The leaves of the old rhododendron shrubs hang straight and stiff outside my window—the surest indicator of freezing temperatures. I dress in layers and head out to the forest in NYBG.
In the late 1800s Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” Recently a friend posted an article about shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, a term coined in Japan in 1982 that sparked my interest.
Shinrin-yoku was inspired by the ancient Shinto and Buddhist practices of letting nature enter the body through all five senses. For several decades now Japanese researchers have been studying the psychological and physiological effects of leisurely walking in the woods and breathing in the scent of old trees. They found correlations with stress and blood pressure reduction, improved mood, increased energy, improved sleep, increased concentration, and increases in the body’s immune cells. Now there are forty-eight designated forest therapy trails in Japan and shinrin-yoku is an accepted form of preventative medicine there. It is estimated that an astounding one quarter of the Japanese population use these forest trails. With increasing urbanization and use of technology, other countries around the world are investigating the potential health benefits of spending time in nature.
What we have long believed intuitively to be true regarding the benefits of spending time among the trees may in fact be linked to biological and chemical changes in our bodies. In the meantime, as I walk these paths in the Thain Family Forest, I smile to think that in other native forests under different native trees, others are walking paths, different yet similar, and experiencing a comparable sense of peace.
The grounds are looking spectacular this week beneath a fresh blanket of snow, and this weekend features two unique walking tours designed to enhance your experience of the season. The Tree Tour and the Landmarks Tour present two opportunities to take in NYBG’s gleaming winter landscape with the benefit of a Garden Guide.
Meanwhile, in the warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Wild Medicine in the Tropics continues its journey through the many remarkable medicinal plants of the rain forest. Get an in-depth look with NYBG’s award-winning app, Wild Medicine.
And next Tuesday we announce the first round of weekly winners in our Wild Medicine Photo Contest! The two categories are “Macro” (close-up) and “Sense of Place” (wide shot), upload your contributions to the NYBG Flickr Group Pool and join in the fun! You could be one of the Grand Prize winners to be awarded a seat in the NYBG Adult Education photography class of your choice. Join fellow photography enthusiasts every weekend for Photography Tips & Tricks in the Tropics, led by one of NYBG’s photo experts. Check out the contest rules for complete details.
Experience NYBG through your own lens and share your vision with us! Read on for the full schedule of special tours and programs this weekend.
Last week we discussed some houseplant basics—covering light and water. This week we will look at a few more important factors for successfully growing indoor plants.
Let’s turn the heat down…
As general rule, most houseplants do best when grown at a daytime temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and at a night time temperature that is 10 to 15 degrees cooler at 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Many plants require a 10-degree temperature fluctuation to grow and flower successfully.
Your house is full of microclimates. Locations near windows may be sunny during the winter, but they are also cool (usually 10 degrees colder than the center of the room). In the summer, a south-facing window can get too hot for plants. Your alternatives are to open the window to let the air circulate or invest in a sheer curtain to block the intense rays of the summer sun. Investigate your home’s microclimates in order to place your plants in the best spots.
Some plants such as Clivia miniata and Dendrobium nobile need specific care in order to flower properly. They need a resting period in the fall which lasts for approximately 3 months. During this time fertilizing is stopped, watering is reduced and they are placed in a cool (45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) location in full sun.
If the orchid—the dendrobium—doesn’t receive this temperature drop, it will often produce baby plants (Keikis) instead of flowering. The bush or Kaffir lily protests by not extending the flower stem upwards and the blooms hide in its foliage. You will also notice that your jade plant (Crassula) also flowers best when it realizes that the seasons are changing.
The rendering of the new Water Theater grove at Versailles features beeches and holm oaks in the landscape. (By Louis Benech)
Tomorrow we say bonjour to Louis Benech, a renowned French landscape designer and first speaker in our 15th Annual Winter Lecture Series, Le Jardin Français. Benech has carried out some 300 park and garden projects worldwide, including his celebrated reimagining of Louis XIV’s Water Theater grove at Versailles.
The leaves of the old rhododendron shrubs hang straight and stiff outside my window—the surest indicator of freezing temperatures. I dress in layers and head out to the forest in NYBG.
