The mullein (Verbascum) in our “Mrs. Rockefeller’s Garden” display is getting pleasantly overzealous in its efforts to outdazzle the rest of the planting.
This Friday, June 20, the Garden will host the inaugural symposium of the new Humanities Institute within the LuEsther T. Mertz Library! This exciting new initiative will further establish the academic role of the world’s largest, most comprehensive botanical and horticultural library.
When you come to visit the Garden, more often than not you’re getting a view of the final product. Only seldom do our guests have the unexpected privilege of seeing all of our work in progress.
You may have come for a visit in the spring or the fall and seen us ripping out beds of bulbs or annuals, replacing them with other seasonal displays. We’re busy making what I call a “tidy mess”—or sometimes, depending on the personalities at play, “controlled chaos.” Everything gets ripped out. Perennials are given a new home, spent annuals dumped in the back of a Toro (our little, red, environmentally-friendly electric carts) and taken away to the compost heap. The bed is then raked smooth, fertilized, and its edges tidied in preparation for the new planting.
Carts of annuals and tender perennials are brought down to the work area, looking like nursery on wheels. A discussion then ensues on the placement and the number of plants available for each area. The bed is measured and divided into quadrants, the annuals are spaced, and each plant placed in the bed.
Beginning June 18, visitors to the Garden will have a chance to bring home some healthy and delicious treats from the NYBG Greenmarket! Each Wednesday through November 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., fresh food and produce will be available near the Garden’s Mosholu Gate from local vendors, in a collaboration between NYBG and Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC. There is no reason not to come enjoy the beautiful summer scenery while you get some shopping done!
Happy Father’s Day! Here’s to all the dads out there that—even if they’re a bit prickly—will always have a heart of gold. We’ll be chilling on Daffodil Hill for the Big Backyard BBQ all afternoon, so feel free to join us if you’re in the mood for good food, beer, and music.
Prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) in the Native Plant Garden – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Beer, bands, BBQ. In a nutshell, that should be enough to give you an idea of what’s going on this Saturday and Sunday at the Garden. We’re opening up Daffodil Hill for a Father’s Day weekend to remember with a stacked roster of great Americana bands, visiting samplers, BBQ for sale, and plenty of craft beer offerings to help you toast the coming summer warmth!
While our Big Backyard BBQ is our spotlight event (grab tickets in advance if you can!), there are a number of other activities taking place at NYBG over the weekend for those who are raring for some exploration. The Rose Garden’s still popping, making it the perfect time to jump on a tour. And if you’re of a mind to break out your binoculars, Debbie Becker’s weekly Bird Walk takes place at 11 a.m. this Saturday. We’re even holding our Three Billy Goats Gruff family concert for anyone with kids to entertain.
From our Groundbreakers activities to the growing vegetables in our Family Garden, the end of spring is beyond lively. See you on grounds!