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Inside The New York Botanical Garden

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Tetsunori Kawana Creates TANJOU Sculpture of Salvaged Wood at the Garden

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Exhibitions on September 16 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Today is the Member’s Preview Day of our latest exhibition, Fall Flowers of Japan. And while entrance to the exhibition today is Members-only, we figured we would offer a different kind of sneak peek to our friends in cyberspace. As part of Fall Flowers of Japan, world-renowned ikebana master Tetsunori Kawana has created a gorgeous installation–TANJOU, which means rebirth–in the pool of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s Palm Dome. TANJOU is created of materials gathered from Garden grounds in the aftermath of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee.

Head below to see a slideshow of the creation and installation of TANJOU.

Garden Fresh Produce with Nature’s Own Misting

Posted in Around the Garden on September 7 2011, by Rustin Dwyer

Okay, it’s a little rainy and misty this week, but you know how I think of it? You know those sprayers at the supermarket that shoot mist all over the lettuce and carrots? There’s a similar situation going on at the Garden right this very moment at our weekly Greenmarket. A bunch of beautiful produce is getting a fine drizzling mist of cool, fresh water.

The only difference between this and the supermarket is the products here were picked or produced less than 12 hours ago from locally sourced farms, bakeries and orchards!

Head below the jump to see what produce the farmers brought this week.

Saturday Bird Walks Return!

Posted in Around the Garden, Birding Bite on September 1 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Debbie Becker’s ever-popular Bird Walks return this Saturday with a hunt for those tiny gems of the garden; hummingbirds! The walks begin at 11 a.m., leaving from the Reflecting Pool in front of the Visitor Center. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan at the Visitor Center Information Booth, so if you have a pair, bring them along, and be sure to wear sturdy shoes.

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer bird-watchers a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. The Garden’s magnificent 250-acres of outdoor gardens and collections, open meadows, native forest, and waterbodies such as the Bronx River and Twin Lakes entice birds migrating through the area in spring and fall and those that stay to nest in summer or to spend the winter.

We talked to some visitors and staff about their favorite birds and why they love birding at the Garden.

Upcoming Bird Walk themes include:

– In Pursuit of Hummingbirds September 10
– Great Hawk Migration September 24
– In Search of the Great Horned Owls November 19
– Annual Bird Count December 10
– Great Backyard Bird Count February 18

Tell us (by leaving a comment): What is your favorite bird? Have you had a great birding experience at the Garden?

Long Weekend at the Garden

Posted in Around the Garden, What's Beautiful Now on August 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko

The New York Botanical Garden is stunningly beautiful right now. With verdant green vistas, intimate gardens, and primordial forests, there’s no better place to enjoy nature in the city over this three-day weekend than at the Garden. Take a hike in the Forest, stop to smell the roses in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, experience the sublime beauty of the waterlilies and lotuses in the Conservatory Courtyard pools, search for migrating birds, and get a few tips to take home and put into practice in your own garden. Soothe your storm-frazzled nerves by relaxing along the babbling Bronx River, bask in the sun on one of the Garden’s many benches around the grounds or in the beautiful Perennial Garden, join harvest activities in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, and take a tour of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The three-day weekend is full of beauty and fun for the whole family.

Head below the jump for detailed information on this weekend's activities at the Garden.

Irene at the Garden

Posted in Around the Garden on August 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Garden Arborists Cut Down a Tree Acutely Damaged by Irene
Garden arborists cut down a tree acutely damaged by Irene.

Hurricane Irene came to New York City over the weekend. She blew through the Garden, and thankfully left very little trace of her visit behind; just a handful of the Garden’s thousands of trees were damaged, and of those, only two were judged to be a danger to Garden visitors and beyond salvaging.

This morning we were able to do a survey of the farmers who bring their produce and baked goods to the Garden’s weekly Greenmarket, and were relieved to hear from them that they also weathered the storm.

Given what could have happened, we’re very happy to be able to issue this report, and our thoughts are with those suffering from the catastrophic flooding upstate and throughout New England.