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Plant Talk

History & People, Inside our Collections

The First Children’s Gardening Book—in Latin

Posted in History & People, Inside our Collections

The Mertz Library recently acquired a 1545 edition of a children’s book, De Re Hortensi Libellus. Originally published in 1535, it is thought to be ... Read More

Inside our Collections

The Mertz Library: 2022 Wrapped!

Posted in Inside our Collections

In 2022 the Mertz Library circulated over 3,000 books to its patrons—ranging from staff scientists to NYBG members and students—and hundreds of books were added ... Read More

History & People

The History of The Haunted Greenhouse

Posted in History & People

Before NYBG’s Haunted Pumpkin Gardens was the Haunted Greenhouse, an NYBG Halloween extravaganza started in the 1970s. Read More

History & People

Mum’s the Word: Kiku’s History at NYBG

Posted in History & People

Kiku, the captivating chrysanthemum display at the Haupt Conservatory, has a long and fascinating history both at NYBG and abroad. 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

Inside our Collections

Pink Never Dyes: International Postage Stamps Colored Pink

Posted in Inside our Collections

Everyone knows the excitement of opening up the mailbox and spotting a letter—wedged between a pile of bills, addressed in handwriting, with a fun stamp ... Read More

History & People

Dr. James Still – Doctor of the Pines: A Brief Account of the Life and Legacy of a 19th-Century Herbalist

Posted in History & People

“A great mind is planted within us in the beginning of our lives, and, like other plants, it needs cultivation and watering from the best ... Read More

Inside our Collections, Plant Science

Cosmic Views of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt

Posted in Inside our Collections, Plant Science

Humboldt’s ideas were based on the view of the harmonic order of the Universe, a concept called cosmos, borrowed from ancient Greek philosophy. Read More

Inside our Collections

LuEsther T. Mertz Library Book of the Month: Chinoiserie Botany

Posted in Inside our Collections

Born in Metz, France, naturalist and artist Pierre Joseph Buc'hoz (1731–1807) become a doctor of medicine in Nancy in 1763. In his medical practice, he ... Read More

History & People, Inside our Collections

From the Jungles in Java to Dutch Drawing Rooms: A Tribute to Two Remarkable Women

Posted in History & People, Inside our Collections

Impressive by its sheer size and bold coloring, Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de l'ile de Java : peints d'après nature was brought to fruition ... Read More

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