Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 24 2013, by Matt Newman
Synchronize your watches–today at 12:30 p.m. marks the start of our Winter Tree Tour, leaving from the Reflecting Pool at the Visitor’s Center. There’s a lot of seasonal beauty out there to catch up on, and only a bit of season left to do it!
Pinus parvifolia ‘Brevifolia’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on February 22 2013, by Matt Newman
It’s the last weekend of our Tropical Paradise exhibition, and while the sun’s made a fair showing throughout the week, there’s still enough frost in the air to warrant a little escapism. Of course, that’s what this event is all about–having a chance to at least pretend that you’re not in New York City in the dead of winter. And through Sunday, the doors to our steamy Conservatory will still be open to visitors hoping to explore the real stars of our permanent collection–and leaving their scarves on the rack, too.
Sunday also marks the final day of open photography workshops in the Conservatory, as well as your last opportunity to pitch your name into the hat for our yearly tropical photography contest. Thus far it’s been a heated challenge between a number of talented shutterbugs, but there’s always the opportunity to get in the game with photos of your own, even if you’re late to the party!
For the would-be polar bears among you, this weekend’s schedule offers more than just daydreams under the palm trees; we’re also hosting an involved Winter Tree Tour on Sunday, something to complement Saturday’s traditional outdoor Bird Walk with Debbie Becker. It’s your chance to see winter’s aesthetic from a slightly different angle–one that appreciates the angles and arches of the trees.
But you don’t have to fret. Closing the doors on Tropical Paradise is one of those situations where we open a window elsewhere–in this case, one that looks out on thousands upon thousands of orchids! So stay tuned for next week, folks.
Posted in Programs and Events on February 15 2013, by Matt Newman
Whether you’re binocular-savvy or just looking to lock down your birdwatching game, this is your weekend! And thanks to President’s Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, if only because you’ll have three straight days to join us at the NYBG. Winter is undeniably the best time of year to see our feathered friends on the wing, owing to the barren branches and annual mating habits of the raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl that call our neck of the Bronx home. So get off your couch, strap on some boots, and join up!
Even if you’re not quite an expert on all things avian, it’s never too late to learn; Debbie Becker will be on hand for her weekly Saturday birdwalk, where she’ll be more than happy to give lay birders a crash course in spotting and identification. And because the GBBC is so important to helping ornithologists and environmentalists understand the state of the nation’s bird populations, we even have a few pairs of binoculars to loan out at the Visitor’s Center for those who don’t have their own.
Over in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, we continue our yearly winter tradition of Tropical Paradise with guided tours, photography contests, camera workshops, and all the warmth of a South American rain forest. So if you’re sick of wrestling with the cold, this is an opportunity to at least pretend you’re a few thousand miles south, trading your parka for a t-shirt.
We know it’s chilly out, but we have more than a few cures for your winter woes. We’ll even be open on Monday, so come visit!
Posted in Programs and Events on February 1 2013, by Matt Newman
Try not to think of February as the grim side of winter. It’s self-defeating! Instead, turn it into your warm-up to spring, a time to prepare for sunnier months–whether that’s daydreaming away the cold, getting back in shape, or shuffling your bathing suits to an easy-to-reach spot in the closet. In some sense, that’s been the regimen here at the NYBG since the holidays passed, where we’re readying ourselves for the triumphant return of the green by reveling in all things palm-trees-and-coconuts. If you haven’t been to see Tropical Paradise yet, you can’t say you’ve relaxed this season!
Under the glass of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where the snow and the sleet are stopped at the velvet rope, we’re celebrating our permanent collection–the towering tropical trees and broad-leaved beauties that transform our little corner of New York City into a living rain forest. And in between the tours through our misty cloud forest houses and the rare, exotic species growing within, we’re filling in all the little gaps with tropical music, art, and more. Whether you come for the Caribbean tunes, the ongoing photography events, or the simple opportunity to stuff your gloves in your pocket and breathe, you’ve got until February 24 to make it happen! After that, we’re not losing momentum–you’ll be saying hello to the Orchid Show before you can say “strawberry daiquiri.”
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!
Posted in Around the Garden on January 11 2013, by Matt Newman
The ornaments have been shuffled into the attic and you’ve wrapped your holiday lights into an “unknottable” ball (we’ll see what the garage has to say about that in eleven months). For most, the holidays are done with. But while work and school are back in full swing, the celebration continues here at the NYBG. Our lights are still twinkling, our conifers still decked to the nines in seasonal flash–you’ll hear at least a few quiet Christmas classics humming in the Conservatory. Sadly, at some point, we do have to pack it in for another year (coming exhibitions need the space to sprawl). This weekend, we say goodbye to the Holiday Train Show of 2012.
