Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on March 6 2013, by William R. Buck
January 21, 2013, Prov. Antártica Chilena, Comuna Cabo de Hornos, Isla Navarino, Puerto Williams, 54°56’S, 67°37’W
The day breaks overcast and drizzly which is a sort of relief; at least now I know that some alien climate has not taken residence in Patagonia! Today is the first day we have to fix our own breakfast, which leads to a late start and only an hour and a half to collect at our first site, which, according to last night’s plan will be on the north shore highway. We now have to hope that tomorrow will prove better for ascending Pico de la Bandera.
It is raining only lightly when we head out, but soon the skies open and we drive through a steady rain all morning. Our first site is Vuelta de Perro, about 18 kilometers east of town. It is a very wet site with lots of downed logs. I had been here about 10 years ago and thought it would be a good place to take the group. Since I have been here before and collected extensively, I focus only on the small things, finding lichenicolous fungi and even a couple of fungi over bryophytes, all the while keeping an eye out for interesting mosses. The site proves a little disappointing when compared to our previous pristine sites. It has been heavily disturbed by tree cutting and grazing cattle. Plus, it’s our first day out in the rain.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 6 2013, by Matt Newman
It’s not just wishful thinking anymore. With any luck, we’ll be coasting into spring proper on a spate of sunny days. And if you’re looking for snowdrops, the lawn alongside Tulip Tree Allée is a must-see. Otherwise, take a peek into the Perennial Garden!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on March 5 2013, by William R. Buck
January 20, 2013, Prov. Antártica Chilena, Comuna Cabo de Hornos, Isla Navarino, Puerto Williams, 54°56’S, 67°37’W
I wake up at 5 a.m. and get out of bed. I know sunrise is around this time and that we will be arriving in Puerto Williams shortly thereafter. My early morning is well rewarded; the sunrise is gorgeous, increasing in intensity of pale yellows, pinks, and oranges all on a pale blue palette. The temperature is warm–I am comfortable standing on the upper deck in just my sleeping clothes. The captain and I wave at each other and both go back to our own thoughts. In the distance, on the left (south) shore is a small group of lights that I think must be Puerto Williams and when I point at them the captain confirms my assumption.
Several hours earlier I was up at 1:30 a.m., and to the north the whole coast was ablaze with lights over a large area: Ushuaia. Tiny Puerto Williams provides quite the contrast to Ushuaia. Puerto Williams’ population is around 2,200, which, in actuality, is the population of the entire province with the vast majority of those people living in this, the province’s only town. Puerto Williams is not only the provincial capital of Antártica Chilena, it is also the largest southernmost permanent settlement in the world (there is actually a very small town somewhat further south that is attainable only by ship and that we’ll visit later). It is also a navy town and run by the military for all practical purposes. I first came to Puerto Williams in 2000 and the town has scarcely changed in the intervening years. Indeed, it probably hasn’t changed much in a considerably longer time.
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Posted in Photography on March 5 2013, by Ann Rafalko
And that’s a wrap folks! The contest is over. The judging is (almost) done. Next week we pick the grand prize winners of the Tropical Paradise Photography Contest!
There will be two winners, one in each category: Sense of Place and Macro. Each person will win a seat in the photography class of their choice offered by the Garden’s Adult Education department.
So, without further commentary, let’s meet our final group of winners!
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Posted in Gardening Tips on March 5 2013, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed how to manage storm clean-up after large coastal storms such as Hurricane Sandy, tackling soil testing and how to approach clean-up in creative ways. This week, I’m giving you a practical to-do list to help you get started at home, whether you’re preparing for the next big storm or recovering from the last.
What are some of the things that you can do to get your garden back on track?
— Compare skips, hire one and clean up obvious debris for them skip hire to haul away for you.
— Watch water levels as they drain to understand the topography of your garden.
— If your property is flooded with salt water, the easiest way to get rid of excess salt is to leach it away–soak your yard with 2-4 inches of water.
— Salt does less damage when the soil is already damp, so remember to water your garden when coastal storms are predicted (unless that has been recent rainfall). One inch is sufficient.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 5 2013, by Matt Newman
This is not to be missed if you’ve got kids tagging along! While The Orchid Show is already running strong in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, there are plenty of other activities tied into it that take place elsewhere in the NYBG. Not only lectures in Ross Hall, or orchid care demonstrations in the Shop in the Garden, but kid-friendly events in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden–that includes Little Landscapes.
Terrariums are so much more than a Tumblr fad. They’re self-contained worlds that are not only educational, but relaxing and enjoying to put together. So bring your kids for The Orchid Show and make a point of stopping off in our Adventure Garden through April 22, where they’ll have a chance to play architect with a miniature world of their own.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on March 4 2013, by William R. Buck
January 19, 2013, Prov. Antártica Chilena, Comuna Cabo de Hornos, Isla Hoste, Bahía Navidad, 55°24’S, 68°12’W
Today is our day to hit the northeast coast of Península Hardy. We moored last night in Bahía Tekenika and left for the peninsula at 5 a.m. We had been told it would take 3-4 hours to reach our first site, but we arrive at 7:30 a.m. Only Blanka and I are up and about. The day promises to be beautiful once again, with partly cloudy skies, almost no wind, and surprisingly warm temperatures. Everyone is complaining about how warm they are inside their rubber rain gear. It would be great if this weather holds up though, but given my previous experience, I cannot be too optimistic.
Our first site is Bahía Allen Gardiner (55°24’S, 68°19’W), named for an early British missionary who, while dying of starvation, maintained his diary and his optimism about establishing a settlement in this region.
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Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 4 2013, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 3 2013, by Matt Newman
The Orchid Show may be hogging the spotlight for the foreseeable future (and with good reason), but there are further aspects of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory worth exploring. The desert houses? Definitely.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 2 2013, by Matt Newman
Aficionados, botanists, greenthumbs, greenhorns, hobbyists, collectors, aesthetes, and everyone who simply can’t help but sate curiosity–all are welcome to join us today for the opening of The Orchid Show, running now through April 22 at The New York Botanical Garden. Keep an eye on Plant Talk for more information on the coming weeks’ events. And for daily eye candy and the everyday goings-on of the exhibition, check out our Instagram and Twitter feeds!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
The day breaks overcast and drizzly which is a sort of relief; at least now I know that some alien climate has not taken residence in Patagonia! Today is the first day we have to fix our own breakfast, which leads to a late start and only an hour and a half to collect at our first site, which, according to last night’s plan will be on the north shore highway. We now have to hope that tomorrow will prove better for ascending Pico de la Bandera.
It is raining only lightly when we head out, but soon the skies open and we drive through a steady rain all morning. Our first site is Vuelta de Perro, about 18 kilometers east of town. It is a very wet site with lots of downed logs. I had been here about 10 years ago and thought it would be a good place to take the group. Since I have been here before and collected extensively, I focus only on the small things, finding lichenicolous fungi and even a couple of fungi over bryophytes, all the while keeping an eye out for interesting mosses. The site proves a little disappointing when compared to our previous pristine sites. It has been heavily disturbed by tree cutting and grazing cattle. Plus, it’s our first day out in the rain.
