Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography, Wildlife on August 5 2012, by Matt Newman
The smallest prince presides over his domain. But aren’t all frogs a little snooty with their noses in the air like that?
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 4 2012, by Matt Newman
Are bees ever overwhelmed by the size of the meal in front of them? A sunflower must be something like dancing on top of the banquet table for this little guy.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on August 3 2012, by Matt Newman
Most weekend green thumbs can handle the odd tray of garden center perennials, and some might even tackle the challenge of the more finicky roses. But when it comes to raising Nymphaea, the leap from yard to pond can be intimidating! We understand the hesitance. This weekend, the NYBG‘s horticultural staff aims to dispel that air of mystery just long enough to help our visitors understand the rewards of growing water lilies at home. With a dash of confidence and the right planting, even New Yorkers can spice up their summer displays with these exotic eye catchers.
For the uninitiated, this is your cue to visit the Garden’s own hardy and tropical water lily ponds in the Conservatory Courtyard, where Nymphaea and Nelumbo, the lotus, are firmly planted in the Monet’s Garden spotlight. It’s where we’re featuring a few of the artist’s favorite cultivars, along with a number of newer creations from the Latour-Marliac Nursery, Monet’s go-to supplier for much of his life at Giverny. Once you’ve experienced these aquatic icons as they’re meant to be seen, and picked up a few pointers on their upkeep, make your way to the Shop in the Garden for the supplies you’ll need to grow water lilies at home!
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 3 2012, by Matt Newman
I once had a middle school substitute teacher who told me I should stare at greens and blues if I wanted to “feel cooler.” I still think she was a tad kooky, but in the dead of summer, the Forest always strums the right chord for me.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in People on August 2 2012, by Matt Newman
When Kerlly Bernabé first arrived in the late ’90s, The New York Botanical Garden served as more of a “look but don’t touch” establishment. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, far from the hub of children’s activities it is today, was little more than a blueprint doodle. But it was on that same day, with the appearance of our first Explainers, that all of this began to shift for the better.
Kerlly’s four years as one of the original Garden Explainers resulted in the founding of one of the most significant volunteer programs of any cultural institution in New York City. Today, these high school students–aged 14 to 17–work daily to make learning more than a chore, engaging kids and families throughout the Garden in hands-on activities and open exploration. In helping to build this thriving program, each Explainer leaves with not only a newfound knowledge of nature, but a sound jumping-off point for opportunities in their education and careers. Perhaps more importantly, they leave with a sense of confidence and responsibility.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 2 2012, by Matt Newman
I’m pretty sure “taste the rainbow” is already a trademarked slogan, but you’d be hard-pressed to walk through the Greenmarket farm stalls without it running through your head. Until next week’s spread!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on August 1 2012, by Matt Newman
The Family Garden is changing gears for the foodie crowd, jumping from Sweet and Stinky to an equally (and pungently) delightful delicacy. You’ve probably been there: the corner deli clerk plucks a zeppelin-sized pickle from that greenish jug of brine on the counter, you set into it with a crunch, and your pastrami sandwich is suddenly transcendent. You’re likely thinking it would take a family history in the pickling business, not to mention a wealth of time, to make something so delicious. But, with a little practice, you’ll prove yourself wrong!
Putting together the perfect balance of spices and other flavoring blends is where time and imagination come into play. Otherwise, the brining process is about as easy as packing up leftovers! A few clean jars, a selection of fresh cucumbers, and a handful of other easily-attainable ingredients. It’s so simple you can pick it up during an afternoon “Pickle Me!” session, now running through August 17 in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, from 1:30 to 5:30* p.m. daily. You won’t even need your grandmother’s chilly cellar to let your pickles prepare; with our recipe, the refrigerator will suit just fine.
Posted in Around the Garden, Science on August 1 2012, by Matt Newman
Asian longhorned beetles (ALB) are many things, but picky eaters isn’t one of them. It’s part of the reason they’re now such persistent pests throughout the northern United States. Worse, they’re approaching something of an outright pestilence. These non-native invaders are mincing maple populations, trashing elms, making a buffet of poplars and will happily bore into a wide menu of other tree genera! But thanks to a partnership with the Sentinel Plant Network, a USDA-funded collaboration between North American public gardens and other concerned groups, the NYBG is proud to serve as one of a number of “watchposts” striving to counter the menace through safe, effective means. That’s where our bug traps come in.
Native to Japan, China, and Korea, Anoplophora glabripennis first made its U.S. presence known in 1996. Soon after, it was found in Canada, France, Italy, Germany, and a slew of other countries less than welcoming of their newest guests. By the time authorities concluded that hardwood shipping crates were to blame, it was too late to shut the door: the beetles were already reproducing, boring into trees to lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the larvae then ravage the trees further, feasting on bark and inner wood. And 16 years later, the hunt continues for a fool-proof means of eradicating the ALB from American forests.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 1 2012, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on July 31 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s not that the daylilies are pleading with you to come see them. But looking like this, who would have to?
Hemerocallis ‘Poinsettia’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen