Bird Walks Return!
Posted in Around the Garden on August 31 2012, by Matt Newman
A couple of big announcements for the next few days! First off: it’s Labor Day weekend. For those of you who, like me, mentally zonk out and forget the calendar by Friday, this is a timely reminder that there’s a good chance you won’t have to listen to your alarm clock on Monday morning. So, after you’ve gotten your extra winks, know that The New York Botanical Garden will be open (we’re usually not on Mondays) for any and all visitors looking to make the most of their day off. The forecast for Monday is suggesting highs in the 70s, so I’m thinking there’s no excuse to keep yourself cooped up indoors.
Also on the schedule for this weekend–something we’ve been pretty anxious about–is the return of the Saturday Bird Walk. The Red-tailed Hawks are getting back to their center stage antics just in time for the end of Debbie Becker’s summer hiatus, so pack along a pair of binoculars and join us at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning for a trek around the Garden with one of New York’s most experienced bird watchers. Seeing as Debbie’s been doing this long enough to name our feathered guests with her eyes closed, trust me when I say that you’re in good hands.
There’s plenty more on the docket, of course–gardening demonstrations, Pollinator Pals in the Family Garden, and an in-depth Q&A with our hard-working Garden Tour Guides. Check out the schedule below.
Saturday, September 1
Bird Walk– 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
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 an expert. Keep an eye out for Red-tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls, wild turkeys, and maybe even a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Monet’s Garden Tour Guide Q&A: Secrets of this Incredible Exhibition — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meet in the Conservatory Courtyard, Hardy Pool
Ask one of the Garden’s Tour Guides about the stunning recreation of Monet’s iconic garden at Giverny. See the artistry of the great Impressionist in the galleries of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and in the Conservatory Courtyard pool, where a display of water lilies dazzles.
Home Gardening Demonstration: Naturalistic Garden Design – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center
Our Seasonal Walk has been transformed by a team of Dutch designers–including Piet Oudolf and Jacqueline van der Kloet–who celebrate a naturalistic approach to garden design. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she studies the border and provides homeowners with ideas that they can implement in their own gardens.
Sunday, September 2 / Monday, September 3
Monet’s Garden Tour Guide Q&A: Secrets of this Incredible Exhibition – 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Meet in the Conservatory Courtyard, Hardy Pool
Ask one of the Garden’s Tour Guides about the stunning recreation of Monet’s iconic garden at Giverny. See the artistry of the great Impressionist in the galleries of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and in the Conservatory Courtyard pool, where a display of water lilies dazzles.
Home Gardening Demonstration: Naturalistic Garden Design – 2 p.m.
In the Home Gardening Center
Our Seasonal Walk has been transformed by a team of Dutch designers–including Piet Oudolf and Jacqueline van der Kloet–who celebrate a naturalistic approach to garden design. Join Gardener for Public Education Sonia Uyterhoeven as she studies the border and provides homeowners with ideas that they can implement in their own gardens.
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Children’s Outdoor Nature Explorations: Observe and Create
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, 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.
Hands-On Gardening Activities for Families — Pollinator Pals: Bees and Butterflies
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, through October 5
Daily, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The Family Garden is buzzing in late summer! Join us to learn about important pollinators: our honeybees and the monarch butterflies passing us by on their way to Mexico. Get buzzy doing the honeybee dance, observe up-close the workings of a beehive, and sample honey from different nectar sources. Meander through our meadow to find the beautiful monarchs’ favorite snack-spots for fueling up before their long flight.
Cooking demonstrations at 2 and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The Edible Garden
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, through October 31
Daily, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The Edible Garden returns to the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden this year, bringing plenty of events for both adults and kids alike with daily, family-friendly activities, cooking demonstrations in the Whole Foods Market Family Garden Kitchen, and hands-on gardening fun.
A Garden friend and chef extraordinaire, Mario Batali takes a featured role in this year’s Edible Garden. Visit the beds of herbs and vegetables in “Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens,” where you can pick up some of his favorite recipes. Later, join Mario and other top chefs for The Edible Garden Festival, featuring tastings, harvest activities, and a chance to sit down to dinner with the man himself. Your culinary delight begins in the garden! Visit summer through fall for the best of the harvest.
