Morning Eye Candy: Lotus That Shines In the Sun
Posted in Photography on May 6 2013, by Ann Rafalko
Whoever gets to name the tree peonies has the best job ever.
Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Lotus That Shines In the Sun’ (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Photography
Morning Eye Candy: Sugar Rush
Posted in Photography on April 22 2013, by Ann Rafalko
Scrolling through the photos taken by my colleague Ivo this spring is a bit like eating a Parisian macaron; airy, sugary, delicate, delicious, evanescent, amazing. This spring is one of the prettiest I can remember, but unlike the finest confections, it keeps lingering on. It’s just wonderful!
Prunus ‘Accolade’ (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Morning Eye Candy: Among the Plants
Posted in Photography on March 28 2013, by Ann Rafalko
The Garden’s Horticulture staff that work in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory have a really unique perspective on the amazing plants growing within this one-acre wonderland. Recently I received a slew of beautiful portraits–including several from The Orchid Show—from Rafael Moricete Jr. and thought you might like to see a few, too.
Morning Eye Candy: Late March
Posted in Photography on March 20 2013, by Ann Rafalko
Spring was coming but hadn’t arrived yet.
I walked on the edge of the park.
The wind whispered a secret to the trees,
which held their breath
and scarcely moved.
On the other side of the street,
the skyscrapers stood on tiptoe.
Late March ~ Edward Hirsch
Camera Obscura in the Forest
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 13 2013, by Matt Newman
It’s a delicate patina that defines Joel Kroin’s photographs. Each black and white image takes on the small specks, blurs, and aberrations of antique film–not far off from how they first appeared when the method was developed in the mid-19th century. Known as camera obscura, or the pinhole camera, Joel has fashioned his own devices from various containers and hand-operated shutters, finding the technique still well-suited to capturing near untouched wilderness. Say, for example, the largest old growth forest in New York City.
Kroin’s work varies with the seasons, of course. Not all landscapes fit the bill for such a time-consuming process. Stately summer trees rounded with foliage make for difficult subjects in a medium which values contrast–too many leaves, too much movement. But the inherent stillness of a winter wood, with its sharp network of barren branches, makes all the difference. Here is where Kroin’s pinhole expertise comes into its own.
This Weekend: Winter Transitions
Posted in Programs and Events on January 25 2013, by Matt Newman
In the last few months, thousands of children have come and gone through our Ross Hall, each doing his or her part to help Thomas and Friends™ navigate their way to Brendam Docks. And while it’s been a memorable holiday season for everyone involved, it’s finally time to bid our adieus for one more year; this weekend marks your last chance to catch Thomas before he steams his way home! With six showings between Saturday and Sunday, you’ll find at least a few more opportunities to get in a little sing-along time with your kids–so long as you make a point of registering in advance!
For those who appreciate the lively nature of the NYBG in winter, Debbie Becker returns this Saturday morning to lead her long-running Bird Walk, scoping out the Red-tailed Hawks, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and elusive owls that often call the Garden home. And while it may be a bit nippy outdoors, layering up and hitting the Forest trails is well worth the chilly toes (ski socks are a lifesaver)–winter is hands-down the best time to catch some of our most magnificent avian species on the wing.
Of course, our would-be snowbirds are just as welcome to fly in for a visit, come sun, snow, or any frosty combination of the two. Tropical Paradise is the cure for all things frigid! Inside the Conservatory you’ll find the gems of our permanent collection on special display, highlighting the botanical beauties and curiosities of sunnier climes. For those with a knack for camera work, or anyone who just wants to learn, really, our garden photography experts will be on hand once each weekend, holding workshops for shutterbugs of all skill levels. It’s the ideal warm-up for our Tropical Paradise photography contest, running throughout the exhibition and open to anyone with a Flickr account!
Garden News: It’s a Jungle in Here!
Posted in Exhibitions on January 23 2013, by Matt Newman
Think of surviving winter as a pie chart: a good chunk–maybe 50%–is made up of boots and scarves; another 30% boils down to keeping a cheerful attitude while you go to town on your iced over windshield; and that last 20% is all about escapism. For some, that means hitching a jet to South Beach and waiting out the bitter months by a rooftop pool, sipping chilled mimosas. For us, it’s a 20-minute transit ride up to the Bronx for a steamy stop in New York City’s largest living rain forest.
