Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 7 2012, by Matt Newman
Planters like those arranged alongside our hardy water lily pool were often used by Claude Monet to test color schemes before moving his plants into his garden proper. Ours are…thriving, to say the least.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Mario Batali's Edible Garden on August 6 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s not often I get the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden to myself, but last week, before the school groups arrived, I snuck a peek at what was happening in Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens ahead of the coming Edible Garden Festival. The sun was high and bright, yet the sight of ripening vegetables, familiar varieties tucked in among the somewhat more exotic heirlooms, made it easy to deal with the summer heat.
I picked my way around the garden plots, noting leafy greens and sweet potatoes, kohlrabi, flowering artichokes, and a few ready globes of garlic. And dangling in friendly groups above them all: new tomatoes, plump and prolific in the sunshine. Some are already settling into that quirky adolescent phase, not yet ripe, blushing with spots of bright reds and oranges on one side while still a shy green on the other. Certain varieties are lumpy and rustic-looking, others smooth and plum-shaped, and all of them have been hand-selected by Mario Batali’s top chefs–some of the finest culinary minds in New York.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 6 2012, by Matt Newman
What’s the collective noun for a group of artichokes? A “gang” of artichokes, or a “barony?” Maybe a “band” of them.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography, Wildlife on August 5 2012, by Matt Newman
The smallest prince presides over his domain. But aren’t all frogs a little snooty with their noses in the air like that?
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 4 2012, by Matt Newman
Are bees ever overwhelmed by the size of the meal in front of them? A sunflower must be something like dancing on top of the banquet table for this little guy.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on August 3 2012, by Matt Newman
Most weekend green thumbs can handle the odd tray of garden center perennials, and some might even tackle the challenge of the more finicky roses. But when it comes to raising Nymphaea, the leap from yard to pond can be intimidating! We understand the hesitance. This weekend, the NYBG‘s horticultural staff aims to dispel that air of mystery just long enough to help our visitors understand the rewards of growing water lilies at home. With a dash of confidence and the right planting, even New Yorkers can spice up their summer displays with these exotic eye catchers.
For the uninitiated, this is your cue to visit the Garden’s own hardy and tropical water lily ponds in the Conservatory Courtyard, where Nymphaea and Nelumbo, the lotus, are firmly planted in the Monet’s Garden spotlight. It’s where we’re featuring a few of the artist’s favorite cultivars, along with a number of newer creations from the Latour-Marliac Nursery, Monet’s go-to supplier for much of his life at Giverny. Once you’ve experienced these aquatic icons as they’re meant to be seen, and picked up a few pointers on their upkeep, make your way to the Shop in the Garden for the supplies you’ll need to grow water lilies at home!
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 3 2012, by Matt Newman
I once had a middle school substitute teacher who told me I should stare at greens and blues if I wanted to “feel cooler.” I still think she was a tad kooky, but in the dead of summer, the Forest always strums the right chord for me.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in People on August 2 2012, by Matt Newman
When Kerlly Bernabé first arrived in the late ’90s, The New York Botanical Garden served as more of a “look but don’t touch” establishment. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, far from the hub of children’s activities it is today, was little more than a blueprint doodle. But it was on that same day, with the appearance of our first Explainers, that all of this began to shift for the better.
Kerlly’s four years as one of the original Garden Explainers resulted in the founding of one of the most significant volunteer programs of any cultural institution in New York City. Today, these high school students–aged 14 to 17–work daily to make learning more than a chore, engaging kids and families throughout the Garden in hands-on activities and open exploration. In helping to build this thriving program, each Explainer leaves with not only a newfound knowledge of nature, but a sound jumping-off point for opportunities in their education and careers. Perhaps more importantly, they leave with a sense of confidence and responsibility.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on August 2 2012, by Matt Newman
I’m pretty sure “taste the rainbow” is already a trademarked slogan, but you’d be hard-pressed to walk through the Greenmarket farm stalls without it running through your head. Until next week’s spread!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on August 1 2012, by Matt Newman
The Family Garden is changing gears for the foodie crowd, jumping from Sweet and Stinky to an equally (and pungently) delightful delicacy. You’ve probably been there: the corner deli clerk plucks a zeppelin-sized pickle from that greenish jug of brine on the counter, you set into it with a crunch, and your pastrami sandwich is suddenly transcendent. You’re likely thinking it would take a family history in the pickling business, not to mention a wealth of time, to make something so delicious. But, with a little practice, you’ll prove yourself wrong!
Putting together the perfect balance of spices and other flavoring blends is where time and imagination come into play. Otherwise, the brining process is about as easy as packing up leftovers! A few clean jars, a selection of fresh cucumbers, and a handful of other easily-attainable ingredients. It’s so simple you can pick it up during an afternoon “Pickle Me!” session, now running through August 17 in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, from 1:30 to 5:30* p.m. daily. You won’t even need your grandmother’s chilly cellar to let your pickles prepare; with our recipe, the refrigerator will suit just fine.