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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Lansing Moore

Plain Vanilla, Rich History

Posted in Horticulture on March 31 2015, by Lansing Moore

Christian Primeau is the NYBG‘s Manager of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Vanilla planifolia orchid vineVanilla gets a bad rap. The term “vanilla” is bandied about to label all manner of the unexceptional, uninspiring or flat out boring. To my shock and dismay, a coworker recently applied this idiom to my beloved automobile. I’ll have you know, good sirs and madams, the 1988 Mercury Topaz has an abstruse appeal. Really, would I squander such an uproarious collection of bumper stickers on a so-called “boring” vehicle? FYI, the color isn’t beige…it’s called “Mojave Dune.” I mean, the factory only produced 300,000 units in Mojave Dune! You get the point. This is one sweet ride.

Likewise, the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) itself is far from ordinary. In my humble opinion, Vanilla planifolia may be counted among the most fascinating plants in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. More than a flavoring for criminally overpriced lattes, it’s a beautiful vining orchid with a captivating history and makes a truly unique houseplant.

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This Weekend: Orchids & More

Posted in Programs and Events on March 27 2015, by Lansing Moore

New York Botanical garden snowdrops early springApril is almost here, and the weekends are only getting sunnier! Brisk tours and walks with expert Garden Guides help you enjoy the outdoors and gain a deeper understanding of the beauty that surrounds you here at NYBG.

Within the constant warmth of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, The Orchid Show continues to dazzle and delight visitors. Come experience the color and fragrance of hundreds of orchids, whether during the day with a full schedule of complementary programs including live demonstrations and dance performances, or in the evening with music and cocktails at Orchid Evenings.

Click through for this weekend’s full schedule of special programs and tours.

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This Weekend: The First Day of Spring!

Posted in Programs and Events on March 20 2015, by Lansing Moore

the orchid showTomorrow is the first official day of spring! Today’s unwelcome encore of winter notwithstanding, the forecast for the rest of the weekend is clear and mild, so check out What’s Wonderful in Early Spring at NYBG and plan your visit to the Garden for spring’s first weekend!

The Orchid Show: Chandeliers is going strong, with another one of our popular Orchid Evenings Saturday night. Saturday afternoon will also include a whole new way to complete your orchid experience, with three afternoon screenings of Vanilla: The Sacred Orchid, a beautiful short film about the only commercial crop to come from an orchid. Click through for the full schedule of special programs and events this weekend at NYBG!

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