Morning Eye Candy: All in White
Posted in Photography on March 24 2014, by Matt Newman
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Conservatory
Morning Eye Candy: Breakaway Brilliance
Posted in Photography on March 22 2014, by Matt Newman
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Under the Blooms of the Traveler’s Palm
Posted in Horticulture on March 21 2014, by Francisca Coelho
Francisca Coelho is the NYBG’s Vice President for Glasshouses and Exhibitions. She designs and installs the major flower exhibitions in the Conservatory with a creative, hardworking team of managers and gardeners who also produce the plants for display and maintain the invaluable collections of tropical, sub-tropical and desert plants.
Each morning, I am greeted by the majestic presence of the traveler’s palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) in the Palm Dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. I planted it myself back in 1996, when the stem was just five feet tall, and I have been watching it mature into this fine specimen ever since—growing taller and stronger daily for the past 18 years. It seems to me that its main goal is to see how quickly its 10-foot-long leaves can touch the glass of the lower dome 60 feet above.
Despite its name, the traveler’s palm is not a palm at all, but instead closely related to the bird of paradise and the banana. Its native home is in the forests of Madagascar, but it can now be found growing in gardens all over the Tropics. It takes the form of an enormous green fan on a tall, robust, grey stem, with its north- and south-pointing leaves providing a makeshift compass for weary travelers. In desperate situations, it also provides much-needed water—not always palatable—that collects in the stem sheaths for those thirsty souls who might happen upon it.
In the Company of Orchids
Posted in The Orchid Show on March 19 2014, by Matt Newman
Realizing that you don’t have to get up early on Sunday morning is a singular sort of joy, I think. It means you’re free to do whatever you feel like on Saturday night! And because we have as much of a soft spot for drinks and music as anyone, we’re once again opening our gates to the party scene this weekend. If you’re up for cocktails and chill rhythms under the lights and color of the Conservatory, our latest Orchid Evening is your destination.
Tickets are still available for the event kicking off this Saturday night, March 22, and this time around we’re pairing the flamboyant Key West color of 2014’s Orchid Show with the equally effervescent flavors of orange, prosecco, and pomegranate. Think of the Pomegranate Sparkler as a drink for people who want all the flavor and none of the tedious peeling. Better yet, if you’ve got a MasterCard, you can make an even bigger night of it by attending our Priceless NY pre-party in the NYBG’s Shop in the Garden with champagne and special discounts on a wide selection of live orchids.
Morning Eye Candy: Lucky Green
Posted in Photography on March 17 2014, by Matt Newman
Happy St. Pat’s from every green flower we can muster here at the NYBG! It’s no four-leafed clover, but this Cymbidium has a lucky green hue down pat. Find more on our Instagram feed as we make our way through this year’s Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary, and if you’re headed out tonight, remember: moderation in all things!
Cymbidium King Arthur ‘Green Giant’ in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
This Weekend: Fragrant Orchids & Members Day!
Posted in Programs and Events on March 14 2014, by Lansing Moore
There are many ways to explore the Garden this weekend, whether on the brisk, sunny grounds or in the enchanting warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary is in full bloom. Among our exciting programs this week are our regular Orchid Demonstrations. This weekend our experts will focus on fragrant orchids. While these gorgeous flowers brighten up any home, you can also explore which orchids have the best scent. You can treat all your senses this weekend with a specialty cocktail at Saturday’s Orchid Evening. Tomorrow’s brand new recipe is called “The Desert Flower”—read on to find out its delicious ingredients!
Don’t forget that this Saturday is also a Members Day in celebration of The Orchid Show! Members of the Garden will enjoy free parking and special discounts at the Dining Pavilion and Shop in the Garden—not to mention half-off admission for their friends and family! It has never been a better time to join, and if you are already a member this is the weekend to bring your loved ones on an excursion to the Garden. You can learn more about Members Day and the benefits of membership at nybg.org/membership.
Click through for the full weekend schedule of adult and children’s programs!
Morning Eye Candy: Evolutionary Star
Posted in Photography on March 14 2014, by Matt Newman
Keep an eye out for Darwin’s famed star orchid when you visit Orchid Evenings this weekend. You might even be able to make out the feature that made this bloom such an evolutionary puzzle for decades on end.
Darwin’s Star Orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale) in the Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Garden News at The Orchid Show
Posted in The Orchid Show on March 13 2014, by Lansing Moore
For about a week now the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory has been plunged in the colorful escape of The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary. Our first Orchid Evening already took place last Saturday, and visitors have been pouring in to see the many varieties of orchids on display since the exhibit opened on March 1.
The day before it opened to the public, Kevin Character stopped by Members Day, where Garden Members were enjoying an exclusive preview of The Orchid Show. Early reviews were very encouraging. Some members called it the best Orchid Show yet, and they should know! Click through for this exclusive video tour of the unique design concept and varied special programs surrounding The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary.
Morning Eye Candy: The Desert Rose
Posted in Photography on March 13 2014, by Matt Newman
Our second Orchid Evening of 2014 kicks off this Saturday night, March 15, and there are still some tickets left! Revelers this time around can look forward to “The Desert Rose,” a cocktail of Creme Yvette berry liqueur, tart lime juice, and—naturally—the spicy bite of mescal. Check out our Orchid Evenings event page for more info or to register. Don’t wait too long!
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
TPPC 2014: Announcing our Grand Prize Winners!
Posted in Photography on March 11 2014, by Lansing Moore
While we are well into The Orchid Show, I know our photography aficionados have not forgotten about this year’s Tropical Paradise Photo Contest. After lengthy deliberations over our six weekly winners in the Macro and Sense of Place categories, we are ready to announce the Grand Prize Winners in each category, recipients of a seat in the NYBG Adult Education photography class of their choice.
Most of all, I hope enjoying the outstanding weekly submissions on Plant Talk has inspired you all to enjoy the Garden through your own lens. If you want to challenge your skills and enhance your enjoyment of the Garden, then NYBG Adult Education offers a variety of classes to help you see the grounds in new ways. For those shutterbugs out there, the next class will be Photographing Birds, Bees, & Butterflies on April 26, but there are many more slated for spring as the Garden comes into full bloom. Whether with an iPhone or a full DSLR rig, there are classes for all subjects and levels of expertise.
Now for the moment that has been weeks in the making. We are very pleased to announce the Grand Prize Winners of the 2014 Tropical Paradise Photo Contest! Click through to find out.