I took an aimless jaunt around the Garden yesterday to see what the birds were singing about. Of course, I rarely have a goal when I set out, and this was no different. I checked to see whether the trees had given up all of their fall color (they haven’t), and if the NYBG‘s wild turkeys were still tottering around without care for man, beast, or passing Garden tram (they are). In the Forest, breezy reds and yellows still clung to many of the trees, and there was that pervasive, comforting sense of autumn isolation to wrap yourself up in. But what’s going on by the Visitor Center can only be called a holiday hubbub.
I saw winter-bare trees wrapped in strings of lights, wreathed benches, and a conifer display primped and preened, anxious for someone to come along and flip the switch on its own light show. And further down the path, just outside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, I picked up on the telling twinkle of the season’s defining event: the Holiday Train Show! Horticulturists, model makers, and toy train aficionados have kept their noses to the grindstone for weeks, making sure that each elevated track and glowing window is left perfect for the thousands of New York fans ready to pour through those Conservatory doors. And because there are new models to be seen this year, the challenge was that much greater. But, as always, it’s worth the work they put into it to see so many grins.
I spent about an hour wandering yesterday, half of that in the Forest and the collections surrounding. It’s impressive–how insulated and peaceful the place is when you have a late afternoon to while away there.
Can you blame me for the flood of kiku imagery hitting Plant Talk lately? Well, you could, but I’m willing to bet that you understand my motivations on sight alone.
So the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is buzzing. Really buzzing–with the sound of Paul Busse and his team hurrying about, setting the scene for this Saturday’s opening of the Holiday Train Show; the rush of miniature trains barreling along tiny tracks; and, now and then, the familiar noise of appreciation when an NYBG staffer sees a new model for the first time. After over 20 years as one of New York City’s most beloved holiday traditions, this exhibition still makes us a little giddy.
As it so happens, Ivo just walked in with a camera full of Holiday Train Show setup shots, and we see absolutely no sane reason to continue sitting on them–especially when giving you a sneak peek would be much more fun. So without further ado, have a look at some of our favorite miniatures, both classic and new, and see if you can put a name to the facades.
We’re seeing a lot of countdowns, lately. Fall is drawing to a close, the IGPOTY submission deadline is on the horizon, and we’re pipping off the days until the opening of the Holiday Train Show. Near at hand, we’re also staring down the November 21 close of 2012’s Greenmarket season; tomorrow–Wednesday, November 14–marks the penultimate chance to get your fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods and cheeses before our vendors close up shop until next summer. And why, oh why, would you choose to skip out on fresh eats?
I didn’t think you would!
Last week’s menu was stuffed with fresh-from-the-oven goodies by both The Little Bake Shop and Meredith’s Bakery (you’ll find a reliable herd of staffers making a mad dash for the whoopie pies each Wednesday morning). Chocolate croissants, cupcakes, cookies, fruit pies, and plenty of freshly-baked breads took center stage, while Migliorelli Farm’s apple cider donuts weren’t exactly flying under the radar, either.
Worldwide exposure, thousands of dollars in prize money, and the chance to see your work displayed alongside that of the globe’s most talented nature photographers–the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition offers a seriously tempting package. But what it doesn’t offer is an infinite submission window! The November 30 deadline is nearly at our doorstep, and as the official U.S. IGPOTY partner, we’re not playing coy about pushing our talented fans and visitors to get their work out in the open.
With a little under three weeks until the contest shutters for 2012, I can’t emphasize enough what an opportunity this is for those who patron The New York Botanical Garden. For professional photographers, IGPOTY is the next step in bolstering your name among garden photography circles; for amateurs, it’s a chance to prove your mettle with the big players. Whichever the case, a win during IGPOTY boils down to a shot in the arm for your photography career (and your bank account).
Seems we haven’t visited the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in a while. While horticulturists prep for our next exhibition, the orchids nod off under the warmth of the glasshouse.
Phragmipedium ‘Inti’s Tears’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
I took an aimless jaunt around the Garden yesterday to see what the birds were singing about. Of course, I rarely have a goal when I set out, and this was no different. I checked to see whether the trees had given up all of their fall color (they haven’t), and if the NYBG‘s wild turkeys were still tottering around without care for man, beast, or passing Garden tram (they are). In the Forest, breezy reds and yellows still clung to many of the trees, and there was that pervasive, comforting sense of autumn isolation to wrap yourself up in. But what’s going on by the Visitor Center can only be called a holiday hubbub.
