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Plant Talk

History & People

NYBG Holiday Celebrations Through the Years

Posted in History & People

The holidays are a special time at NYBG. The magic of the season spreads as frost covers the landscape and the falling snow makes the ... Read More

Inside our Collections

Creepy Creatures: Images from the Mertz Library’s Special Collection

Posted in Inside our Collections

Though spooky, these illustrations are important historical and biological records of various species (most real, some mythological). Read More

Environment & Conservation, Plant Science

Color of Biodiversity

Posted in Environment & Conservation, Plant Science

Pink is not just pretty—it’s primeval. And this year, pink is being honored as PANTONE’s Color of Biodiversity. Read More

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With a cocktail in hand and thousands of colorful

With a cocktail in hand and thousands of colorful flowers lit up for the occasion, The Orchid Show after dark is an entirely unique experience! 🌺🍸

Kicking off tomorrow evening, join us for Orchid Nights and raise a toast to spring with flowers, festivities, and plenty of greenery as you explore The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage in the warmth of the Conservatory. You'll experience @lily_kwong's captivating vision during an enchanting night out, and find yourself immersed in thousands of orchids enfolded into rolling mountains. And with energetic music from @iamadaisong, hands-on Chinese calligraphy workshops, and delicious food and drinks at the Cantina and Pine Tree Café, you can keep the fun going all night.

Hit the link in our bio to get tickets while they last!

#OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG #plantlove

"When I started working with plant life, The New Y

"When I started working with plant life, The New York Botanical Garden is the first place that I came!"

Five years ago, artist @lily_kwong came to NYBG to begin her career as a plantsperson, joining our Continuing Education Landscape Design Certificate program as a dedicated student of horticultural history, modern design, and the hands-on skills that launched her into the spotlight for plant lovers all around the country. Today, she's the acclaimed designer of The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage--a celebration of her ancestral connections to nature and the skills she's developed since embarking on her botanical journey.

Hit the link in our bio to learn more about the NYBG courses that established Lily's foundations in horticulture, and discover the passion that might become your next big career move.

#OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG #ContinuingEdNYBG

Whether you’re a long-time plantsperson or just

Whether you’re a long-time plantsperson or just getting started with your green thumb, you’re invited to join NYBG’s Plant Family! 💚🌿

Our new line is the perfect way to show your plant pride or share it with a loved one—and support the passion for plants with designs everyone can enjoy! These collegiate-inspired t-shirts are offered in “Plant Mom,” “Plant Dad,” and “Plant Kid” designs, and you can also grab an NYBG tote bag featuring our “Plant Person” design. Hit the link in our bio to check out what’s on offer, and share your love of the botanical world with NYBG Shop this spring.

#NYBGshop #PlantFam #plantlove

NYC's favorite floral evenings out are back starti

NYC's favorite floral evenings out are back starting this Saturday, March 18, with the return of Orchid Nights. ✨💃🌺

With music from @iamadaisong, a variety of foods for purchase, specialty cocktails on offer, and all the warmly lit beauty of The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage under the welcoming lights of the Haupt Conservatory, it's your chance to experience this year's hit exhibition from designer @lily_kwong after dark. Hit the link in our bio to get your tickets for upcoming dates in March and April, and don't forget your dancing shoes!

#OrchidNights #OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG

“Ellen Shipman, Beatrix Farrand, and Marian Coff

“Ellen Shipman, Beatrix Farrand, and Marian Coffin—groundbreakers—proved that it’s not a man’s world out in the garden.”

Often some of the most knowledgeable historians on grounds, our volunteer tour guides introduce thousands of visitors each year to the stories that define our 250 acres—including those of the women who helped create our landmark urban escape. Hit the link in our bio to hear from just a few of our long-time guides as they discuss #WomensHistoryMonth, the designers past and present who inspire them, and the spaces at NYBG created by women where they most find peace and inspiration.

#plantlove

“So much of Chinese landscape design integrates

“So much of Chinese landscape design integrates water features and stone, an homage to the natural world.”

