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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Changing Seasons in the Conservatory

Posted in Around the Garden, Holiday Train Show on November 7 2011, by Matt Newman

Holiday Train Show

Honey bees still clung to the last of the chrysanthemums in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory as workers hurried about the business of change this past Friday. The shuffling of displays marks the end of our successful Fall Flowers of Japan exhibition, and while it was saddening to see the carefully-trained beauty of the ‘Thousand Bloom’ ozukuri exit stage left, the transition from ancient gardening artistry to a beloved family tradition can only mean the beginning of one of our most anticipated yearly events.

Production began on our 20th Holiday Train Show over the weekend, an undertaking that’s a bit like watching a Norman Rockwell painting as it first meets the canvas. The Conservatory space was only vacant for a moment before the sights of New York began appearing in miniature, springing up along the walkways and setting the stage for a quarter-mile of tracks, well-known bridges, and over 140 familiar city landmarks. And this busy activity continues as we speak!

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Storm Damage at the Garden

Posted in Around the Garden on October 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko

This weekend’s historic storm caused a large amount of severe damage to the Garden’s vast collection of trees and celebrated woodlands.

Blizzard-Damaged Trees at The New York Botanical Garden

Our crews are hard at work cleaning up the damage and working to save every tree they can. Simultaneously, we are busy getting ready for the beloved seasonal tradition of the Holiday Train Show. We hope that we will see you soon under the glittering dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

 

What the Garden Means To Us

Posted in Around the Garden on January 10 2011, by Plant Talk

The Holiday Train Show is over, and we’re already setting-up, planning for, and dreaming about future exhibitions here at The New York Botanical Garden. Up next is a quick mini-vacation to the tropics via the Caribbean Garden. And then, it’s curtains up for The Orchid Show: On Broadway.

Oh, and one other thing: 2011 also marks the Garden’s 120th birthday!

It’s going to be a big year up here in the Bronx. We’ve got a lot of exciting things planned for the coming 12 months, but while we have a moment to sit and think and be contemplative, we thought we’d share this video we made with you. We asked a few people that work in, around, and with the Garden to answer the question, “What does the Garden mean to you? What does it mean to the world?” We hope you enjoy their answers.

Picturing the Benefits Of Being A Member

Posted in Members on January 5 2011, by Plant Talk

Melanie Patterson is a Membership Coordinator.
Members Holiday WorkshopNew Members of NYBG at the Holiday Workshop. Photo by Melanie J. Patterson

2010 was an awesome year here at The New York Botancial Garden. I had the great opportunity to join Members on so many wonderful, enriching trips and programs–a great side-benefit to Membership. We enjoyed guided tours of New York City cultural hot spots, like The Cloisters and the High Line; were given exclusive, behind the scenes tours by NYBG curators of the Conservatory, the Nolen Greenhouses, and the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden.

Longwood GardensLongwood Gardens at Christmas. Photo by Nicholas Perdikos, Member since 1992

I asked a few of our photo-savvy Members to share their pictures of a special trip we took down to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. The Conservatory was beautifully decorated in holiday flair and the water fountain show was tons of fun.

Most recently, at the kids’ holiday workshop, Members and their children created holiday houses in the fashion as those in the Holiday Train Show, using natural ingredients like dried cedar, cinnamon sticks, pine cones, and magnolia leaves.

Longwood GardensThe water fountain show at Longwood Gardens. Photo by Nicholas Perdikos, Member since 1992

Already scheduled for the New Year, Members will be able to go on guided historical walking tours of New York City, take mansion and garden tours across New York state, and attend the 2011 Philadelphia International Flower Show.

More Member trips and programs are being added all the time. Here’s to a great 2011!

Our Trains are Still Running!

Posted in Holiday Train Show on December 29 2010, by Plant Talk

The Holiday Train Show
Ann Rafalko is Director of Online Content.

MetroNorth is back on schedule which means it’s easy to get to Botanical Garden Station to visit the Holiday Train Show, where our trains never stopped running on schedule inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (despite the Boxing Day Blizzard).

To get you excited to come visit one of New York City’s most beloved holiday traditions, take a look at this exclusive, behind the scenes look at the making of the Holiday Train Show.

Holiday week is always a hot ticket, so beat the rush and buy your tickets in advance. For more tips, see our insider’s guide to the Train Show.