Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on August 21 2011, by Ann Rafalko
The allium harvest in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden–where all things garlic, onion, and shallot–were celebrated during Sweet & Stinky month. Do you get a similarly massive bounty from your own garden? Consider some of these simple, family-friendly recipes from the Family Garden for using them up!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on August 20 2011, by Ann Rafalko
This Adnia rubella flower (commonly known as Chinese buttonbush) looks like it would make a very fine stand-in as a magic wand for your favorite fairy princess.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Mario Batali's Edible Garden, Photography on August 19 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Please join Mario Batali, The New York Botanical Garden, and the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest in celebrating the joy of youth gardening! The prize for this special monthly photography contest includes a selection of products from Mario Batali!
The rules are simple:
– Enter up to five photographs of kids gardening, or photographs taken by kids in the garden
– The photos do not have to have been taken at The New York Botanical Garden. They can be from any garden anywhere in the world.
– The photos do have to be placed into the NYBG Flickr Group Pool
– Please tag your photographs with nybgigpoty3
Judging will take place at the beginning of September and one winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, and winners will be announced in September.
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Posted in Photography on August 19 2011, by Ann Rafalko
How did that sunflower get all the way up there?
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on August 18 2011, by Ann Rafalko
The beautiful genus Hibiscus.
Photos by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on August 17 2011, by Ann Rafalko
There are so many good spots to sit and soak-in the sun at the Garden.
A Sunny Bench (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Find Area Codes Us Area Codes Wheare Area Codes Located 201 Area Code
Posted in Photography on August 16 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Why is The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx? When the city and state of New York agreed to allow a group of scientists, civic leaders, and financiers to create “a public botanic garden of the highest class” the group was given the choice of a few different parcels of land. The plot in the Bronx–part of which belonged to the vast Lorillard estate–was chosen for both its abundant natural beauty, and for its dramatic geology. It’s easy to overlook these magnificent rocks, which provide the “bones” to the Garden’s historic landscape, when you’re surrounded by so much verdant beauty; but you shouldn’t.
Photos by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Gardening Tips on August 15 2011, by Ann Rafalko
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Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. |
When I started gardening, I thought of coral bells (Heuchera) as a pleasant choice for the front of a shade border or a nice accent in a tapestry of low growing woodland inhabitants.
I now have a much deeper appreciation for this versatile plant. While some of it has to do with an increased knowledge in horticulture, and a better understanding of the dynamics of design and what constitutes a garden-worthy plant, part of my growing admiration comes from the vast strides that have been made by hybridizers over the past decade.
In our Trial Bed Garden in the Home Gardening Center we have a bed that is devoted to coral bells. It has been there several years so I have been able to watch and see not only how the Huechera have performed during the growing season but also how they have held up over several winters.
On one end of the bed we have planted a coral bell named ‘Black Out.’ One objective of Heuchera hybridizing programs has been a search for the coral bell with the darkest foliage. The results has been a number of newer cultivars that range from chocolate brown to deep burgundy brown, with the ultimate goal of producing a Huechera with true-black foliage.
Heuchera ‘Black Out’ is one of the blackest coral bells on the market. It has glossy deep burgundy foliage that transitions into black with burgundy overtones on its undersides. ‘Black Out’s maple-shaped foliage is medium sized and has a compact shape (without being too small) that makes it ideal for container plantings. All of the plants survived this past winter, although a few of them died back a little and are not as vigorous this year. In general, however, their performance has been good.
Another winner in our Trial Bed Garden is Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet Dream’. This coral bell has deep burgundy foliage that is mottled with silver. The maple-shaped foliage shimmers in a garden setting. It is another medium sized coral bell that is a vigorous grower with a spectacular performance record in this garden. In early to mid summer this coral bell is covered with an attractive haze of dainty pink flowers.
One of the casualties in our garden this year was a cultivar called ‘Sugar Plum’. While it performed beautifully last season, it struggled over the winter and we ended up replacing it this year. We were growing this cultivar in full sun whereas it would normally be happier in part shade. I am not sure if that contributed to its demise; poor drainage is a more likely explanation.
I would love to hear back with your experiences. What are your favorite black coral bells on the market and how do they perform in your gardens? Next time we will look at some coral bells that are ideal for tough, sunny locations: the Heuchera villosa hybrids.
Posted in Photography on August 15 2011, by Ann Rafalko
It’s raining, it’s pouring. We hope you don’t find this photograph boring.
Perennial Garden Puddle (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Photography on August 12 2011, by Ann Rafalko
NYBG staffers and a group of visitors get into the spirit of this month’s Dig! Plant! Grow! theme in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, Pickle Me! Want your own pickles? Come visit the Family Garden daily after 1:30 p.m. and get in on the briney action.
Pickle Party (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Last month’s theme was Sweet and Stinky. Didn’t make it to the Garden to sample the recipes full of alliums? Never fear! Here are the delicious recipes. We’ll post the pickle-tastic recipes here soon!