Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Around the Garden

Commencement Address: The School of Professional Horticulture Class of 2013

Posted in Around the Garden, Science on March 7 2013, by Robert Naczi

Dr. Robert F.C. Naczi, the Arthur J. Cronquist Curator of North American Botany, at the New York Botanical Garden, delivered the following keynote speech at the School of Professional Horticulture, Class of 2013’s graduation, March 1, 2013. This post features photographs of  The Orchid Show which this year has a scientific focus and is designed by Francisca Coelho, the Garden’s Vivian & Edward Merrin Associate Vice President for Glasshouses & Exhibitions and School of Professional Horticulture graduate.

The Critical Importance of Scientific Training to Today’s Horticulturist

_IVO3623Congratulations to you, the 2013 graduates of the School of Professional Horticulture! You have much to celebrate because you have achieved so much. First, you rose to the challenge of the rigors of the program. For example, in a little over two years, you took over 40 courses, and passed them all. Yes, I know first-hand from you that some of these courses caused you considerable pain, but you made it! You deserve praise, too, for completing a whopping 30 plant walks and all the quizzes that followed them. As well, you completed internships that were, all at once, innovative, demanding, and fulfilling. All through these activities and many more, you excelled at multitasking, delaying gratification, and working really hard. On top of all this, you kept your cool. Sure, each one of you shed blood, sweat, and tears, but you persevered.

It is good you persevered. For this is an exciting time to be a professional horticulturist. One of the aspects of your education in the School of Professional Horticulture that sets you above many other horticulturists is your grounding in science. Your foundation in science opens doors for you to a whole range of scientific advances, and will continue to open these doors. Today, I would like to address the promise and power of a scientifically-grounded education in horticulture, such as you now possess.

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Morning Eye Candy: Little Landscapes

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 5 2013, by Matt Newman

This is not to be missed if you’ve got kids tagging along! While The Orchid Show is already running strong in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, there are plenty of other activities tied into it that take place elsewhere in the NYBG. Not only lectures in Ross Hall, or orchid care demonstrations in the Shop in the Garden, but kid-friendly events in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden–that includes Little Landscapes.

Terrariums are so much more than a Tumblr fad. They’re self-contained worlds that are not only educational, but relaxing and enjoying to put together. So bring your kids for The Orchid Show and make a point of stopping off in our Adventure Garden through April 22, where they’ll have a chance to play architect with a miniature world of their own.

Little Landscapes

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Morning Eye Candy: An Early Spring, Now Open

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 2 2013, by Matt Newman

Aficionados, botanists, greenthumbs, greenhorns, hobbyists, collectors, aesthetes, and everyone who simply can’t help but sate curiosity–all are welcome to join us today for the opening of The Orchid Show, running now through April 22 at The New York Botanical Garden. Keep an eye on Plant Talk for more information on the coming weeks’ events. And for daily eye candy and the everyday goings-on of the exhibition, check out our Instagram and Twitter feeds!

The Orchid Show

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen