Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 8 2013, by Matt Newman
Because I figured yesterday’s helping of lollipop-colored milkweed wasn’t enough for our collective visual appetite. Have some orange milkweed to start what I hope will be a lovely Thursday.
Asclepias tuberosa — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 7 2013, by Matt Newman
Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 6 2013, by Matt Newman
Kodai Nakazawa’s tools are as integral to his work as the know-how he puts behind them. Last week, I teased his efforts in the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections as the return of a Garden favorite. And those who chimed in were right—Kiku is coming! We’ll have more for you in the coming weeks as we draw nearer to this meticulously prepared Japanese chrysanthemum exhibition.
If you appreciate the implements of a specialized artform as much as I do, you’ll understand why these leaf cutters—with their subtle dimensional differences—are so fascinating.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Gardens and Collections on August 5 2013, by Matt Newman
Because it’s an absurdly beautiful day, but also a Monday (we’re not open to the public most Mondays—our horticulturists need space and safety to work on weekly sprucing-up), I figured I’d throw together a little teaser for anyone planning to pay us a visit this week. The Native Plant Garden in particular is dancing in the middle distance between wild and dapper, and the effect is one of natural improvisation.
Our NPG horticulturists like to say that the space bleeds from one biome into the next—that plants and colors are painted in swathes and mingle at the edges, dry forest melting into wet forest, meadow phasing into wetland. There’s so much to see growing in the Native Plant Garden in midsummer, and all of it wrapped up together in a subtly but carefully curated space. It’s utopian in the best way.
[Not a valid template]The Native Plant Garden is an absolute must-see all year round, but whether or not this picturesque weather keeps up through the rest of the week, it’s still your one-stop shop for peace of mind. That’s what the benches are for, after all.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 5 2013, by Matt Newman
Sabatia kennedyana — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 4 2013, by Matt Newman
Lilium philadelphicum — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 3 2013, by Matt Newman
Seeing the ferns in the Azalea Garden always reminds me of Dr. Oliver Sacks’ book, Oaxaca Journal. His descriptions of these delicate, prehistoric plants put me in mind of ancient forests, and the shade of deep, unbroken green so antithetical to stressing out.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on August 2 2013, by Matt Newman
Water lilies are a summer staple here that you really can’t overlook. The Conservatory pools are replete with reds, yellows, purples, whites, and pinks, each bloom bobbing up from below to create a mosaic of unique hues. Surrounded by the tall (and enormous) lotus blooms bordering the pools, it’s a singular experience. But however majestic these flowers are, they’re not out of reach for the home gardener, even here in New York.
Join us this weekend at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for a home gardening demonstration focusing on the quirks and qualities of the water lily, discovering new varieties, container planting methods, and tips on how to keep your aquatic collection thriving.
Over in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, we’ll be hosting demonstrations of a different, slightly more palatable form—literally. Each Saturday & Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m. you can join Family Garden staff for cooking demos in the Whole Foods Market Kitchen. In summer, we’re especially fond of the sweet and stinky elements of the vegetable patch, so expect to touch on garlic and onions while you’re there. Chances are you’ll be able to follow your nose if you get lost!
Beyond our hands-on activities, you’ll find elements of our ongoing Wild Medicine exhibition woven into almost everything taking place in the Garden, whether it’s the Italian Renaissance Garden in the Conservatory, the classical music and dance in the Ross Hall, or the time-worn pages of ancient herbal manuscripts in the Library. So even if you’re just coming for a stroll in the Forest, make room in your schedule for a little bit more—you won’t regret it.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 2 2013, by Matt Newman
Just in case you were skeptical about the cardinal flower‘s “hummingbird delicacy” status.
Lobelia cardinalis and guest — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 1 2013, by Matt Newman
This canna lily cultivar has led something of a confused life. First introduced in 1898 by C. Sprenger, Dammann & Co. of Naples, Italy, it wasn’t until the latter half of the 20th century that horticulturists began confusing ‘Roma’ with ‘Florence Vaughan’, a predecessor introduced by A. Crozy in Lyon, France around 1893. Whatever the catalyst for the mix-up (other than the obvious similarities), you’ll still see this cultivar mislabeled on shelves today.
Canna ‘Roma’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen