Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Around the Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on November 3 2011, by Matt Newman
It’s not often that we’re thankful for the rare sounds of industry in the Garden. We do love our peace, and if silence is golden, it’s an abundant commodity here in a place where car horns and creaking subway trains can be so readily forgotten. But since the storm left its mark over the Halloween weekend, the sound of work being completed is–at least for the moment–a comfort.
Arborists and the horticulture staff have leapt to the task of trimming away damaged tree branches, removing fallen boughs, and returning the Garden to its original splendor. And while we may have endured a bit of a jolt, we’re already back on our feet and moving forward with a weekend of events both exciting and memorable.
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Posted in Around the Garden on October 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Approximately 15% of the 15,000 trees in the Garden’s Thain Family Forest have sustained at least some damage.
Many of the historic trees in the Garden’s beautiful magnolia collection have been damaged, even destroyed.
In the new Azalea Garden huge branches fell on new plantings and an ancient tree was lost.
The entire 250-acres of the Garden is littered with branches and tree limbs.
Our initial assessment shows that thousands of trees have been damaged and many destroyed. A complete appraisal will take weeks as much of the damage is high in the canopies of trees 100 feet tall or more.
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Posted in Around the Garden on October 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko
This weekend’s historic storm caused a large amount of severe damage to the Garden’s vast collection of trees and celebrated woodlands.
Our crews are hard at work cleaning up the damage and working to save every tree they can. Simultaneously, we are busy getting ready for the beloved seasonal tradition of the Holiday Train Show. We hope that we will see you soon under the glittering dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Posted in Around the Garden on October 28 2011, by Ann Rafalko
Join Debbie Becker on one of her weekly bird walks this Saturday, and you just might see more sweet little phoebes at the Garden.
Northern Phoebe on Twin Lakes (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Around the Garden, People on October 27 2011, by Rustin Dwyer
Breaking developments in the world of giant pumpkin spiders! — How often do you get to write a sentence like that in all seriousness?
Artist Michael Natiello will be here this weekend carving up one of the world’s largest pumpkins. (You might know him as the man behind the Great Jack ‘O Lantern Blaze as well as the Haunted Pumpkin Garden here in the Children’s Adventure Garden).
That’s not the breaking news, though.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Exhibitions, Video on October 26 2011, by Rustin Dwyer
We’re still basking the freakish glow of superstar sculptor Ray Villafane’s (on the right in this photo) wild zombie sculpture he constructed at the Garden using two of the world’s largest pumpkins. But by no means are the creepy carvings over with! This weekend will feature the supremely talented artist Michael Natiello (under the zombie’s hand)–the brains behind the spectacular Great Jack ‘O Lantern Blaze as well as our Haunted Pumpkin Garden here in the Children’s Adventure Garden.
Weather permitting however, Villafane’s pumpkin creation will only be on display for as long at it stays presentable and also as long as we can keep the wily Bronx wildlife from having their own pumpkin feasts.
For those of you who couldn’t be here last weekend, we put together a short video of Ray in his own words describing his process. All the gory, gourdy goodness is below!
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Posted in Around the Garden on October 24 2011, by Ann Rafalko
They came. They saw. They conquered! And lucky for us, everyone still has their brains in place.
Couldn’t make it to the Garden this weekend to watch Ray Villafane transform two of the world’s heaviest pumpkins (including the world record-holder) into a super-creepy zombie tableau? Never fear!
We caught all the action via time-lapse camera and in a slideshow. Head below the jump to see them … if you dare!
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Posted in Around the Garden on October 21 2011, by Ann Rafalko
I got a nice surprise this morning when I stopped by the big pumpkins; I found Brant and Elanor Bordsen, of Marysville, Calif. standing beside their beautiful, pearly pumpkin chatting with Garden visitors and staff. I told them I was surprised and excited to see them here (I had no idea they were coming!), and they said that they decided that they wanted to be here when Ray Villafane cut into their 1,693 pounder, to remove the seeds themselves, and to watch the progress of his sculpture. I asked them if they had seen the concept drawing for his sculpture yet. They said no, so I pulled it up on my BlackBerry and showed it to them. They agreed that it was certainly spooky and would be quite the spectacle!
Learn more about why the Bordsens flew all the way from California for pumpkin seeds below.
Posted in Around the Garden on October 21 2011, by Ann Rafalko
We’ve heard that people want to meet the pumpkins officially, so here they are! Introducing the four heaviest pumpkin the world, currently on display as part of the Haunted Pumpkin Garden.
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Photos by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on October 19 2011, by Ann Rafalko
The world’s four biggest pumpkins are now all safely ensconced in the Bronx.
The first two to arrive flew in from California, and were fetched from the American Airlines cargo hold at JFK this morning.
Check-out all the pumpkin pix below!
It’s not often that we’re thankful for the rare sounds of industry in the Garden. We do love our peace, and if silence is golden, it’s an abundant commodity here in a place where car horns and creaking subway trains can be so readily forgotten. But since the storm left its mark over the Halloween weekend, the sound of work being completed is–at least for the moment–a comfort.
