Nymphaea Newbies Welcome!
Posted in Around the Garden on August 3 2012, by Matt Newman
Most weekend green thumbs can handle the odd tray of garden center perennials, and some might even tackle the challenge of the more finicky roses. But when it comes to raising Nymphaea, the leap from yard to pond can be intimidating! We understand the hesitance. This weekend, the NYBG‘s horticultural staff aims to dispel that air of mystery just long enough to help our visitors understand the rewards of growing water lilies at home. With a dash of confidence and the right planting, even New Yorkers can spice up their summer displays with these exotic eye catchers.
For the uninitiated, this is your cue to visit the Garden’s own hardy and tropical water lily ponds in the Conservatory Courtyard, where Nymphaea and Nelumbo, the lotus, are firmly planted in the Monet’s Garden spotlight. It’s where we’re featuring a few of the artist’s favorite cultivars, along with a number of newer creations from the Latour-Marliac Nursery, Monet’s go-to supplier for much of his life at Giverny. Once you’ve experienced these aquatic icons as they’re meant to be seen, and picked up a few pointers on their upkeep, make your way to the Shop in the Garden for the supplies you’ll need to grow water lilies at home!
Demonstration groups are set to meet at 2 p.m. near the Conservatory entrance, both Saturday and Sunday. But there’s more to see and do beyond the water lilies–check it out below!
Saturday, August 4
Monet’s Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m. & 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.
Home Gardening Demonstration — Water Lilies: Giverny to NYBG – 2 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Join a Botanical Garden horticulturist who will show you the best ways to care for your aquatic plants. Learn about exciting new varieties of water lilies and learn helpful tips to encourage these beauties to thrive.
Sunday, August 5
Monet’s Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m. & 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.
Home Gardening Demonstration — Water Lilies: Giverny to NYBG – 2 p.m.
Meet at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Join a Botanical Garden horticulturist who will show you the best ways to care for your aquatic plants. Learn about exciting new varieties of water lilies and learn helpful tips to encourage these beauties to thrive.
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: Pickle Me!
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, through August 17
Daily, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. (*1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on August 12 due to Family Dinner event)
Go on a Pickle Parade through the Family Garden to learn about plants–both familiar and unfamiliar–that take part in the pickling process. Learn what it takes to pickle and make your very own batch of pickles to savor back at home. 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. (*1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on August 12 due to Family Dinner event)
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.
