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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Matt Newman

This Thursday: Agave’s Finest

Posted in Programs and Events on July 17 2013, by Matt Newman

CocktailsCrème Yvette, lime, and one all-important choice to finish it: tequila or mezcal? We’re moving off from the last Cocktail Evening‘s gin and cucumber combo toward something on the smoky side of the spectrum, couching the refreshing flavors of berry liqueur in everyone’s favorite agave spirits. And with the city baking like a blueberry pie this week, I can’t think of many things better than a complimentary cocktail, a stroll through Wild Medicine, and some music after dark to shrug off the day’s heat.

On stage, “Italia in Jazz” spotlights the musical talents of the Marco Pignataro Quartet, paying a proper tribute to timeless Italian standards and original compositions alike. And with Marco and his saxophone at the helm, the night’s entertainment is in good hands! Originally from Bologna, Italy, Pignataro has taken the stage with such jazz greats as Eddie Gomez and Danilo Pérez. In concert with the latter, he now leads Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute in Boston, but that hasn’t stopped him from performing on stages around the world—and he’ll be right at home with his quartet here at the Garden.

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Morning Eye Candy: Munch, Munch

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on July 17 2013, by Matt Newman

Caterpillars often munch unmerciful on their preferred plants, but there’s usually the later butterfly’s pollinating habits to look forward to, at least. I think this one will become a black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). Then again, I’m no entomologist. Any confirmations from readers?

Caterpillar

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

This Week at the Greenmarket: Sweet July

Posted in Programs and Events on July 16 2013, by Matt Newman

PeasLast week’s Greenmarket saw the addition of eggs, red raspberries, cauliflower, cucumbers, and red currants. Meanwhile, the rhubarb (so glad strawberry-rhubarb pie is making a comeback) was on its way out. You may still find some this week, however, as we continue the important harvest month of July with some of the freshest produce in New York!

We’re hoping to see more blueberries, peaches, and plums going forward, but as always, what shows up each Wednesday is something of a surprise. You can get a better idea of what to look forward to by visiting our friends’ harvest chart at GrowNYC. Or you can just plan on the pies, fresh breads, cookies, and quiches to be found here otherwise—they are absurdly delicious.

The NYBG Greenmarket runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Wednesday through November 27, with free short-term parking for Greenmarket shoppers and—as on every Wednesday—free Grounds Admission for visitors. The market accepts food stamps, EBT, WIC/FMNP, and Senior coupons, in addition to cash and credit or debit cards. Learn how to use EBT, WIC and FMNP at the Greenmarket. And head below for a recipe from our staff at the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden.

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Beat the Heat with Whole Foods Market

Posted in Programs and Events on July 16 2013, by Matt Newman

CherriesFor the next few months, it can’t be helped: you’ll see more New Yorkers fanning themselves with their newspapers than reading them. We’re all looking for a little relief from the summer heat, and for some it’s lemonade (or an Arnold Palmer if you’re next-level about your refreshments). For us, it’s a heaped bowl of cherries—chilled to frosty perfection! But there are so many ways to enjoy these summer treats that even we don’t know each and every one. That said, telling us about your recipe might just win you something!

The New York Botanical Garden is teaming up with Whole Foods Market this summer, and we’re on a quest to beat the heat. Naturally, that means uncovering novel ways to prepare some of our favorite hot-weather fruits and vegetables, whether they’re topping ice cream, filling out a fruit salad, or sitting pretty at the bottom of a juice glass. Whatever you can come up with—sudden epiphany, family recipe, a neat idea, anything—we want to try it out! Of course, we wouldn’t think to take this on without putting a reward up for grabs. After you’ve submitted your recipes, Whole Foods Market Culinary Demonstration Specialists will pick a winning dish to receive a $50 Whole Foods Gift card. Better yet, that recipe will be prepared in your local Whole Foods Market store and made available for visitors to sample.

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Morning Eye Candy: The Lotus’ Chambers

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on July 16 2013, by Matt Newman

Are you a trypophobe? If so, the sight of a lotus pod might just set off your fight or flight response. This fear of “clustered holes” and similar patterns most often finds root in the fleshy, expanding seed chambers of this particular plant, though some psychologists have pointed to Photoshop and the popularity of giving people the willies on social media as a factor in the supposed spread of the phobia.

Us? We just think they’re fascinating botanical constructs.

Lotus pod

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

The Kid Food Blogger Experience

Posted in Programs and Events on July 15 2013, by Matt Newman

Batali Cooking DemonstrationIn food blogging, there’s always a trove of challenges to navigate: finding a voice in the hungry pack of culinary columnists, translating your dining experiences to allow readers to eat with their eyes, and—at least in New York—keeping pace with the frantic trends of the food scene. But of everything facing the writer from day to day, age should never be an obstacle to success—even kid bloggers deserve an audience!

During June 10th’s Edible Academy Family Picnic, held among the vegetable plots in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, Mario Batali and Daphne Oz teamed up to charm palates with gourmet meals and a light-hearted cooking demonstration. We also invited several food bloggers like Carrie Vibert, Caroline Campion, and Amie Valpone to join us for the event, kicking off MasterCard’s Priceless NY Kid Food Blogger Experience. They not only had the opportunity to taste a few of Mario’s custom-designed dishes, but pique the muse of young writers anxious to put pen to paper. From there, we challenged the kids at the Family Picnic to submit their own blog posts—about the events, the experience, and the food prepared by Mario and his team of talented chefs.

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