Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Gardens
Posted in Exhibitions on March 12 2014, by Matt Newman
Walking through the Ross Gallery on my way to the office each morning, I like to pause a moment and admire the greenery clothing the walls. There’s no vertical garden on display, per se. Rather, the photography of Allan Pollok-Morris is so verdant as to come close to imitating one. His compositions of Scottish countrysides, estate gardens, and landscape sculpture depict a depth of color and foliage that we seldom see on the left side of the Atlantic, and there’s a grandeur to each image that belies the “humble ruggedness” many default to when discussing Scotland.
Sadly, after months of lovely display here at the Garden, Close: The Photography of Allan Pollok-Morris will be moving on as of this Sunday, March 16.
To give you a refresher of what you’ve been missing out on if you haven’t yet made a stop to see this photo exhibition, I put together a slideshow of some of Allan’s iconic works hanging now in the Ross Gallery. Each photograph depicts the landscapes, sculptures, or gardens of a designer living or working in Scotland—natives and expats alike.
Read More
Posted in Around the Garden on February 20 2013, by Lisa Vargues
Lisa Vargues is a Curatorial Assistant with the NYBG’s Steere Herbarium.
As springtime quietly lingers around the corner, the 85th Academy Awards ceremony also draws near. While we wait for both the red carpet and springtime flowers to unfurl, this is an ideal opportunity to consider some garden-focused movies, as well as the connection between horticulture and film-making.
Have you ever found yourself watching films with a “botanical eye,” ogling the scenery; zeroing in on flowers in the set; or perhaps debating the name of a plant in a fleeting scene? Presumably, many garden enthusiasts have this inclination. Whether we are conscious of it or not, greenery (simple or grand-scale) is frequently an essential ingredient in shaping the atmosphere of film scenes.
Credit for the green on the silver screen often goes to the Greensman (a.k.a. the Greensperson), depending on the production arrangement. Working with the Art Department as a type of set dresser, this is the professional who typically locates, arranges, and maintains the necessary foliage and flowers (real and artificial), as well as other landscaping elements, for film sets. If a large amount of greenery is needed for a film, a greens team is utilized, as in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which included a Greensmaster for its elaborate, naturalistic scenery.
Read More
Posted in Photography on October 22 2012, by Ann Rafalko
The New York Botanical Garden is the official U.S. partner of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition, and your chance to enter this prestigious contest is fast dwindling. But never fear! Photographic fame and fortune are still within reach; with an entry deadline of November 30, you still have just under a month to gather together your best photographs and submit them for the chance to see your works featured in exhibitions around the world and to win thousands of dollars in prizes.
[Not a valid template]
The International Garden Photographer of the Year competition is open to everyone, amateurs and professionals alike. Entries are welcome from any country in the world. There are no restrictions on the type of camera you use, or the techniques you use to produce your final image. There are scads of categories to enter, and many additional prizes are available as well, including NYBG’s own “Wellness” prize. Winners will win cash and see their photographs hung in a gallery at the Garden during next summer’s Healing Plants Around the World exhibition.
Here are some of the contest’s pertinent details:
Read More
Posted in Learning Experiences on January 13 2011, by Plant Talk
A good lecture can serve as a catalyst for change, and this year’s 11th Annual Winter Lecture Series at The New York Botanical Garden should send you away with a lot to think about, and some serious tools for precipitating change in your own community, city, or just our own backyard.
The series kicks off on Thursday, January 20 with Michael Van Valkenburgh‘s ”Plants Make Places.” Van Valkenburgh, a renowned landscape architect, will discuss the role of plants in recent projects at Princeton University, Teardrop Park in lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
On Thursday, February 17, garden designer, award-winning author, photographer, naturalist, and
teacher C. Colston Burrell will talking about ”Native Plants and Ecological Design.” Burrell will explore what actually makes a plant ”native,” the definition of ecological gardening, and the issues surrounding sustainable landscape design.
Last, but certainly not least, Annie Novak, urban farming evangelist and director of The New York Botanical Garden’s Children’s Gardening Program will ”Raise The Roof!” on Thursday, March 17. Novak is the founder and director of Growing Chefs field-to-fork education program, and the co-founder of Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and will discuss the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from farming the skyline.
The lectures are being held at the Garden in the Ross Lecture Hall 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Each lecture is $39 for non-members, and $35 for Members, or buy the whole series and save 10%.
And while you’re at the Garden, why not make a full day of it? Visit Caribbean Garden for a mini-vacation in the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; snap a few pictures to enter into our photography contest; grab a bite from one of our two cafes dedicated to sustainable, local, tasty cuisine; and shop the Winter Sale at the Shop in the Garden.
Posted in Gardens and Collections on November 4 2010, by Plant Talk
Roses aren’t just a summertime treat. The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden blooms multiple times throughout the year, bringing beauty and fragrance to those who — if you’ll pardon the expression — stop and smell the roses. While the flowers love the full sun and hot weather in the summertime, the award-winning Rose Garden thrives in fall with one last spectacular, “rose encore.” It’s the floral equivalent of a curtain call!
This will be your last chance to see these beauties in 2010. According to the Rose Garden curator Peter Kukielski, the rose garden will continue to flower until the first frost — which is unfortunately almost upon us in the Bronx. So while it’s too late to begin planting and too early to start training next year’s blooms, you’ve got this weekend to get one last look before the Rose Garden’s gates are closed until May 1st, 2011.
So if you can’t make it out this weekend to see for yourself, here’s a quick gallery of what you’re missing out on, including certain varieties named in honor of celebrities and dignitaries as well as dew covered morning beauties. All of the images are from Garden photographer Ivo M. Vermeulen (you kind find tons of his photos plus some by other talented photographers on our Flickr page. Don’t forget to submit your own to our group page too!)
Posted in Exhibitions, The Orchid Show on February 27 2009, by Plant Talk
Vote for Your Favorite Orchid
 |
Nick Leshi is Associate Director of Public Relations and Electronic Media. |
Orchid lovers, rejoice! The Orchid Show: Brazilian Modern opens this weekend and runs through April 12. Visitors will have the chance to escape the winter blues and enjoy the thousands of orchids on display at The New York Botanical Garden.
The orchid is the world’s largest family of flowering plants with more than 30,000 naturally occurring species and tens of thousands of artificially created hybrids. Which is your favorite? Let us know by clicking on the Orchid Poll at right. Do you love the amazing shapes of the Oncidium or Paphiopedilum? Are you captivated by the stunning colors of Vanda orchids? Are you a Cymbidium or Phalaenopsis fan? Or does another species or hybrid capture your fancy? Vote now and let us know.
Brilliantly colored orchids and the lush tropical setting of a contemporary Brazilian garden await you at The Orchid Show, now in its seventh year. Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles has created this contemporary Brazilian garden design, inspired by his mentor, the renowned Roberto Burle Marx. The design features fountains, pools, and colorful mosaics combined with graceful palms, delicate orchids, bromeliads, and other native plants of Brazil. The orchids have been selected by Marc Hachadourian, Manager of the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections at the Botanical Garden and Curator of The Orchid Show, and are featured throughout the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Let the orchid mania begin! Get your tickets today.
Walking through the Ross Gallery on my way to the office each morning, I like to pause a moment and admire the greenery clothing the walls. There’s no vertical garden on display, per se. Rather, the photography of Allan Pollok-Morris is so verdant as to come close to imitating one. His compositions of Scottish countrysides, estate gardens, and landscape sculpture depict a depth of color and foliage that we seldom see on the left side of the Atlantic, and there’s a grandeur to each image that belies the “humble ruggedness” many default to when discussing Scotland.
