Whether you’re binocular-savvy or just looking to lock down your birdwatching game, this is your weekend! And thanks to President’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, if only because you’ll have three straight days to join us at the NYBG. Winter is undeniably the best time of year to see our feathered friends on the wing, owing to the barren branches and annual mating habits of the raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl that call our neck of the Bronx home. So get off your couch, strap on some boots, and join up!
Even if you’re not quite an expert on all things avian, it’s never too late to learn; Debbie Becker will be on hand for her weekly Saturday birdwalk, where she’ll be more than happy to give lay birders a crash course in spotting and identification. And because the GBBC is so important to helping ornithologists and environmentalists understand the state of the nation’s bird populations, we even have a few pairs of binoculars to loan out at the Visitor’s Center for those who don’t have their own.
Over in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, we continue our yearly winter tradition of Tropical Paradise with guided tours, photography contests, camera workshops, and all the warmth of a South American rain forest. So if you’re sick of wrestling with the cold, this is an opportunity to at least pretend you’re a few thousand miles south, trading your parka for a t-shirt.
We know it’s chilly out, but we have more than a few cures for your winter woes. We’ll even be open on Monday, so come visit!
I figure everyone’s had enough of the winter landscape for one week, so I thought we’d step inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for a teensy reminder that not all the world is an icebox right now.
Timpani drums and chorus lines may seem a bit dramatic for a flower exhibition–at least up until you see what’s been growing behind the doors of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections! While Tropical Paradisewinds down for another year, NYBG horticulturists are already hard at work on our next monumental event, prepping the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for the arrival of thousands upon thousands of technicolor beauties. For over a decade now, The Orchid Showhas defined spring in New York, snapping us out of our winter doldrums and dropping us straight into shorts and sandals. And this year, we’re not missing a beat.
Under the curation of our Vice President of Glasshouses and Exhibitions, Francisca Coelho, The Orchid Show may just be the blockbuster of the year. We’re certainly buzzing with excitement at the thought of it. But maybe you need a small reminder of the myriad colors waiting for you come March.
Whether you’re laying out the credit card on a romantic evening reservation, or treating yourself to a singles night with Szechuan take out and bad sci-fi movies, the NYBG wishes you the best this Valentine’s Day! We love you all–in a platonic, happy, check-out-these-cute-birds kind of way.
Pat Gonzalez, out on one of her patented NYBG nature walks, came upon this curious chickadee the other day. We can only assume it was anxious to make a call.
You wouldn’t think bare metal could adapt, but visually this proves true with the art of Manolo Valdés: Monumental Sculpture. Each piece was designed and carefully sited to not only complement its surroundings, but to contrast with them–regardless of season. Now, in winter, each sculpture presents differently.
Stop in to the NYBG any time between now and May 26, and you’ll have the opportunity to see each work in its element, whether that’s winter, spring, or summer.
Hats off to our Valdés sculptures! (Photo by Sarah Paulson)
A blizzard’s aftermath is often far from charming, especially when you’re out on a Saturday, shoveling your way to the curb in soaked pant cuffs. Slushy sidewalks and snowed-in parking spots are no better. But when you’re not obligated to clean up the mess, those first moments after the snowfall can be magical. That was certainly the case here at the NYBG over the weekend (though our dedicated groundskeepers might beg to differ).
The snow that Nemo brought to the northeast covered the Garden in a fluffy white blanket, framing the dark trunks of the trees and making for picturebook scenery. And while we were quick to clear the roads and walkways, we left the great lawns and the Forest relatively untouched; only this morning, walking into work, I found the snowy lawn surrounding the Grand Allee laid out under a sheet of mist brought on by the falling rain.
But while my Saturday was spent unearthing my Hyundai from its makeshift Everest in Long Island, our photographer, Ivo, was on the scene immediately after the storm, snapping pictures of the fresh snowfall. He was kind enough to supply a few of them for us to toss up here, as well as our Facebook page, so have a look!
Whether you’re binocular-savvy or just looking to lock down your birdwatching game, this is your weekend! And thanks to President’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, if only because you’ll have three straight days to join us at the NYBG. Winter is undeniably the best time of year to see our feathered friends on the wing, owing to the barren branches and annual mating habits of the raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl that call our neck of the Bronx home. So get off your couch, strap on some boots, and join up!