Yeah, I know, not exactly the first place you’d plan for a jungle excursion–but the NYBG is your best bet! Our yearly Tropical Paradise event is put together to offer New Yorkers sanctuary from the humdrum icebox of the city, so you can leave your hand warmers at the door and pretend, if only for a moment, that it’s not snowing sideways in the five boroughs. This year’s focus falls on the permanent collection inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where exotic tropical plants such as vanilla orchids, zombie palms, and the jade vine–a perennial favorite deserving of a little idolization–step front and center.
This Weekend: January in the Tropics
Posted in Around the Garden on January 18 2013, by Matt Newman
It’s the first long weekend of the new year, and we’re not about to kick off 2013 on a lazy note. Just look at our schedule! Over the next three days, we’ll not only be packing in the holiday fun with the help of Thomas and Friends™, but welcoming an early summer in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory through Tropical Paradise, our homage to all things chill (in the kick-back-and-breathe sense, naturally). If you’ve got a camera handy, this is not something you’ll want to miss. So join us as we keep the season’s festivities afloat while shrugging off the winter cold!
Through January 27, Thomas and his buddies continue to spark young imaginations in the Ross Hall with an interactive, problem-solving singalong that will not only put smiles on your kids’ faces, but have them playing right along with the cast as they guide Thomas to his destination. The fun only continues after the show, with our Thomas-themed “Playstation” activities running throughout the weekend in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. There, you’ll find toys, tracks, and trains to keep the little ones occupied while you catch your breath. Just remember that tickets are extremely limited, so it’s best to register as early as possible.
And while you’re here, don’t forget to sign up for our Cancun vacation sweepstakes, courtesy of Thomas and the Hard Rock Cafe!
New Name, Same Great Photography Contest!
Posted in Exhibitions on January 18 2013, by Ann Rafalko
It’s back! Our annual winter photography contest returns to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with the opening of Tropical Paradise Saturday, January 19! Tropical Paradise–a reinterpretation of the Conservatory’s lush permanent collections–is the perfect way to shake off the winter doldrums and exercise your photography skills.
In addition, glean inspiration from the award-winning photographers of the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest. Taken in gardens around the world, these prize-winning photos will be on display alongside plants from the tropics throughout the Conservatory. Enjoy the beautiful photographs and access additional information on the photographers, their inspiration, and the techniques they used to capture these stunning images by simply scanning a code on each sign with your smartphone. And on Sundays, join one of two accomplished photographers for a brief course on the basics of garden shooting.
2012 Sense of Place Grand Prize Winner: Mika Sato’s serene shot of the Aquatic Plants Gallery
The contest is run on NYBG’s Flickr Group Pool, and this year it’s easier than ever to enter because Flickr has launched a fabulous new iPhone app that allows anyone to enter seamlessly and easily. Grab your camera or your phone and head to the sultry warmth of the tropics, capture the beauty you find, and you just might win one of two grand prizes: A photography class taught at the NYBG!
Summer in a Bubble
Posted in Programs and Events on January 10 2013, by Matt Newman
There are a few caveats to that whole “winter’s majesty” thing. First, and this is one I learned not long ago, don’t wander out into a howling snow storm in leather-soled captoes unless ice-skating to the subway sounds fun. Second, that majesty only lasts for as long as it takes you to start shivering. And while living in the northeast means skiing, sledding, and all the joy of pristine white mornings, so often it seems easier to coop yourself up inside and listen to the snowflakes dusting your bedroom window. But! And I emphasize this: there’s a way to stay warm and enjoy what mother nature has to offer in New York City. If I told you that the NYBG offered a slice of summer during the frostiest time of year, would you believe me?
Soon, it won’t be that hard to wrap your head around! As the snow comes falling and you’re waging war on the ice coating your windshield, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory‘s yearly Tropical Paradise will become New York City’s go-to escape for a little warmth, music, and relaxation in the rain forest. And, yes, I do mean rain forest. Our Victorian glasshouse remains an iconic landmark, representing not only New York’s architectural history, but over a century of botanical expertise. Inside, you’ll join our expert docents for tours of the Conservatory’s permanent collection, including soaring palm trees, alluring tropical flowers, and the many joys and oddities that thrive in our misty rain forests.