Clicks and Whirrs in the Conservatory this Weekend
Posted in Around the Garden, Exhibitions, Photography on February 3 2012, by Matt Newman
I have this sneaking suspicion that the spaces under “Saturday” and “Sunday” are sitting blank in your planner right now. If you’re not dashing onto a plane to escape the return of chilly weather to New York, I’m going to make a solid suggestion: get your camera. You probably have one sitting on the shelf somewhere, pitifully neglected, waiting for the day you make the commitment to get out and start learning the craft.
If you haven’t etched your plans in stone, put a few bucks on your MetroCard and head to the Bronx with your Nikons, your Canons, your Fujis or whatever else you can come up with. We’re actually going to reward you for participating in our Caribbean Garden photography contest, not just with the chance to come back for a course or workshop of your choosing with our NYBG educators, but for tips and tricks provided by professional garden photographers this Sunday afternoon. You can’t keep making excuses! Because who knows? Wait too long and the steamroller of technological innovation just might make your camera format obsolete.
Okay, that last bit is a patent exaggeration, but we get such a kick out of judging submissions for our weekly Caribbean Garden photo contests that I’m willing to go to any length to get more submissions. The bigger the field of contestants, the better the experience when sorting through all that creativity (my selfish motivations are showing). Take a look at this past week’s winning photos to get an idea of what I’m talking about.
Whether or not the click and whirr of the camera is your niche, there’s something going on this weekend to get you out of the house:
Saturday, February 4
Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meets at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
I was out and about on Wednesday and happened to catch Rose and Vince–two of our veteran Red-tailed hawks–circling overhead near the Library Building. Join Debbie Becker this Saturday and you’ll probably have similar luck–they’re not exactly hermits. Bring your camera or your binoculars and along the way you might spot diurnal owls on the hunt, songbirds, and a number of other native avian guests.
Conservatory Tour — 12:30 p.m.
Meets at the Conservatory entrance
Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s docents. Take an eco-tour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays. Admission included with an All-Garden Pass.
Salsa: Listen and Learn — 2 p.m.
Meet at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s Green School
When it’s cold outside, you always feel better on the move than you do standing still. Not that this is an issue to consider for the weekend. Throughout the run of our Caribbean Garden exhibition we’re offering the chance to work out the winter in our salsa classes, learning the history, tradition, and steps of Cuba’s favorite dance style in the warmth of the Conservatory.
Sunday, February 5
Conservatory Tour — 12:30 p.m.
Meets at the Conservatory entrance
Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s docents. Take an eco-tour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays. Admission included with an All-Garden Pass.
Photography Tips and Tricks — 1 to 3 p.m.
Meets at the Conservatory entrance
Professional garden photographers Rich Pomerantz and Alan Detrick return for another series of photography mini-workshops. Boost your skill while you take part in our Caribbean Garden photo contest through tips, tricks, critiques and more–these guys aren’t shy about sharing their wisdom with burgeoning photo artists.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Tropical Discoveries and Wintertime Wonders — Daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Meet at the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Don’t leave the Garden without a souvenir for your little ones. The kids can stop by the Adventure Garden and take part in the exploration of New York’s native plants, then get into gardening for themselves by potting up tropical plants of their own to take home.
Adventures in Adaptations Scavenger Hunt
Self-guided
For a kid, there’s always the imagination to fall back on, but sometimes a tangible challenge is what really does the trick. To that end, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory transforms into an adventurous jungle with questions and answers around every bend. Pick up a field notebook at the ticket booth on your way into the NYBG and set the kids on a scavenger hunt to not only figure out what plants Dr. Ed Apshon is talking about, but to find out where in the world he’s headed next.
Don’t forget your tickets! The Caribbean Garden is an event for everyone, but you’ll need a Conservatory pass to get in.
