Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 24 2013, by Matt Newman
Synchronize your watches–today at 12:30 p.m. marks the start of our Winter Tree Tour, leaving from the Reflecting Pool at the Visitor’s Center. There’s a lot of seasonal beauty out there to catch up on, and only a bit of season left to do it!
Pinus parvifolia ‘Brevifolia’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 23 2013, by Matt Newman
I just….love ferns, tree ferns especially. You should, too! You’ll find some of ours hanging out in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, though the Native Plant Garden promises to have plenty of fringed beauties hanging around come the grand reopening. Keep an eye out for that one in early May.
Cibotium schiedei — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on February 22 2013, by Matt Newman
It’s the last weekend of our Tropical Paradise exhibition, and while the sun’s made a fair showing throughout the week, there’s still enough frost in the air to warrant a little escapism. Of course, that’s what this event is all about–having a chance to at least pretend that you’re not in New York City in the dead of winter. And through Sunday, the doors to our steamy Conservatory will still be open to visitors hoping to explore the real stars of our permanent collection–and leaving their scarves on the rack, too.
Sunday also marks the final day of open photography workshops in the Conservatory, as well as your last opportunity to pitch your name into the hat for our yearly tropical photography contest. Thus far it’s been a heated challenge between a number of talented shutterbugs, but there’s always the opportunity to get in the game with photos of your own, even if you’re late to the party!
For the would-be polar bears among you, this weekend’s schedule offers more than just daydreams under the palm trees; we’re also hosting an involved Winter Tree Tour on Sunday, something to complement Saturday’s traditional outdoor Bird Walk with Debbie Becker. It’s your chance to see winter’s aesthetic from a slightly different angle–one that appreciates the angles and arches of the trees.
But you don’t have to fret. Closing the doors on Tropical Paradise is one of those situations where we open a window elsewhere–in this case, one that looks out on thousands upon thousands of orchids! So stay tuned for next week, folks.
Posted in Wildlife on February 22 2013, by Matt Newman
So, this is a first for us on Plant Talk, but I figure this beaver’s visit to our neck of the river is as good an excuse as any to toss a couple GIFs up on the blog. These animations (along with a few others I’ve got up my sleeve; maybe you can see those later) were pieced together from a series of individual frames snapped by one of several motion-activated critter cams we have monitoring the woodsy areas of the Garden.
These cameras have captured everything from owls to foxes, and now they’re documenting the beavers which have called the Bronx River home for at least the past few years. This is important mainly because Justin and José Beaver (hard to tell which one this is, if either) are the first of their species to be seen in New York City in over two centuries!
We’ll be keeping you up to date with all the beaver news that comes our way, but for now, enjoy our paddle-tailed friend demonstrating his feats of Mighty-Mouse-like strength and generally wandering around. Happy Friday!
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 21 2013, by Matt Newman
Pinus parvifolia ‘Brevifolia’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 20 2013, by Matt Newman
Even if Punxsutawney Phil had seen his shadow this year, I still trust the snowdrops to give me that all-too-necessary early spring pat on the back.
Photo by Amy Weiss
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 19 2013, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 18 2013, by Matt Newman
Nope, they won’t all be this easy to spot. But seeing as this is the last day of this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count, take what you can get! Seeing as we’re open on this particular President’s Day, we’ll be tallying up our feathered friends all afternoon. You’ll find “birder headquarters” in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. And even if you don’t have binoculars, that’s no excuse to sit this one out–we’ve got a handful of loaner pairs available from the Visitor’s Center.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 17 2013, by Matt Newman
Not all of our aquatic plants retired in early fall. You’ll still find a few beauties floating in the Conservatory as part of our Tropical Paradise exhibition!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 16 2013, by Matt Newman
Will it snow today? Won’t it? Either way, ‘Phoenix’ makes the weather look good.
Acer x conspicuum ‘Phoenix’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen