An Artist in the Kitchen

Posted in Around the Garden, Monet's Garden on June 1 2012, by Matt Newman

The finer nuances of art make their way past the framed edges of the canvas and into the kitchen! Join us this weekend (one of many such adventures in the coming months) for a celebration of all things culinary as we step into the kitchen gardens of France, the salad days of spring, and Monet’s life as not only a painter, but a gourmand. The father of Impressionism took as much pleasure in the abundance of his dinner table as he did his painted garden at Giverny, and Monet’s Garden embraces both!

Showing throughout much of this summer’s exhibition, Monet’s Palate calls talented chefs to bat for the rich culinary traditions of Normandy, a region in the north of France home not only to Giverny, but to a cornucopia of the country’s most esteemed cuisine. Also on Saturday and Sunday, meet up with Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven for an introduction to jardin potagers, or kitchen gardens, a French staple that takes stocking your produce drawer to heights far beyond anything you can pluck from your window sill herb collection.

Don’t worry about leaving the kids at home for your outing, either. Spring has a way of turning the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden into a leafy smorgasbord, and we can’t help but want to put our root vegetables and crisp greens to good use! “Salad Days” opens up the garden to hands-on activities with its edible bounty, giving even your most notoriously picky table guest the opportunity to see that eating well is more than a cold bag of romaine hearts and croutons. The kids are welcome to join us in making salad bowl collages, learning about the edible parts of our plants, and mixing together a salad dressing of their own to bring home. And even if they’re hiding their faces at the thought of a Caesar salad, there’s something they can handle at our Garden Café, where Monet’s artful inspiration finds its way to the fare.

The forecast for the weekend is talking up temperatures in the mid-70s, and the Garden is looking more and more like a “wish you were here” postcard. With all that’s going on at the NYBG, edible or otherwise, need I really say more?

Saturday, June 2

Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our expert, Debbie Becker, searching for the birds of the season and learning about bird-friendly plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites. You can catch a glimpse of some of our feathery residents in this past Thursday’s “bird day” updates, with rarely-seen woodpeckers and wandering warblers just some of the spring creatures flitting around the NYBG.

Rose Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden

Immerse yourself in the fragrance, color, and beauty of the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden on a tour with a Garden docent. Learn the differences between Heritage and Modern roses and between floribundas and hybrid teas, as well as facts about rose history, cultivation, and folklore. The Rose Garden reached peak in the last week, making now the time to stroll through its paths and trellises!

Film Screening: Monet Double Feature
In the Conservatory GreenSchool

The Impressionists: Monet – 1 & 2 p.m.
This film is a look at the life and art of Claude Monet, the originator of “Impressionism.” Examine several paintings, location footage, and expert analysis. Also featured is footage from L’Orangerie and from Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, as well as special film shot at London’s Savoy Hotel, where Monet painted his famous views of London.

Monet’s Palate – 3 & 4 p.m.
Embark on a culinary tour of Claude Monet’s beloved Normandy, a region of France just north of Paris along the Seine River. This region inspired Monet’s passion for art and his passion for fine cuisine. Both Monet’s palette and his palate met at this home in Giverny, surrounded by his beautiful gardens. This film, connecting the painter’s love of art, gardens, and his profound appreciation for food, is introduced by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep and features commentary from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard, and other renowned chefs. Screening of Monet’s Palate made possible by MonetsPalate.com.

Home Gardening Demonstration — Jardin Potager: French Kitchen Gardens – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center

French potagers–or kitchen gardens–artfully combine herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she teaches the basics for planning and planting a beautiful ornamental vegetable garden.

This French-themed home gardening demonstration is part of Monet’s Garden, a stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcasing a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art.

Monet’s Garden Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Join one of the Garden’s docents for a tour inside the galleries of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where horticulturists of The New York Botanical Garden bring to life stunning re-creations of Monet’s most iconic gardens at Giverny. In the Conservatory Courtyard, the focus on the artistry of the great Impressionist continues with a display of water lilies.

Sunday, June 3

Rose Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden

Immerse yourself in the fragrance, color, and beauty of the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden on a tour with a Garden docent. Learn the differences between Heritage and Modern roses and between floribundas and hybrid teas, as well as facts about rose history, cultivation, and folklore. The Rose Garden reached peak in only the last week, making now the absolute best time to stroll its pathways!

Film Screening: Monet Double Feature
In the Ross Hall

The Impressionists: Monet – 1 p.m.
This film is a look at the life and art of Claude Monet, the originator of “Impressionism.” Examine several paintings, location footage, and expert analysis. Also featured is footage from L’Orangerie and from Monet’s house and gardens at Giverny, plus special film shot at London’s Savoy Hotel, where Monet painted his famous views of London.

Monet’s Palate – 3 p.m.
Embark on a culinary tour of Claude Monet’s beloved Normandy, a region of France just north of Paris along the Seine River. This region inspired Monet’s passion for art and his passion for fine cuisine. Both Monet’s palette and his palate met at this home in Giverny, surrounded by his beautiful gardens. This film, connecting the painter’s love of art, gardens, and his profound appreciation for food, is introduced by Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep and features commentary from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Michel Richard, and other renowned chefs. Screening of Monet’s Palate made possible by MonetsPalate.com.

Home Gardening Demonstration — Jardin Potager: French Kitchen Gardens – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center

French potagers–or kitchen gardens–artfully combine herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she teaches the basics for planning and planting a beautiful ornamental vegetable garden.

This French-themed home gardening demonstration is part of Monet’s Garden, a stunning tribute to French Impressionist Claude Monet showcasing a seasonally changing interpretation of the gardens that inspired his art.

Monet’s Garden Tour – 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Join one of the Garden’s Docents for a tour inside the galleries of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where horticulturists of The New York Botanical Garden bring to life stunning re-creations of Monet’s most iconic gardens at Giverny. In the Conservatory Courtyard, the focus on the artistry of the great Impressionist continues with a display of water lilies.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

Children’s Outdoor Nature Explorations: Observe and Create
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, May 19 through September 30
Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. / Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Let your inner Monet run wild and be inspired by nature to create art in all its different forms. Movement, music, drawing and painting abound in this outdoor studio for children. Stop by Inspiration Station to play our outdoor marimba; paint with water and experiment with colors in our Color Clash Studio; step inside to experiment with the engineering behind aquatic plants. Nature is art–discover it at the Adventure Garden. Also on view: an exhibition by students from Studio in a School.

Salad Days
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, May 19 to June 15 — 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The “salad days” of the Garden year are here! The finale of spring is a bonanza of ripe roots, succulent stems, glorious greens, and a kaleidoscope of colorful–and edible–flowers. Use real plants and flowers to decorate a salad bowl collage. Learn tips on how to combine this array of plant parts into an assortment of salads and prepare a healthy dressing to take home.

Cooking demonstrations at 2 and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.