This Weekend: A Poem for Mexico
Posted in Programs and Events on September 18 2015, by Lansing Moore
NYBG comes alive this weekend in a Garden-wide celebration of Mexican Independence. ¡Viva México! An Independence Day Celebration will honor Mexico’s heritage in the spirit of Frida Kahlo, the iconic artist and outspoken patriot of Mexico who is the subject of our current exhibition, FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life. Alongside this blockbuster exhibition, visitors can enjoy an array of live performances and activities, with a particular highlight being the long-awaited poetry reading led by Rachel Eliza Griffiths this Saturday.
This weekend also features regular tours of the Garden’s collections and their seasonal beauty. The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is especially vibrant as it enters the height of its fall color, so you won’t want to miss that during your wanderings—continue reading for the full schedule of events!
Saturday, September 19
Ross Conifer Arboretum Tour – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
The Arthur and Janet Ross Conifer Arboretum is a historic, 15-acre collection of towering pines, elegant spruces, and mountain firs from around the world. These irreplaceable trees were among the first planted at the Garden, some as far back as the early 1900s. Join an expertly trained Guide for a tour of these exquisite specimens.
Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool
Search for the birds that use the Botanical Garden in various seasons. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those just migrating through: owls, hawks, songbirds, and more. Learn about the bird-friendly plants and habitats that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites.
Native Plant Garden Tour – 12:30 p.m. (with ASL interpreter) & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Join a tour guide for an insider’s view of the newly designed Native Plant Garden. Enjoy a mosaic of nearly 100,000 native trees, wildflowers, ferns and grasses designed to flourish in every season.
Poetry Reading with Rachel Eliza Griffiths – 2 p.m.
Ross Hall
The poems of Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz, many referencing native plants and flowers, are displayed adjacent to the Haupt Conservatory amid the seasonal beauty of the Garden’s own collections. Poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths presents a special reading of his work, as well as her own, drawing inspiration from the gardens and exhibition around her.
¡Viva México! An Independence Day Celebration
Performances:
Mariachi Flor de Toloache – 1 & 3 p.m.
Conservatory Plaza.
Calpulli Danza Mexicana – 12, 2, & 4 p.m.
Conservatory Plaza
Giant Monarch Butterfly Puppets – 12–4 p.m.
Throughout the Garden.
Activities:
Cámara, Acción! Mexican Film Series – 3 p.m
Ross Hall.
Frida (R, 123 min.)
The Academy Award-winning film Frida, directed by Julie Taymor and starring Salma Hayek. Please note that Frida is rated R. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Flower Crown Making- 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn
Break out your creative side and make your own flower crown inspired by Frida! Materials available while supplies last.
Textile Artisan Demonstration – 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Shop in the Garden
Women artisans from Chiapas demonstrate their age-old techniques in weaving and embroidery. Using the backstrap loom, these textile artists evoke ancient motifs with natural dyes, striking a beautiful balance between traditional and contemporary.
Sunday, September 20
Rose Garden Tour – 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.
Meet at 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 Tour Guide. Learn the differences between Heritage and Modern roses and between floribundas and hybrid teas as well as facts about rose history, cultivation, and folklore.
¡Viva México! An Independence Day Celebration
Performances:
Mariachi Flor de Toloache – 1 & 3 p.m.
Conservatory Plaza.
Calpulli Danza Mexicana – 12, 2, & 4 p.m.
Conservatory Plaza
Giant Monarch Butterfly Puppets – 12–4 p.m.
Throughout the Garden.
Activities:
Cámara, Acción! Mexican Film Series – 3 p.m
Ross Hall.
Canícula (65 min.)
Beautifully photographed, this documentary features rare footage of the Totonac people of Veracruz’s voladores ritual (“the flying dance”), named an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Canícula emphasizes the importance of tradition in the preservation of culture and identity.
Flower Crown Making- 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn
Break out your creative side and make your own flower crown inspired by Frida! Materials available while supplies last.
Textile Artisan Demonstration – 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Shop in the Garden
Women artisans from Chiapas demonstrate their age-old techniques in weaving and embroidery. Using the backstrap loom, these textile artists evoke ancient motifs with natural dyes, striking a beautiful balance between traditional and contemporary.
Ongoing Programs
Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens—1:30 p.m.-6 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Garden beds are filled with plants featured in the favorite recipes of the chefs from Mario Batali’s restaurants. Kids can explore the gardens to solve Mario’s Menu Mystery game.
Dig! Plant! Grow! Salad Days–1:30-6 p.m.
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Plants and imaginations grow at the Howell Family Garden, where kids are allowed!—no, encouraged!—to play in the dirt. Display gardens, such as the Global Gardens and the Bean Tunnel or Salad Bowl, and daily interactive gardening activities delight and inspire. Drop-in activities end at 5:30 p.m.
Cooking with Frida
A part of FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life
In the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays: 2 & 4 p.m.
Hands-on activities in the Edible Academy’s Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden bring together children and their families to experience the colors, textures, smells, and tastes of Frida Kahlo’s Mexican kitchen. Cooking demonstrations feature recipes inspired by those Frida served to family and friends, using nutritious, garden-based ingredients. Visitors can explore and tend to the plant staples of Mexican cuisine growing throughout the Family Garden: beans, tomatoes, peppers, chiles, herbs, and more!
Frida’s Flora and Fauna – 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
A part of FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Visit the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden to experience the inspiration Frida Kahlo found in the natural world that can be seen and appreciated in her artwork. Throughout the Adventure Garden investigate plants and animals growing and living in New York City, using your senses as well as scientific tools to discover your own creative muse.
