Inside The New York Botanical Garden

This Weekend: Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics

Posted in Programs and Events on January 30 2015, by Lansing Moore

New York Botanical Garden What's Wonderful in WinterThe grounds are looking spectacular this week beneath a fresh blanket of snow, and this weekend features two unique walking tours designed to enhance your experience of the season. The Tree Tour and the Landmarks Tour present two opportunities to take in NYBG’s gleaming winter landscape with the benefit of a Garden Guide.

Meanwhile, in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Wild Medicine in the Tropics continues its journey through the many remarkable medicinal plants of the rain forest. Get an in-depth look with NYBG’s award-winning app, Wild Medicine.

And next Tuesday we announce the first round of weekly winners in our Wild Medicine Photo Contest! The two categories are “Macro” (close-up) and “Sense of Place” (wide shot), upload your contributions to the NYBG Flickr Group Pool and join in the fun! You could be one of the Grand Prize winners to be awarded a seat in the NYBG Adult Education photography class of your choice. Join fellow photography enthusiasts every weekend for Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics, led by one of NYBG’s photo experts. Check out the contest rules for complete details.

Experience NYBG through your own lens and share your vision with us! Read on for the full schedule of special tours and programs this weekend.

Saturday, January 31

Cochliostema odoratissimum Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Wild Medicine in the Tropics

Wild Medicine in the Tropics Guides  Roaming Q&A – 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Take a trip through paradise with a Garden guide who will highlight the interesting plants of our permanent collection in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert to learn about bird-friendly habitats, migrating species, and birds that make a permanent home at the Garden.

Winter Wonderland Tree Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Even in cold weather there’s plenty of interest in our gardens and collections. Meet at the Reflecting Pool and embark on an invigorating 45-minute walk to view the Garden’s stately conifer collection and old growth Forest amid the beauty of winter.

Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics – 1–3 p.m., with tour at 1:30 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory Palms of the World Gallery
Join our expert on hand in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory who will dispense garden photography tips, encouragement, and critique for budding photographers. Advice on perspective, lighting, and composition will be provided. Participation in the online photo contest is encouraged!
Please note: All-Garden Pass admission is required. No monopods or tripods are allowed in the Conservatory.

Conservatory Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s Guides. Take an ecotour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays.

Sunday, February 1

Tulip Tree Allee snow

Wild Medicine in the Tropics Guides Roaming Q&A – 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Take a trip through paradise with a Garden guide who will highlight the interesting plants of our permanent collection in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Landmarks of the New York Botanical Garden  – 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Join us for a fascinating overview of the Garden’s history and its importance as a vital New York City cultural destination. With an expert guide, explore the Allee, the Fountain of Life, and the Mertz Library.

Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics – 1–3 p.m., with tour at 1:30 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory Palms of the World Gallery
Join our expert on hand in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory who will dispense garden photography tips, encouragement, and critique for budding photographers. Advice on perspective, lighting, and composition will be provided. Participation in the online photo contest is encouraged!
Please note: All-Garden Pass admission is required. No monopods or tripods are allowed in the Conservatory.

Ongoing Children’s Programs


Tropical Discoveries – 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Inside the cozy William and Lynda Steere Discovery Center kids of all ages can take a closer look at the differences between tropical and temperate plants. Pot up a tropical plant to take home and compare its characteristics with foliage in your neighborhood. Make bark rubbings, count tree rings, and head back into the winter garden with a field notebook to discover the vital sparks of life that lie just below the surface of this quiet season in the Northeast.