Of course, thousands of people have already taken advantage of the stretched holiday schedule at the Garden, and there are still a couple of days for you to do so! We’ll be running our normal Conservatory schedule throughout Saturday and Sunday, with one last Train Show tour on Saturday at 2:30. You’ll also catch Thomas & Friends™ continuing throughout the weekend (though we hope you bought your tickets already, most shows are sold out). That event happens to keep the pace until January 27, so even if you can’t make it this time, there are still plenty of opportunities waiting for you.
Posted in Around the Garden on December 28 2012, by Matt Newman
My New Year’s resolution for 2013 is to finish up my holiday shopping before the holidays come and go, rather than after; it’s one I can never seem to stick to. For the rest of you, here’s hoping that this weekend will be a relaxing one. If you’re not working on Monday, I might also suggest you preface your fireworks and champagne with a stop at the NYBG, where the Holiday Train Show continues to run through mid-January alongside many of our other December activities. At the very least, I can promise you the open spaces and fresh air of the Garden will offer a little calm before you squeeze your way into Times Square.
However, if you’re still in retail mode, you’ll want to make a pit stop at our Shop in the Garden. We’re offering plenty of great gifts for the gardeners on your list that you may have overlooked, and much of what remains of our holiday stock is now 50% off! So if you’re the type of person who likes to plan well ahead when it comes to Christmas ornaments a wintry decor, now is your chance to load up.
For the Saturday crowd, the weather report promises a belatedly white Christmas in the Garden, something best experienced while wandering among the Benenson Ornamental Conifers. There’s something about snow-laden evergreens that flips all the right nostalgia switches, at least in my experience. And I probably don’t have to say it, but winter weather makes enjoying our toy trains and miniatures that much more iconic when snowflakes are brushing over the Conservatory glass.
Posted in Around the Garden on December 21 2012, by Matt Newman
This morning’s raincoat weather hasn’t had us whistling “White Christmas.” Not yet, anyway. But just in time for the winter solstice, it looks like the clouds should be clearing up ahead of a dipping thermometer through the weekend! While we’re not going to see any snowflakes floating on the breeze just yet, it’s safe to say you should be breaking out the knit hats and scarves for any and all pre-holiday adventures in the NYBG this weekend. It’s time to say goodbye to fall, and transition into something a little frostier by comparison.
Bar Car Nights have once again proven a massive success, and it’s just about time to say goodbye for another year. Saturday, December 22, marks the final party under the lights of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory–at least for the 2012 holiday season. And if you’re quick about it, you’ll still have the opportunity to snag a ticket or two for our last few hours of casual cocktails. Seeing as our guest list has filled to capacity for each of the past evening events, this is your cue to be hasty with registration–don’t dawdle! We expect to have a full house once again, especially with this being the last chance for an adults-only Holiday Train Show viewing before Christmas.
Posted in Around the Garden on December 14 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s the proverbial belle of the ball, the jewel on the crown, that once-in-a-blue-moon event that our visitors (and employees, honestly) can’t help but get excited for. Well, technically it’s thrice in a blue moon–Bar Car Nights are back this year, and this Saturday evening marks the second of three events for the closing of 2012. Of course, tickets have been selling out faster than we can advertise them, and this week is no exception–tickets are sold out for Saturday, December 15. But there are still a few left for next Saturday, December 22! So join us as we pause the family fun for a few hours of relaxation in the Conservatory turned cocktail lounge, aperitifs in hand and seasonal tunes in the air.
Afterward, head over to Arthur Avenue for some of the finest Italian dining in New York City, made that much better by a discount for Bar Car Nights ticket holders.
If themed drinks under the glow of the Conservatory lights aren’t your style, everything else that makes the season great at the Garden will be running throughout the weekend, including a few special one-off events for those who love the outdoors as much as we do. After Debbie Becker’s weekly Saturday morning Bird Walk, you’re welcome to join one of our experts for a tour of my favorite NYBG collection: the Ross Conifer Arboretum. Seeing as Christmas trees are popping up everywhere you look, now seems as good a time as any to learn about these evergreens while they’re still planted and thriving.
Posted in Around the Garden on December 7 2012, by Matt Newman
That’s enough relaxing for one week! While last weekend’s schedule kept things simple and streamlined, we’re stepping up the pace this time around with a series of exclusive events running the gamut from seasonal to enlightening. And, of course, everything in the middle. Between the trundling trains buzzing about the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and the gingerbread frosting taking over the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, you’ll find winding Forest tours, wildlife exploration, and an opportunity to meet one of the NYBG‘s favorite photographers. I suppose I should also mention our “holiday happy hours,” which seems as apt a description as any.
Saturday morning begins with Debbie Becker’s weekly Bird Walk, though this particular session is both informative and proactive. Not only will you be scoping out the avian residents and visitors flitting about the Garden, but pipping each one off on a personal list. At the end of the walk, your bird counts will be submitted to Cornell for their database as an unofficial warm-up for the Christmas Bird Count. This annual, nationwide event goes a long way to helping researchers and conservationists understand the state of the bird world in the U.S., so you won’t just be putting your Saturday to good use–you’ll be contributing to a worthy cause, as well.