Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on March 23 2013, by Ann Rafalko
So, the root of the matter is this: It somehow is still not spring outside. Never fear! The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a tropical paradise right now. It’s spring inside!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on March 22 2013, by Matt Newman
Cocktails, crocuses, and more cymbidiums than you can count? That’s a resounding “yes!” you’re hearing as we move into our first weekend of spring, kicking off in flirtatious fashion with the second in our ongoing series of Orchid Evenings. In fact, the first was such a runaway success that we’ve even added a few more nights to our upcoming rotation, just in time for this weekend’s event to sell out! We’ll let you know if more tickets are added for the 23, but for now, we’re just all kinds of giddy over the weekend to come.
As with each Orchid Evening, Saturday night’s evening under the lights will be highlighted by a local spirit–in this case, a fine whiskey from our friends at Tirado Distillery. And the cranberry-splashed mojitos aren’t the only mood enhancer on the menu; DJ Julio is also on the ticket, bringing smooth beats to the table for unmatched ambiance. Afterward, it’s over to the classic Italian fare of Arthur Avenue, where we’ve partnered with several restaurants to get you discounts on dinner. As far as planning your evening outing goes, I feel like this one’s sort of a no-brainer.
We’re looking at mostly clear skies and afternoons packed with ostentatious orchids, otherwise, so make a little space on your weekend calendar for the Orchid Show! Spring is definitely here, and while the air may be a bit brisk for flip-flops and tank tops, the Garden’s outdoor blooms don’t lie. Check out our Orchid Evenings page for registration information for future events, and head below for the full Saturday and Sunday schedules.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 22 2013, by Matt Newman
“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”
— Mark Twain
Snow, sleet, or flighty sun, the plum blossoms seem to be taking spring’s early days in stride. The rest of the Garden, likewise, follows suit. I hope your Friday is as bright.
Prunus mume ‘Matsurabara Red’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden on March 20 2013, by Matt Newman
Just go ahead and ignore your outdoor thermometer on your way out the door; it’s for the best. Because while today may not feel like the first day of spring, I can promise you–with the backing of several astronomers and meteorologists, if necessary–that we’re no longer wading our way through the worst of winter! At least not officially. The Spring Equinox is in swing, and the Orchid Show is hard at work trumpeting all things fresh and colorful. Week after week, waves of wild blossoms make their way into the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, packing each nook, cranny, branch, and epiphyte-friendly surface with neon perfection. It’s the spring phenomenon, and it’s more than just a greenhouse full of plants.
Kevin Character recently took the show to the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, where our staff now tends to the comings and goings of Little Landscapes, an Orchid Show sibling geared toward the little ones in your life. Terrariums are the new kids on the block when it comes to green thumb trends, but their history extends far, far beyond the delicate glass globes and mossy miniature landscapes seen on Pinterest. There was a practical purpose to the first Victorian terrariums of England–well behind the beautiful display and self-contained ecosystem that each terrarium provided.
Want to know more about this open house of tiny greens? Check out our interview and demonstration!
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
Posted in Around the Garden on March 19 2013, by Ann Rafalko
Despite today’s unfortunate weather, spring truly is right around the corner. Tomorrow in fact! And there is evidence all around. Just this morning I saw a robin–slightly disgruntled and a little damp, but a robin nonetheless–strolling around on Tulip Tree Allée.
Snowdrops, crocuses, tiny netted irises, hellebores, fragrant viburnum, and apricot blossoms (an early harbinger of cherry blossoms) are popping up all over in the Home Gardening Center, Seasonal Border, Azalea Garden, and along the Ladies’ Border. In the Thain Family Forest there has been a subtle change of tint to the trees brought about by nascent leaf and flower buds.
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, the cozy Discovery Center is home to the serious family fun of Little Landscapes. Little Landscapes allows children of all ages to explore the tiny world of terrariums with hands-on activities that includes making your own little terrarium to take home! If you would like to indulge in a more substantial bout of terrarium-making, MasterCard cardholders are invited to participate in an exclusive Priceless event where your child can create an adventure- or fantasy-themed terrarium to take home.
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events on March 15 2013, by Matt Newman
What’s the best way to layer green on green, with a sprinkle of green to top it off? For most of you, the answer’s a short trip north! Pay a visit to The New York Botanical Garden this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, stop off to see the lush tropical displays of The Orchid Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and revel in a bit of early spring growth. That’s more living color than you’ve probably seen all winter. And it’s as full a holiday weekend as you’re likely to find before you’re pints deep in Sunday night’s grass-colored beer.
From the Perennial Garden to the Grand Allée lawns, signs of spring’s arrival sneak into view, bucking this end-of-the-week cold spell with bright crocus blossoms and a smattering of technicolor irises. Look for those along the Seasonal Walk if you’re so inclined. Meanwhile, the Orchid Show is well into its element with a thousands-strong collection of exotic blooms draping the Conservatory walkways. Actually, Tumblr‘s official Storyboard crew filmed a recent feature on the show–more importantly, the enthusiastic people and behind-the-scenes efforts that make it possible. I’m biased, sure, but it’s so worth three minutes of your time.
So before you set out to test your constitution with more stout, whiskey, and corned beef than you’ll otherwise eat all year, set aside an afternoon for reflection in the city’s finest natural escape.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 15 2013, by Matt Newman
The snowdrops have landed. The crocuses are massing. Hellebores? Check! We’re seeing the subtle signs of spring’s arrival right on our doorstep and throughout our 250 acres, and it’s only going to pick up the pace from here.
Helleborus x nigercors ‘Honeyhill Joy’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 8 2013, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in The Orchid Show on March 7 2013, by Matt Newman
Cocktail umbrellas are kitschy. That slice of citrus rimming your highball glass–quaint. But there can be so much more to an imaginative drink, and that goes far beyond what’s poured into it! Returning for another year of glitzy, romantic nights on the town, Orchid Evenings in 2013 are prepped and ready to turn the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a hub of tropical escapism, complete with color, music, and just enough tasty tipple to set the tone for a perfect date.
During five Saturday evening gatherings throughout March and April, the Conservatory opens its doors for a few rare, after-dark viewings of our magnificent Orchid Show, sans daytime crowds. DJ Julio will be on hand to provide the ambiance with traditional world and electronic music, while bespoke cocktail creations from the likes of St. Germain, Tirado, Jack From Brooklyn, El Buho, and LiV cap each evening with a worldly spirit mixed right. Under tens of thousands of blooms from around the globe, lit with the soft glow of the Conservatory at night, we dare you to find a more romantic spot to ring in spring in New York.