Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on April 20 2011, by Ann Rafalko
We’re having a strange spring in New York City; full of cool, misty days, punctuated by short bursts of sunshine and warmth. It may not be good for humans the long , snowy winter we just got through, but it’s fabulous for the flowers. So damn the weather! Come visit, it’s pretty incredible.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Science on April 19 2011, by Ann Rafalko
| Amy Litt is Director of Plant Genomics and Cullman Curator |
Four of the Garden’s six Science programs, The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Program for Molecular Systematics, the Genomics Program, the Structural Botany Program, and the Graduate Studies Program are housed in the beautiful Pfizer Plant Research Laboratory, which sits at the northwest corner of the Garden overlooking Twin Lakes.
In the Genomics Program, curators, post-docs, graduate students, and technicians, along with undergraduate and high school interns are studying how genes make plants different from each other–for instance why the seeds of some species are enclosed in an edible fleshy fruit like a tomato, whereas the seeds of other species are surrounded by a pod (also called a capsule) that dries and splits open to release the seeds. Graduate students Natalia Pabon-Mora (Judith and Andrew Economos Fellow) and Rachel Meyer and I are studying what makes a tomato fleshy and edible rather than dry and woody by comparing the genes that are active during the formation of tomatoes and closely related capsules.We have identified several interesting-looking genes that act differently during the formation of tomatoes and capsules, and are testing them to see how they contribute to tomato formation.
Rachel and Natalia have tested one of the genes so far, and have found that if it doesn’t function properly, the plant produces tomatoes that are large and lumpy, instead of small (we are working with a cherry variety) and smooth.
Even more interesting, the tomatoes have a very strange uneven blotchy coloration.
We noticed immediately that although these tomatoes are still relatively small, they resemble the large and lumpy shapes we often see in cultivated tomato varieties including oddly colored heirloom varieties. We think we may have found a gene that is responsible for some of the dramatic shapes and sizes of the tomatoes we buy at the grocery store and farmer’s market!
Posted in Photography on April 19 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on April 18 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Things are moving fast here at the Garden; each day brings word of another extraordinarily beautiful plant that has burst into bloom. So, while we’re closed today (but we’ll be open next Monday, April 25), we thought we would share with you some of the amazing flowering trees that are in bloom around our 250-acres. Of course, just as plants burst into flower, they also stop flowering, too, so we cannot guarantee that all of these will still be in bloom when you visit. So, be sure to follow us on Twitter or “like” us on Facebook and get up to the minute updates on what’s beautiful now at the Garden (keeping an eye on the NYBG Blog, Plant Talk can’t hurt either). And if you’ve got a question about whether a specific plant is in bloom, feel free to ask us! We’ll dispatch a plant-porter out into the Garden and get back to you.
Photos by Ivo M. Vermeulen and Mark Pfeffer.
Posted in Photography on April 18 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Newton and Darwin wish you the very happiest of Bun … er, we mean, Mondays!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography on April 17 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Celebrating the reappearance of color at the Garden, one (or two) hue(s) at a time.
Posted in Photography on April 16 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Celebrating the reappearance of color at the Garden, one hue at a time.
Posted in Around the Garden, The Orchid Show on April 15 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Just in time for Spring Break, the best of Broadway is making its way uptown to The New York Botanical Garden on Tuesday, April 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.!
In honor of The Orchid Show: On Broadway, members of Broadway’s most popular shows have created unique interactive programming exclusively for the Garden!
Look for these participants and activities at the locations below in the Adventure Garden:
– Broadway Green Alliance – At the Entrance
Bring your plastic bags to help the Broadway Green Alliance keep plastic bags out of neighborhood trees (and out of landfills) and bring attention to this issue.
– Million Dollar Quartet – At the Stumps
Play Million Dollar Quartet’s version of pin the tail-on-the-donkey, “Pin the guitar on Elvis.”
– Billy Elliot – In the Plaza
The Ballet Girls from the cast of Billy Elliot conduct a ballet dance clinic where you can learn a portion of the number “Shine” from the production.
– Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Near the Waterfall
Priscilla Queen of the Desert will be doing diva-liscious flower and plant face painting.
– Catch Me If You Can – In Sun Central
Fly into the Catch Me if You Can booth to learn how to make the perfect origami airplane.
– RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles – On Lifecycle Lane
Test your luck in the RAIN Strawberry Fields Memory game for the chance to win tickets to the show and other great
prizes
– The Addams Family – In Sun Central
It’s spooky good fun with The Addams Family’s eyeball toss.
– Baby It’s You – At the Stumps
Play “name that tune” to be entered into a drawing to win tickets to the show.
– Davenport Theatrical/Be A Broadway Star Board Game – Near Plant Part Paradise
Try your hand at this brand new board game.
– Lombardi – In Sun Central
Play the Football Toss to win great prizes.
– Wonderland!, Sister Act, and Memphis – Near the Waterfall
Enjoy coloring, friendship games and temporary tattoos.
– Broadway Partners – Near Boulders
Learn more about these exciting shows:
– Jersey Boys
– How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
– Wicked
– Born Yesterday
– La Cage Aux Folles
– Chicago
– Mamma Mia
Posted in Photography on April 15 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Celebrating the reappearance of color at the Garden, one hue at a time.
Posted in Photography on April 14 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Celebrating the reappearance of color at the Garden, one hue at a time.
