Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Archive: December 2014

Tips for Your Visit: Peak Days at the Holiday Train Show

Posted in Programs and Events on December 22 2014, by Lansing Moore

Enid Haupt Conservatory NYBGThe holidays are in full swing! For the next two weeks—through January 4, to be specific—the Holiday Train Show will bring in more visitors than ever to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, with families gathering to take part in this 23-year New York tradition as part of their seasonal celebrations. And there’s no reason you and your loved ones shouldn’t join in the fun and make some magical memories together, too!

We would like to ensure that your Garden visit is as whimsical and worry-free as possible, so continue reading below for some simple tips to help you have the best possible experience at the Holiday Train Show! Follow these handy guidelines, and you’ll be riding First Class.

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This Weekend: Holiday Harmonies & More

Posted in Programs and Events on December 19 2014, by Lansing Moore

Rockefeller Center angels Holiday Train Show NYBGThis weekend marks the beginning of peak season for the Holiday Train Show® as families from around the area come to celebrate this beloved tradition in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Don’t wait another moment to get your tickets! Time slots remain available to come enjoy this beloved tradition this weekend, but the next couple of weeks are sure to sell out.

In fact, Bar Car Nights have already sold out for tonight and tomorrow, so don’t wait to reserve tickets for these special evenings in January—they’re sure to disappear.

Be sure to catch the final performance of our all-new Winter Harmonies Concert Series on Sunday afternoon, as well. An artful selection of classical favorites, inspired by the Holiday Train Show® and performed by Le Train Bleu, will complement your visit. Head below for more information about this unique musical experience, as well as the rest of this weekend’s programs and tours.

 

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Morning Eye Candy: Cold Light

Posted in Photography on December 18 2014, by Matt Newman

We’re almost to that point where we can officially start admiring the long shadows and defined light of winter. The first day of the season is this Sunday, December 21.

Library Building

The Library Building – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Winter Comes to Seasonal Walk

Posted in Horticulture on December 16 2014, by Sonia Uyterhoeven

Sonia Uyterhoeven is NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.


Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea 'Transparent'
Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’

While most of the Garden is being put to bed, our Seasonal Walk—designed by Piet Oudolf—is still putting on a notable display as the winter approaches. This is thanks to Oudolf’s naturalistic design which incorporates many plants that senesce well and provide interest even after they’ve passed their seasonal prime.

A week or two ago I was working on the Seasonal Walk, tidying up the border with my colleague, Katie Bronson, and we were admiring some of the sturdier perennials that still looked good even into December. One of the most striking features of the Walk at the onset of the hibernal months is the tall purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea ssp. arundinacea ‘Transparent’). This grass played an important role earlier in the season as it shot up to nearly six feet, towering over many of its neighboring perennial brethren. ‘Transparent’ has airy flowers with an open habit and long-lasting seedheads.

The stems of ‘Transparent’ turn into a vision of glowing embers late in the season, when they take on golden, orange, and raspberry hues. Those of you with a watchful eye may have noticed as you strolled down the border that some of the stems on certain grasses were upright, sturdy, and colorful, while other, similar grasses looked somewhat worse for wear and had only golden yellow stems. Katie told me that along with ‘Transparent’, some tall more grass (Molinia arundinacea ‘Skyracer’) had been planted. Presumably these plants will be removed in the spring and replaced with more ‘Transparent’. It was difficult to distinguish the two during the growing season, but their disparities became apparent in the fall.

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