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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Matt Newman

Morning Eye Candy: 1 in 10

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 13 2013, by Matt Newman

It may be commonplace—the London planetree accounts for one in 10 of the street trees you see in New York City—but its recognizable seed balls still carry a bit of Seussian charm.

Platanus x acerfolia 'Pyramidalis'

Platanus x acerfolia ‘Pyramidalis’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

This Thursday: Strawberry Fields

Posted in Programs and Events on August 12 2013, by Matt Newman

The Italian Renaissance GardenWe’ve made our way through cucumbers and gin, berry-tinged tequila, and the finest in Italian jazz, and as we near Thursday night’s final Cocktail Evening & Summer Concert of the Wild Medicine exhibition, we’re changing it up one more time. If you’re as much a fan of the smoky nuance of bourbon as I am, you’ll want to clear your evening schedule.

This round’s specialty cocktail is “Strawberry Fields,” a balanced mix of Crème Yvette, bourbon, ginger ale and lime—all matched to the tenor of Michéal Castaldo, our guest singer. Backed by his string quartet, he brings the classic standards of his Italian homeland to our stage for one night only.

Preface your evening out with a quiet walk through our Wild Medicine displays in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, strolling around the Italian Renaissance Garden and the many medicinal plants growing in our glasshouse. Afterward, grab your complementary cocktail and a few samples from Mike’s Deli and the Bronx Beer Hall, or bring a blanket and pick up a picnic dinner to enjoy the concert from the Conservatory Lawn. Those looking to keep the night moving will find a cash bar with wine, beer, food, and other refreshments available.

For MasterCard holders, we also offer a champagne pre-party beginning in the Shop in the Garden and moving on to Wild Medicine. We even offer discounts at famed Arthur Avenue restaurants nearby for those holding Cocktail Evening tickets. Because why wouldn’t you make a full night of it?

With only a few days remaining between now and our last Cocktail Evening on August 15, not to mention tickets dwindling, you may want to think about registering as soon as possible. You just bring yourself—we’ll bring the drinks!

Morning Eye Candy: Camera to Camera

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 11 2013, by Matt Newman

People often ask me if we take visitor-submitted photographs, and without fail, I can’t talk up our NYBG Flickr group enough. Traveling visitors, local residents, and even a few Garden staffers—like the Herbarium’s Amy Weiss—contribute dozens of photos each week to this community. Novice shutterbug or veteran photographer, we encourage you all to join up.

Amy Weiss

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ — Photo by Amy Weiss

This Weekend: An Appetizing August

Posted in Programs and Events on August 9 2013, by Matt Newman

The NYBG WeekendGot your Family Dinner tickets yet? This Sunday, August 11, we launch into the second of three top-notch culinary adventures as a new batch of Mario Batali’s finest chefs team up to treat your appetite. Top billing this round goes to Chef Andy Nusser of Tarry Lodge and Chef Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono, with a rich, varied menu of fruits, vegetables, and savory dishes that make artful use of the grill. Time is running out, and so are open spots, so make a point of visiting Priceless NY to get your tickets.

Elsewhere in the Garden, Wild Medicine is only getting better with the flush of summer’s greenery. The Italian Renaissance Garden in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a daily-changing landscape festooned with the therapeutic plants, trees, and flowers of Italy’s garden at Padua. In the Ross Hall, we’re spotlighting the Music and Dance of the Renaissance with the talented bards of Early Music New York and The New York Historical Dance Company. The Library is a haven for history buffs right now with The Renaissance Herbal‘s collection of centuries-old botanical tomes. And in the Home Gardening Center, we’re going practical with water-wise gardening tips and plant placement advice. Whether you’re revisiting your seaside garden with new resolve post-Sandy, or just not sure what to plant in your backyard, our horticulturists have the answers.

We’ll see you out there!

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This Sunday: Family Dinner al Fresco!

Posted in Mario Batali's Edible Garden on August 8 2013, by Matt Newman

Courtesy of Andrea HouseFrom the Mozzarella di Bufala to the Pistachio Olive Oil Cake, the three-course, family-style meal cooked up by Chefs Cruz Goler and Frank Langello during July’s Family Dinner was a summer highlight for food lovers. But with different chefs come new and unique dishes! And without missing a beat, we’re leaping headlong into our second Family Dinner this Sunday, August 11, with the talents of another pair of Mario Batali‘s renowned chefs at the ready. With Chef Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono and Chef Andy Nusser of Tarry Lodge manning the grill, this is an unmissable al fresco experience.

Heirloom tomatoes, Shrimp al Ajillo, grilled apricots—there’s a lot going into this round’s menu. But I won’t spoil it all for you if you don’t want to see it; you can always find the full listing here. In the meantime, you’ll be greeted with expertly paired wines, sparkling Italian water, bookend cooking demonstrations set up around the dinner schedule, and hands-on gardening activities to keep your little ones occupied while the food is cooking up.

These photos from our July 28 evening, courtesy of Andrea House, should give you a taste of what you’ll enjoy this Sunday.

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