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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Wildlife

Morning Eye Candy: Munch, Munch

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on July 17 2013, by Matt Newman

Caterpillars often munch unmerciful on their preferred plants, but there’s usually the later butterfly’s pollinating habits to look forward to, at least. I think this one will become a black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). Then again, I’m no entomologist. Any confirmations from readers?

Caterpillar

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Four Years of New York City Wildlife with Pat Gonzalez

Posted in Around the Garden on June 27 2013, by Matt Newman

I don’t think this compilation of critters needs much chatter to introduce. Pat Gonzalez was with the New York Botanical Garden long before becoming a Visitor Services Attendant—as a child growing up in New York City, and a burgeoning photographer, and a wildlife enthusiast. She’s put countless hours into capturing the lives of our furry, scaled, and feathered residents, and continues to do so with an enviable passion.

She put together this compilation of video footage shot at the Garden between 2009 and 2013, and thought you all might like to have a look. I’m of the same opinion.

Dragonfly Daredevils: Air Show in the Native Plant Garden

Posted in Wildlife on April 15 2013, by Joyce Newman

Nymphaea-Moon-Dance-01The wetland area of the new Native Plant Garden is home to many kinds of animals, but none more magnificent than the dragonflies that hover and buzz over the water, performing amazing airborne feats in search of food. Almost as soon as the water feature was filled during construction, the dragonflies moved in.

The latest scientific evidence suggests that their aerial performances are not just lovely to look at—they’re highly choreographed to target prey. In fact, a recent New York Times report notes that dragonflies are much better hunters than African lions or sharks. Dragonflies “manage to snatch their targets in midair more than 95% of the time,” often eating “on the spur without bothering to alight.” By comparison, the success rate for lions is just 25%, and for sharks just 35%.

Dragonflies are not new residents to the Garden, either. We have long had a healthy population of these amazing insects, and we’re quite happy to have them here, too. Dragonflies may be an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. While adult dragonflies are terrestrial insects, immature dragonflies, also known as nymphs, are aquatic and can be sensitive to pollutants in the water.

Another reason we like having dragonflies around? Guess what they eat … mosquitoes!

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Morning Eye Candy: Pre-Flight Checks

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 18 2013, by Matt Newman

Nope, they won’t all be this easy to spot. But seeing as this is the last day of this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count, take what you can get! Seeing as we’re open on this particular President’s Day, we’ll be tallying up our feathered friends all afternoon. You’ll find “birder headquarters” in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. And even if you don’t have binoculars, that’s no excuse to sit this one out–we’ve got a handful of loaner pairs available from the Visitor’s Center.

Say hi to birdie

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen