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Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Archive: September 2013

This Week at the Greenmarket: Crisp Air, Good Food

Posted in Programs and Events on September 17 2013, by Matt Newman

GreenmarketThe crisp bite in the air tells us fall is hoofing it over the horizon, but the apple cider donuts (the porch lamp to our proverbial moths, so to speak) at our Greenmarket really drive home the point. If you’re looking for something to do with your Wednesday morning, look no further than our Mosholu Gate, where several of the region’s most respected producers join us each Wednesday to offer fruits, vegetables, juices, sauces, fresh-baked treats, and just about anything you wish your CSA care packages included more of.

Recent highlights among the heaps of fresh-picked produce include a vibrant spectrum of peppers, from cayenne and sweet to white, blue, and hot cherry, while corn, chives, kale, Swiss chard, fennel, turnips, and parsnips cover the tables elsewhere. Tomatoes are also in top form, from hefty heirlooms to pickable, poppable cherry varieties. Macintosh and Paula apples lead the pack alongside peaches and plums, and Concord grapes have made a showing in recent weeks as well, with plenty of fruit juices and ciders to boot. And if you’re still in back yard barbecue mode, you should still see watermelons by the boxful when you join us tomorrow. Don’t forget to grab some pies on the way out!

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Beyond Mums—Fall Containers with Style

Posted in Around the Garden on September 17 2013, by Sonia Uyterhoeven

Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.

Fall ContainersOver the past few weeks, I have been coordinating with one of my colleagues at the Shop in the Garden regarding some attractive fall options for containers and the garden. We perused the availability lists from one of her vendors and came up with some refreshing changes for late season color. Traditionalists need not venture into our Shop with trepidation—my colleague also ordered plenty of the stalwart fall mums. I, however, was looking for something beyond mums. Here are a few suggestions that we came up with.

One of my first picks was Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’. It is an intoxicating variegated spurge that looks good from spring until frost. The variegated foliage is a green-grey color (more green with smoky overtones) with creamy yellow edges. In the fall, the foliage takes on a pinkish orange autumnal hue. This 20-inch perennial is hardy from zone 5 – 9 and is deer and rabbit resistant, as well as being drought tolerant. It makes a wonderful addition to a mixed container display as well as growing beautifully in your mixed perennial border.

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Gather ‘Round the Table

Posted in Mario Batali's Edible Garden on September 16 2013, by Matt Newman

The Edible GardenAt first I set out to tease you (not maliciously!) with menu selections from this Saturday’s upcoming Family Dinner featuring Chef “Dodo” Fortunato Nicotra of Felidia, one of Mario Batali‘s trusted culinary masterminds. But then it came to my attention that this week’s evening is ALMOST sold out! Not to worry, though—you can still get tickets for Saturday if you rush, but even if you aren’t able to land tickets to this weekend’s event, there’s still one more opportunity on the horizon for gourmands with an appetite in tow. And one more opportunity for me to tease you, I suppose.

On Sunday, September 29, we’re firing up the grills in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden for one last seasonal gourmet gathering. This time around we’ll be spotlighting dishes and demonstrations from the dynamic duo of Chef Dan Drohan of Otto Enoteca Pizzeria and Chef Josh Laurano of Tarry Market.

Before dinner, kids and parents alike are invited to join Family Garden staff in the vegetable beds for hands-on gardening and craft activities, after which we’ll jump straight into preparation with an expert cooking demonstration by our visiting chefs. Save room for cavolo nero and ricotta salad, agnolotti al forno with swiss chard and pecorino, sweet potato and walnut budino, as well as paired wines and more. Trust me—you’ll leave well-fed.

For more info on upcoming menus and getting your tickets, visit our Edible Garden page. Though I’d suggest registering soon—judging by September 21’s dwindling tickets, the one taking place on the 29th should fill up quickly as well. Don’t miss these last opportunities to enjoy the flavors of summer with Mario Batali’s finest!

Photo courtesy of Andrea House.

This Weekend: Gone to the Birds

Posted in Programs and Events on September 13 2013, by Matt Newman

The NYBG WeekendThe 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.

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Morning Eye Candy: Ruffed

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on September 13 2013, by Matt Newman

If you were wondering—yes, my dahlia fixation is still riding high, and probably will be for the remainder of the summer. Not that many of you can blame me. There’s just something about their frilly, cheering colors—like a fanciful take on the Elizabethan neck ruff. Happy Friday, all.

Dahlias

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen