Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Matt Newman
Posted in The Orchid Show on February 8 2013, by Matt Newman
The climate outside is in a bit of a state, to put things lightly. But a few steps inside our Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, the sleet and snow give way to nothing short of a tropical oasis. It’s here, among the kaleidoscope of plants housed within, that you’ll find thousands upon thousands of orchids–all waiting to make their way into the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. It’s sort of a bubble of pleasantry on an otherwise heinous Friday.
With just a few weeks left of our Tropical Paradise exhibition, there are still myriad opportunities to warm up and shrug off the chill. But we figured that on today of all days, you could use a toasty peek at what’s in store for New York come March 2. We stopped in with Kevin Character and the orchid wizard himself, Marc Hachadourian, to see how The Orchid Show is coming along under the glass.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 8 2013, by Matt Newman
The jade vine is in bloom, at long last. You probably see us referring to this seafoam green siren at least a few times a year, and with good reason–it sports unmatched color and form. Few plants boast the kind of spontaneous annual following that this one’s earned. Look for it in the Conservatory!
Strongylodon macrobotrys — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in People on February 7 2013, by Matt Newman
Travis Beck humbly recalls his first gratifying experience as a landscape designer, a xeriscape project he planted with his own company in Colorado. “It was a small border,” he says, “but we finished on time, on budget, and it grew in very nicely.”
Years later, walking through the multi-tiered landscape of the Native Plant Garden, his ego still keeps to a small space–though his undertakings seldom do. The words Beck uses to describe his work are efficient and to-the-point, even as our tour group skirts the massive water feature he’s helped realize at the center of this latest NYBG revision. But his pragmatism has a purpose in this near fairytale landscape, just as it does in his recently published book: Principles of Ecological Landscape Design.
Not one to settle for the “green” aphorisms being passed along in today’s design industry, Beck’s book captures his approach to environmentally sound landscapes with practical examinations of the before, after, and in between of each project. Thoroughness is key and few aspects are left to chance. More than a simple source of inspiration, Principles of Ecological Landscape Design is a compendium designed to address every consideration for the professional or student designer. Plant selection, competition and coexistence, wildlife interaction, biodiversity, and stability are only a sampling of the many topics tackled.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 7 2013, by Matt Newman
The weekend forecast promises prodigious snow for much of the northeast, so get outside and enjoy the fluff-free skies while you can! The squirrels, meanwhile, can only be looking forward to the wintry playground to come.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 6 2013, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 5 2013, by Matt Newman
Tiny tropical treats flourish in the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, primped and preened as they wait for their moment to take over the Conservatory.
Pleurothallis cardiothallis — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 4 2013, by Matt Newman
A little spark and fire to warm your Monday.
Canna ‘Oiseau de Feu’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 3 2013, by Matt Newman
The Orchid Show — March 2 through April 22, 2013 — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 2 2013, by Matt Newman
“Hello? Yes, hi! I can’t help but notice that you’re not food. So, yeeeeeeah, you’re gonna have to relocate. I can appreciate that you’re a photographer–it’s a very nice camera–but if you’re not edible, we’re not interested. Thanks for your understanding.”
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on February 1 2013, by Matt Newman
Try not to think of February as the grim side of winter. It’s self-defeating! Instead, turn it into your warm-up to spring, a time to prepare for sunnier months–whether that’s daydreaming away the cold, getting back in shape, or shuffling your bathing suits to an easy-to-reach spot in the closet. In some sense, that’s been the regimen here at the NYBG since the holidays passed, where we’re readying ourselves for the triumphant return of the green by reveling in all things palm-trees-and-coconuts. If you haven’t been to see Tropical Paradise yet, you can’t say you’ve relaxed this season!
Under the glass of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where the snow and the sleet are stopped at the velvet rope, we’re celebrating our permanent collection–the towering tropical trees and broad-leaved beauties that transform our little corner of New York City into a living rain forest. And in between the tours through our misty cloud forest houses and the rare, exotic species growing within, we’re filling in all the little gaps with tropical music, art, and more. Whether you come for the Caribbean tunes, the ongoing photography events, or the simple opportunity to stuff your gloves in your pocket and breathe, you’ve got until February 24 to make it happen! After that, we’re not losing momentum–you’ll be saying hello to the Orchid Show before you can say “strawberry daiquiri.”
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The climate outside is in a bit of a state, to put things lightly. But a few steps inside our Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, the sleet and snow give way to nothing short of a tropical oasis. It’s here, among the kaleidoscope of plants housed within, that you’ll find thousands upon thousands of orchids–all waiting to make their way into the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. It’s sort of a bubble of pleasantry on an otherwise heinous Friday.
