Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on July 19 2014, by Matt Newman
This daylily is a role model in that we can all aspire to dress this well. Look for it hanging out around the Daylily Walk on your way toward the Haupt Conservatory.
Hemerocallis ‘Role Model’ along the Daylily Walk– Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on July 18 2014, by Lansing Moore
While the rest of the country is coping with extreme weather, New York is being rewarded for its patience during this week’s thunderstorms with some beautiful, clear, and refreshing weather. That makes it the perfect time to take in the scenery of the Native Plant Garden during one of this weekend’s tours!
Bring the little ones on Sunday for the debut of next month’s theme for Dig! Plant! Grow! The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden will play host to a month of pickling activities to let you embark on a tasty new project at home with the family.
If summer nights are more your thing, there is still time to get tickets to our second to last Jazz Age Evening on Thursday, July 24. See photos from last month’s event and get details on the cocktail menu and music program in store for next week on our evenings page. In the mean time, read on for the full schedule of weekend programs!
Posted in Programs and Events on July 18 2014, by Lansing Moore
Next Thursday, July 24, is the second of only three special Jazz Age Evenings here at the Garden. This special event series whisks visitors back in time to the age of Groundbreakers for a magical summer evening. Sip vintage-style cocktails courtesy of our friends at Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, and dance the night away to big band music from the one and only Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra after an initial dance lesson at the start of the party.
Each evening is unique, so read on for the details on the special cocktail recipe and music theme for July 24! You will also see more exclusive photos of last month’s Jazz Age Evening, and get a peek of what’s in store for you and that special someone.
Posted in Photography on July 18 2014, by Matt Newman
The flower clusters of Sanguisorba tenuifolia float like dainty ghosts at the tips of their spindly stems, calling out the beauty of the Seasonal Walk in summer all the more.
Sanguisorba tenuifolia along the Seasonal Walk – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on July 17 2014, by Matt Newman
Echinops along Seasonal Walk – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Horticulture on July 16 2014, by Deanna Curtis
Deanna F. Curtis is Curator of Woody Plants at The New York Botanical Garden where she develops, documents, and helps manage the historic hardy tree and shrub collections.
The uncommonly cultivated cobweb flower (Platycrater arguta) is one of many rare Asian woodland species grown in the Azalea Garden. A hydrangea relative, this species is native to southern Japan, as well as a small range in eastern China, where it is considered threatened.
This deciduous shrub reaches about 3-4’ feet high and wide and is sure to stump many a horticulturalist with its lovely, unique blooms. Four-petaled white flowers form a balloon shape before opening to display abundant, large yellow stamens. Floral bracts persist into fall, adding texture while the leaves fade to yellow.
If you can find this plant at a nursery, it might be a perfect addition for a partial shaded, well-drained spot in your garden. At the center of the Azalea Garden you’ll find this lovely, well-behaved species in bloom right near the overlook.
Posted in Photography on July 16 2014, by Matt Newman
It turns out you can have storm clouds sans all that wind, lightning, and falling water. You can even put them in a pot and keep them happily at home.
Agapanthus ‘Storm Cloud’ by the Mosholu Gate – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on July 15 2014, by Lansing Moore
Tomorrow’s Greenmarket will feature a very special herb demonstration by the community gardeners at Bronx Green-Up. Come with questions and pick up a gardening tip sheet to bring home! Each week features a special educational component. Check the upcoming schedule and see what useful tips and tricks you can bring home along with your groceries.
And don’t bother putting together a shopping list. The fun of the Greenmarket is coming to visit and planning your recipes around what’s in season. There’s a wealth of variety right now, including cherries, tomatoes, red and golden beets, and raspberries. Our specialty vendors also bring delicious baked goods every Wednesday to NYBG, such as assorted pies and tarts, cakes, brownies, and biscotti.
With the menus announced for our upcoming Family Dinners with Mario Batali’s Chefs—beginning Sunday, July 27—there is no end of inspiration for fresh summer recipes! One popular classic makes use of two ingredients in season at the moment—strawberries and rhubarb! Click through for a recipe to make an Old-Fashioned Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp to share with loved ones.
Posted in Gardening Tips on July 15 2014, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education.
The word “thyme” is derived from two possible Greek sources. One term means “to fumigate”—in ancient Greece, thyme was burnt at temples as incense, owing to its nice balsam odor. The other possible source is an association with courage. This association lasted from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages, when women gave knights gifts embroidered or decorated with thyme to inspire bravery.
These days, thyme—with its aromatic oils–is usually associated with invigoration. It is an asset in any landscape and makes a wonderful woody ground cover or a lawn alternative, as it is now commonly known. The diminutive pale pink or lavender flowers are a magnet for bees and help them to produce a wonderful honey. A large industry exists for extracting the herb’s essential oils. These oils are primarily distilled in the South of France, where the arid climate suits the plant’s Mediterranean temperament perfectly.
Some varieties of thyme have their place in the kitchen while others are more suited for the landscape. The most popular thyme is English thyme (Thymus vulgaris). English thyme is not native to England—the Romans introduced the herb—but the Brits took it on as their own. It has the strong, distinctive flavor that we most associate with the herb today.
Posted in Photography on July 15 2014, by Lansing Moore
Culver’s root is one of the more shapely flowers currently in season, and they make a great accent to any floral design.
Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Fascination’ in the Native Plant Garden – Photo by Ivo M.Vermeulen