’s only one week left to get tickets for next weekend’s Family Garden with Mario Batali’s Chefs! Check the full listing below, and we’ll see you out there.
Saturday, September 14
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 to learn about bird-friendly habitats, migrating species, and birds that make a permanent home at the Garden.
Native Plant Garden Tour – 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Join a tour guide for an insider’s view of the newly designed Native Plant Garden.
Home Gardening Demonstration: Wild Life Gardening
In the Native Plant Garden
Native plants are wonderful for attracting beneficial insects and encouraging wildlife in your garden. Join us to discover how you can create natural habitats and successfully attract wildlife to your garden.
Sunday, September 15
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.
Native Plant Garden Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Join a tour guide for an insider’s view of the newly designed Native Plant Garden.
Home Gardening Demonstration: Wild Life Gardening
In the Native Plant Garden
Native plants are wonderful for attracting beneficial insects and encouraging wildlife in your garden. Join us to discover how you can create natural habitats and successfully attract wildlife to your garden.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
April 6 – October 11, 2013; 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Kids can explore with Mario’s Menu Mystery game, featuring favorite vegetables and herbs from nine of his restaurants’ kitchens, including Otto and Del Posto.
Included in any All-Garden Pass.
Cooking Demonstrations
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, at the Whole Foods Market® Family Garden Kitchen
May 11 – October 11, 2013: Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 2 & 4 p.m.
From late spring into early fall, learn to cook up flavorful new recipes using garden-fresh ingredients, twice a day on Wednesdays and weekends in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden.
Pollinator Pals: Bees and Butterflies
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
August 20 – October 11, 2013; 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
The Family Garden is buzzing in late summer! Join us to learn about important pollinators: our honeybees and the monarch butterflies passing us by on their way to Mexico. Get buzzy doing the honeybee dance, observe up-close the workings of a beehive, and sample honey from different nectar sources. Meander through our meadow to find the beautiful monarchs’ favorite snack-spots for fueling up before their long flight. Plants and imaginations grow at the Family Garden, where kids are allowed—no, encouraged!—to play in the dirt. Display gardens such as the Global Gardens and the Breakfast Bowl, and daily activities delight and inspire.