As you explore The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage, take the time to depressurize with @lily_kwong’s Meditative Walkway, a moment in the exhibition that invites gentle reflection and a closer look. From the hand-selected stones arranged amid still waters to the unique and elegant orchid species sprouting from the scenery—each with its own story to tell—it’s an opportunity to center yourself away from the busy city.

Want a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to this year’s Orchid Show? Share your “Natural Heritage” on your feed with #OrchidNYBG, and join your fellow plant lovers in expressing the histories, moments, and memories that connect YOU to nature! We’ll select three winners from among the participants and contact them via DM to join us at the most stunning flower exhibition of the year.

#OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG #plantlove

Whether you're exploring The Orchid Show: Natural

Whether you're exploring The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage or you're hiking through their natural habitat, if you want to enjoy orchids, some of the best advice is to look up! 🌴🌺

Many of our favorite orchid species are epiphytes, which means they live in trees and on rocks in the wild, clinging to the surface of their homes with specialized aerial roots that draw water and nutrients from the very air. You'll see this in the exhibition as you admire @lily_kwong's designs under the glass of the Haupt Conservatory—and it's also found in our Nolen Greenhouses, where hundreds of specimens are kept year-round on pieces of bark and moss-covered wood.

Brush up on your orchid knowledge through April 23 as the show continues with care Q&As from our experts, tours, and of course plenty of beautiful orchid specimens to take home from NYBG Shop. Hit the link in our bio to learn more.

#Phalaenopsis schilleriana #OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG #plantlove

Like little clouds of fireworks in the midst of wi

Like little clouds of fireworks in the midst of winter, the witch-hazel flowers punctuating the March scenery bring lively color and life ahead of spring's arrival—and now is the time to see them in full bloom before they give way to the sights of a new season. 🎇

From the Azalea Garden to the Native Plant Garden and beyond, you'll find many such beautiful specimens showing off across our 250 acres right now. Make time to get outdoors this winter and meet them!

#Hamamelis #plantlove

Better late than never! The first significant snow

Better late than never! The first significant snow of the year here at NYBG has dusted our 250 acres in a blanket of sparkling white, highlighting the bright greens of the conifer needles and the unique patterns of the tree bark. ❄️🌲

Days like these are the perfect opportunity to set out into the Garden to discover the beauty of New York in winter.

#plantlove

More than just pretty floral faces, orchids can su

More than just pretty floral faces, orchids can surprise you—especially this one, which finds its way into so many of the world's favorite desserts. 🌼🍨

What you find on the shelf at the supermarket labeled "vanilla bean" is actually a seed pod—of an orchid, and the only one cultivated for widespread culinary use. The vanilla orchid, which originated in Mexico and Belize, was first successfully pollinated by hand when a 12-year-old enslaved boy on the island of Reunión created an innovative technique in 1841. Hit the link in our bio to learn more about the important legacy of Edmond Albius, how he reinvented vanilla cultivation, and more.

#BlackHistoryMonth #Vanilla planifolia #OrchidNYBG

This week's Orchid Dinner was such a stunning cele

This week's Orchid Dinner was such a stunning celebration of floral artistry that everywhere you looked, you spotted a new favorite. 💫👀 Take a closer look at some of the many designs that took our breath away and made this fundraiser in support of NYBG's global programs in science, conservation, and education such a triumphant success. Our thanks to @guerlain, @hearst, and @verandamag for their sponsorship and making the night so memorable!

#OrchidDinner #OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG

Take a peek at some of the most stunning botanical

Take a peek at some of the most stunning botanical tablescapes of the year! 🌺🌟

Last night The Orchid Dinner brought together dozens of talented designers for an evening of floral beauty, with guests joining us in support of NYBG’s important initiatives in botany and horticulture. And this year’s event was a momentous success! More than 40 unique and imaginative tablescapes were created for the occasion, featuring countless orchids in myriad colors and themes.

We’re thrilled to announce that attendees raised over $800,000 for the Garden’s global programs in science, education, and plant conservation as we celebrated artist @lily_kwong’s inspired vision for The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage.

Get an up-close look at some of last night’s fantastical centerpieces, check out our stories to see interviews with the designers, and don’t forget to grab your tickets to The Orchid Show as it continues through April 23!

#OrchidDinner #OrchidNYBG #LilyKwongNYBG