Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Archive: December 2013
Posted in Programs and Events on December 12 2013, by Matt Newman
On November 23 we had the singular pleasure of hosting one of America’s most prolific and critically acclaimed writers, friend of the Garden and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. And though you may know his many works in print—he likes to call his poems “a form of travel writing”—his oeuvre took on an entirely new luster as a sold-out crowd of fans, Garden Members, and curious readers gathered in the Ross Hall for an hour of recitation by the living master himself.
Even if you couldn’t make it to the Garden to hear Collins read in person, you’re not out of luck. Our videographer was on hand to preserve the moment in its entirety! So head below for a full reading of poems covering trains, winter weather, the quintessential New York experience, and all the slices of life that have made Collins so revered among writers. If you happen to be at the NYBG in the coming weeks, look for the poetry boards placed throughout Perennial Garden Way, each one offering bits of verse from our visiting poet as part of Poetry for Every Season. It’s the perfect complement to the charming architecture and zipping trains of the Holiday Train Show.
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Posted in Holiday Train Show on December 12 2013, by Ann Rafalko
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so take a look at all these smiling faces!
Bar Car Nights is your chance to see the Holiday Train Show in an adults-only setting, cocktail (or mocktail) in hand. Thousands of twinkling lights set the scene for a festive evening with friends or family (or even soon-to-be family, we’ve heard tell of an engagement or two!).
This Saturday’s signature cocktail combines a few of the iconic flavors of the season; ginger, apple, and something that is really more of a sensation than a flavor, bubbles! Called the Winter Intensive, this festive libation combines Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur with hard apple cider, and a sparkling topper. It’s the perfect way to warm you from the inside out!
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Posted in Photography on December 12 2013, by Ann Rafalko
In winter
all the singing is in
the tops of the trees …
White-Eyes ~ Mary Oliver
Posted in Holiday Train Show on December 11 2013, by Ann Rafalko
If you follow Broadway north from the Battery until it turns into New York State Route 9, and keep going to a town in Westchester, you will find me by taking a left and heading for the river. I was the home of a famous author, synonymous with New York City and New York State whose extensive travels influenced his most famous work and my architecture. I was once one of the most famous houses in all the land because of my beauty and my owner’s fame, but now I slumber until the spring when perhaps a spectral game of nine-pins will awaken me for the tourist season once again.
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Posted in Photography on December 11 2013, by Ann Rafalko
I know that paisley originates from the botanical designs of Iran and India, but they could just as easily have been inspired by the tufts of these grasses in the Perennial Garden.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on December 10 2013, by Ann Rafalko
The season’s first substantial snow is always cause for excited exclamations of “oooh” and “aaaah” from staff and visitors alike, because, well, snow plus garden equals unparalleled beauty! So if you’re coming to visit the Holiday Train Show today, you’re in for an extra special treat! But for everyone else—whether trapped in a cubicle or living in warmer climes—we put together this slideshow of the most beautiful scenes seen today.
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Photographs by Ivo M. Vermeulen
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Posted in Photography on December 10 2013, by Ann Rafalko
If the Perennial Garden were a symphony, this planting would be the “orange movement,” if you will.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on December 9 2013, by Matt Newman
So right about now you’re probably in the throes of gift-giving season, hunting down the perfect gift for that special someone, or even something to wrap up for yourself. And I know, Black Friday has already passed (I think that’s a collective sigh of relief I hear). But don’t worry—the NYBG is home to a wide variety of thoughtful gift ideas that’ll help you win genuine smiles from family and friends. And part of the proceeds will support the Garden as well!
Whether it’s a unique domed terrarium from Shop in the Garden, a Membership that offers year-round enjoyment, an exciting Adult Education course in one of a multitude of interesting subjects, or a dedicated bench on our historic landscape, there’s a gift that will both bring joy to the recipient and help carry out far-reaching education, research, and conservation efforts in our New York community and around the globe—a mission we have been committed to for more than 120 years.
Our shop is the first stop for many gift-hunting visitors, and with good reason. It offers a bevy of gifts in rich botanical textures and seasonal themes, as well as books, music, home decor, edibles, and plants for the window sill or home garden. Looking to set someone up with all the necessary gardening kit? We’ve got you covered there, too, with plenty of tools to suit the trade.
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Posted in Photography on December 9 2013, by Ann Rafalko
When the colors fade, beauty remains.
Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ (photo by Amy Weiss)
Posted in Photography on December 8 2013, by Ann Rafalko
A well placed reflection ruins a geologic illusion.
Native Plant Garden (photo by Senior Plant Recorder, Kristine Paulus)
On November 23 we had the singular pleasure of hosting one of America’s most prolific and critically acclaimed writers, friend of the Garden and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. And though you may know his many works in print—he likes to call his poems “a form of travel writing”—his oeuvre took on an entirely new luster as a sold-out crowd of fans, Garden Members, and curious readers gathered in the Ross Hall for an hour of recitation by the living master himself.
