Back to the Weekend at the NYBG
Posted in Around the Garden, The Orchid Show on March 23 2012, by Matt Newman
If the flowering magnolias and budding bottlebrushes around the Garden are any evidence, New York really has shifted gears to full-on spring pleasantry. You know it was satisfying to leave your coat on the hook before work all this week! And with the Orchid Show now settled into its groove and flourishing with its thousands of exotic flowers, this is the time to head up to the Bronx and see what everyone is swooning over. You finally get to start off without the screech of an alarm clock, ditch the briefcase, and leave your uncomfortable shoes near the front door for a couple of days–make the most of it!
Between the “living walls” of the Orchid Show and the fresh flowers sprouting up throughout our 250-acre landscape, the NYBG is the home of springtime in New York. Daffodils are high and bright, the ornamental cherries are stealing the show, and the magnolias may leave you downright speechless (I can’t stop bringing them up, I know, but they’re beyond lovely).
Whatever your interests, this weekend is packed with events from the ever-popular Bird Walk to flower arranging workshops. Be sure to have a look at the schedule below to make a full day of your time here!
Saturday, March 24
Bird Walk–11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Search for the many songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and other avian creatures that call the NYBG home. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our seasoned bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those migrating through. With the owls out and about for diurnal hunting, and a growing family of Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing. Be sure to have a look at some of the NYBG birding classes outlined by Joyce Newman in her hawk update. I can tell you that the birds have been especially chatty of late, and the hawks and owls are alert and on the prowl; they’re enjoying the weather about as much as we are.
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
History and Mystery of Orchids Presentation Series — 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.
Flower Arranging with Orchids — 1 p.m.
Join floral designer Trish O’Sullivan as she demonstrates how to incorporate the beauty and elegance of fresh orchids in home and party design. Learn how to float orchids on leaves in glass, and to create the latest trends in orchid design.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Potting and Dividing Orchids – 3 p.m.
Your orchids will suffer if you do not periodically repot them. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she teaches you how to divide and repot your orchids, about different potting mediums to use, and basic repotting techniques.
Orchid Evening – 6:30 to 9 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Enjoy a signature cocktail while viewing the Orchid Show and its thousands of spectacular flowers. Elegant beauty and the excitement of live DJs combine to create one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. Your Orchid Evenings ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special offers from our outstanding partners, including some of New York’s best restaurants. Shop in the Garden will be open throughout the evening, offering a variety of exotic orchids, so you can take home a piece of the magic!
Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over) Includes one complimentary cocktail. Advance tickets recommended. Choice of 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. entrance times.
Support provided by: Dylan’s Candy Bar
Sunday, March 25
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
History and Mystery of Orchids Presentation Series — 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.
Film — Vanilla: The Sacred Orchid — 1 p.m.
Learn the intriguing life process–from flower to pantry–of the world’s favorite flavor. This scenic film examines the full year-cycle of this spice from Veracruz, Mexico. The orchid is still cultivated by the same indigenous people who have been growing it for centuries. The film is directed by Curtis Craven and runs 27 minutes.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Potting and Dividing Orchids – 3 p.m.
Orchids can suffer if they’re not periodically repotted. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she teaches you how to divide and repot your orchids, different potting mediums to use and basic repotting techniques.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Outdoor Nature Explorations: Little Landscapes
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden — Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Growing tiny worlds in a jar is the latest craze in the gardening world, though terrariums have been around for ages. Look closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and create your own rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar to take home. Use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium specimens such as moss, lichens, and rocks.
