Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Matt Newman
Posted in Around the Garden on February 17 2012, by Matt Newman
Last weekend’s predictions for snowfall missed the mark by a mile, so we’re spending today confident that the last white of winter is well behind us. Or that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Because without the snow, it makes spending a day at the NYBG a piece of cake, and the trains (usually) tend to run on time. With the Caribbean Garden winding down in preparation for the opening of this year’s Orchid Show, there’s also more motivation to come pay us a visit!
If you’re one of the lucky New Yorkers to have a full three-day weekend to enjoy, we’re even going to open the gates on Monday to make the most of it. We don’t exactly do that every week. And with the kids out of school, you might consider this an example of opportunity knocking–how often do you get to spend a day with them while out and about, anyway?
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Posted in Around the Garden, Exhibitions, Learning Experiences on February 17 2012, by Matt Newman
Exploring the Conservatory during Caribbean Garden weekends becomes a study in the music of the islands. While you walk along the paths beneath the palm fronds, see if you can spot the “living instruments” that create the rhythms of salsa, a Caribbean tradition that springs from the very plants growing around you!
Drums, or congas, are traditionally made from the wood of the versatile mahogany tree (Swietenia macrophylla). Be on the look-out for a perfect specimen of this warm climate hardwood as you enter our Tropical Rainforest Gallery on a tour of the exhibition.
While you’re there, perhaps you can also find the gourd-bearing trees known as calabash (Crescentia cujete), the fruit of which was once dried and used to create food and water vessels. But cultivators also use it for other purposes, many of them far more creative.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 17 2012, by Matt Newman
Waiting for the first hues of spring is like knowing your friends are throwing you a surprise party for your birthday. The only problem is that you don’t know exactly when it starts, or where.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography, Wildlife on February 16 2012, by Matt Newman
NYBG member and resident bird photographer Laura Meyers was walking the grounds recently when she caught the hint of a welcome sight. It happened to be sitting on a sweet gum branch, munching a beakful of seeds. But as common as the Red-winged Blackbird is to most northerners, many don’t realize what the songbird signifies around this time of year.
As she sent along her photograph, Laura also shared this bit of information:
“I was happy and surprised to see a Red-winged Blackbird at The New York Botanical Garden this past Friday. Male Red-winged Blackbirds return north in the spring ahead of the females and migrate south after the females in the fall.”
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Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on February 16 2012, by Matt Newman
Sometimes it seems like no amount of scheduling can prepare you for a school vacation week. It so often ends up an unpredictable whirlwind of video games, laziness, messy rooms and puzzling out dinner plans. But you can save the remains of your patience! With the kids freed from class next week, The New York Botanical Garden has rearranged the calendar to make it easy for you to keep the little ones occupied–anything to get them off the couch and out of the house. We’ll be offering longer hours, ongoing children’s events every day of the week, and of course our Winter Science Camp to keep young minds sharp.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Behind the Scenes, Photography, The Orchid Show on February 16 2012, by Matt Newman
A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ongoing efforts of the Orchid Show staff. Not that I’d give away too much this early on.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Window Garden Wednesday on February 15 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s a rare day at the NYBG when I can take a few steps through the halls without seeing a splash of green foliage brightening a workspace. Working alongside some of the world’s most talented and knowledgeable botanists tends to relate directly to the number of office plants that find homes on desks and window sills. Window Garden Wednesday exists to acquaint our readers with some of the folks who are often too busy in the field, lab, or conference room to spend time lurking on social media sites. (That’s our job.)
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 15 2012, by Matt Newman
Grays and browns are old hat (almost, anyway). If you’re looking for a refresher on what the color of warmth actually looks like, look no further than the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory come March 3. The 10th annual Orchid Show is nearly here.
Epc. Rene Marques x Epi pseudoepidendrum — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 14 2012, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on February 13 2012, by Matt Newman
Especially because this winter feels like an early springtime, it’s time to get excited for a new season of the Children’s Gardening Program at the two-acre Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. As of February 1, we opened registration for our popular Crafters and Sprouts for the spring, summer, and fall sessions.
Garden Sprouts introduces three- to five-year-olds and their accompanying parent to garden exploration, from digging for earthworms to planting seeds. Sprouts enjoy seasonal gardening tasks, the opportunity to sample garden-fresh produce grown in their own plots, and activities especially crafted for the young green thumb.
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Last weekend’s predictions for snowfall missed the mark by a mile, so we’re spending today confident that the last white of winter is well behind us. Or that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Because without the snow, it makes spending a day at the NYBG a piece of cake, and the trains (usually) tend to run on time. With the Caribbean Garden winding down in preparation for the opening of this year’s Orchid Show, there’s also more motivation to come pay us a visit!
