Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on September 12 2014, by Lansing Moore
Seasonal Walk is sporting a new look courtesy of acclaimed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. A celebration of the beauty of plants throughout year, Seasonal Walk never goes out of style.
Seasonal Walk – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Horticulture on September 11 2014, by Kristine Paulus
Kristine Paulus is NYBG’s Plant Records Manager. She is responsible for the curation of The Lionel Goldfrank III Computerized Catalog of the Living Collections. She manages nomenclature standards and the plant labels for all exhibitions, gardens, and collections, while coordinating with staff, scientists, students and the public on all garden related plant information.
I recently became the Plant Records Manager here at NYBG, and when I was offered the position I thought I would be spinning plant records as a DJ at the Orchid Dinner and the Conservatory Ball. Just kidding! However, while I was fully prepared to take on the massive task of keeping tabs on the Garden’s living collections, I still secretly harbor a desire to play plant records—that is to say, to play records (or CDs, or MP3s, or whatever is en vogue now) about plants.
There’s so much good music out there about plants! Sure, there are tons of vague ditties about generic flowers (blue flowers, red flowers, wild flowers, where flowers have gone, and not getting flowers anymore) but I get particularly excited about songs that allow me to “botanize” because they’re about specific plants. Songs about plants that grow here at The New York Botanical Garden are even better.
Posted in Photography on September 11 2014, by Lansing Moore
There is always something colorful to admire in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, every day of the year.
Bougainvillea ‘James Walker’ in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on September 10 2014, by Andy Garden
With only two weeks until the official first day of fall, today’s Greenmarket looks as delectable as ever. Ginger gold apples, eggplants, spaghetti squashes, and pipicha—an aromatic herb from Mexico that closely resembles tarragon—are all lined up and ready to make your kitchen their new home.
Spaghetti squash is undoubtedly one of the most unique foods you’ll come across at the Greenmarket. This melon-shaped winter squash is named for its flesh that looks like translucent strands of thin spaghetti when cooked. Not only is the flavor mild and delicate, but also spaghetti squash is loaded with nutrients and its seeds can be roasted like those of pumpkins. For beginners, just adding garlic can turn a squash into a highly versatile side dish that kids will love!
While your squash is baking, check out the upcoming schedule for future special programs, demos, and Q&As at the Wednesday Greenmarket. GrowNYC’s calendar of what’s in season will guide you through other varieties of winter squash harvested in fall.
Posted in Horticulture on September 9 2014, by Christian Primeau
Christian Primeau is the NYBG‘s Manager of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
The following is an excerpt from a conversation I had with my lovely wife regarding one of my favorite plants:
“Is it…dead?”
“No, it’s not dead.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, it’s what I do for a living, so yes, I’m sure.”
“I think its dead.”
“I assure you it is alive.”
“I’m just saying it doesn’t look that way.”
As thrilled as I’d be to title this blog post “The Time I Was Right,” let me set aside petty triumphs (I’ll celebrate later) and address this mystery plant that looks dead, but isn’t. You don’t often stumble across Cynanchum marnierianum for sale and very rarely will you see it on display. The reason is fairly evident—most people wouldn’t consider a plant that looks like a bundle of dead twigs all that stimulating.
Call me a contrarian, but when I hear someone exclaim how ugly a plant is, it makes me love it that much more. Let us save the pretty plants for those with no imagination! I think maybe Proust said that. I appreciate conventionally beautiful plants as much as the next person but, like Grumpy Cat or Adrien Brody, some things appear so bizarre one can’t help but love them.
Posted in Photography on September 9 2014, by Matt Newman
An uncommon visitor to the Rock Garden this summer caught the eye (and camera) of our resident bird and wildlife aficionado, Debbie Becker.
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) in the Rock Garden – Photo by Debbie Becker
Posted in Wildlife on September 8 2014, by Debbie Becker
Debbie Becker has been The New York Botanical Garden’s resident bird expert for over 25 years, and continues to lead her popular Bird Walks on Saturday mornings throughout much of the year.
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is the best place to bird during the fall migration. With its diverse habitats it offers birders unique and spectacular views of migrating birds.
The great fall migration begins with the movement of shore birds in late July. The shores of the Bronx River and Twin Lakes often become a good stopover point for spotted and solitary sandpipers. They bob along the shoreline grabbing small insects and crustaceans. In the wetlands, Wilson’s Snipes stop to search for food and temporary shelter.
Warblers, ruby-throated hummingbirds, tanagers, and grosbeaks begin to arrive in late August and remain through early October.
The warblers are headed south with their immature offspring and many are no longer in breeding colors. Some are brown or olive green with one or two wing bars. This gives credence to the phrase “confusing fall warblers.” It is often a challenge to identify some warblers which adds a bit of mystery to birding.
Posted in Photography on September 8 2014, by Matt Newman
The cardinal rule of visiting the Native Plant Garden dictates that you’re not allowed to miss summer’s cardinal flowers.
Cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) in the Native Plant Garden – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on September 7 2014, by Matt Newman
No worries—green still lords over most everything on the grounds, and quite pleasantly, at that.
In the Native Plant Garden – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on September 6 2014, by Matt Newman
The roses are particularly flirty in September, when perhaps the promise of the coming fall chill has them blooming with abandon.
Rosa ‘Kiss Me’ in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden – Photo by Amy Weiss