Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Community Holiday Open House Menorah and Tree Lighting Ceremony at The New York Botanical Garden

Posted in Around the Garden, Holiday Train Show, Programs and Events on November 30 2016, by Elizabeth Figueroa

Senator José Serrano and family
New York State Senator José Serrano and family

On Sunday, November 20, NYBG held its annual Community Holiday Open House and Menorah and Tree lighting ceremony. Aaron Bouska, NYBG’s Vice President for Government & Community Relations at NYBG, welcomed the audience, which included many members of the Bronx community as well as several elected officials with their families.

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This Weekend: A Long Weekend for the Holiday Train Show’s Closing Days

Posted in Programs and Events on January 15 2016, by Lansing Moore

Holiday Train Show NYBGNYBG will be open for regular Garden Hours this Monday, January 18, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the final day of this season’s Holiday Train Show®. Only three days remain to experience this all-new and bigger than ever exhibition, so plan a family outing to the Garden as you enjoy the long weekend! View the full schedule of programs and events for this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday below.

Don’t forget that there’s still time to grab tickets to our last Bar Car Nights of the year, tonight and tomorrow, January 15 and 16. And if you have little ones, remember that our All Aboard with Thomas & Friends mini-performances—not to mention the Evergreen Express activities in the Adventure Garden—will continue through January 24!

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Morning Eye Candy: A Few More Days

Posted in Photography on January 14 2016, by Matt Newman

Days remaining in the Holiday Train Show are into the single digits now, but no worries—we’re making the most out of them. We’ll be open for the long weekend with activities planned for Monday, January 18, the final day of the exhibition. And if you haven’t had an opportunity to join us for a Bar Car Night this year, you’re just about out of time! A few tickets still remain for our final evenings on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16.

Holiday Train Show

The Holiday Train Show in the Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

All Aboard for the Final Weeks of the Holiday Train Show!

Posted in Video on January 4 2016, by Matt Newman

Holiday Train ShowWe’re into 2016, now, and though winter’s been slow to wake since December, we’re finally starting to see a dip in the thermometer–I even saw some flurries on the way in this morning! With thoughts of snow on our minds, and the Holiday Train Show keeping up the cheer through January 18, it’s a great time to visit the Garden and make your holidays last.

This month features more Bar Car Nights for adults, the start of All Aboard with Thomas & Friends mini-performances for kids, and plenty of tours—both indoor and out—to take advantage of during this interesting season of transition. Check out the video below for more info on what to expect during the final weeks of our holiday exhibition!

This Weekend: Warm Weather & Holiday Mondays

Posted in Around the Garden on December 11 2015, by Vilina Phan

The NYBG WeekendThe Holiday Train Show is in full swing with plenty of activities to get you in the holiday spirit—and with the thermometer nearing 60 degrees, there aren’t many excuses to stay inside! Better yet, we will be open this Monday as well as the following two Mondays—perfect for when the kids start their vacation or when visiting family members come to town.

Kids and the young at heart will delight in the scaled models of classic New York landmarks, built entirely of bark, twigs, seeds, and other natural materials, while seeing G-scale trains zip between these works of art is a special treat. And this weekend features a holiday a cappella group singing your favorite carols; a live poetry reading with former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins on Saturday, featuring works including those on display at the Leon Levy Visitor Center and Perennial Garden Way; and the first installment of the Winter Harmonies Concert Series on Sunday, featuring Le Train Bleu and acclaimed flutist and music director Ransom Wilson.

Come see why a winter visit to the Garden has become one of New York’s favorite holiday traditions. Grab your tickets today!

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This Weekend: Twinkling Nights and Sunny Days

Posted in Programs and Events on December 4 2015, by Vilina Phan

Eurybia_herveyi_1_Nothing says holiday cheer quite like the Garden during this magical time of year. New York’s favorite tradition, the Holiday Train Show, is in full swing—and while you’re here to see the exhibition, enjoy the many festive activities throughout Garden grounds such as holiday a cappella singing your favorite carols and holiday film screenings in Ross Hall.

Take the kids to the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden for Evergreen Express, where lively stations are set up offering something new to create and explore at every stop!

And for the adults, come to Bar Car Nights (special ticket required) and enjoy the Holiday Train Show after dark, where the exhibition twinkles against the night sky. Sip a complimentary drink and enjoy a beautiful evening filled with jazz, an ice sculpture demonstration, and a playful light show. Our next evenings are tonight, December 4, and this Saturday, December 5, and there’s still time to get the few remaining tickets!

Don’t wait—purchase tickets now and start your holiday season off right.

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Holiday Train Show Arrives with New Dining Options and More Trains!

Posted in Around the Garden on November 20 2015, by Lansing Moore

NYBG WeekendThis year’s all-new Holiday Train Show® opens on Saturday, November 21—with more trains, more landmarks, and more dining options than ever! This year’s exhibition features 3,000 square feet of additional exhibition space, making room for dozens of new trains, bridges, and tracks; a captivating short film of the show’s behind-the-scenes magic; and a stunning multisensory finale of light and sound. With something for everyone, plan your holiday visit today.

New this year, the MasterCard® Gingerbread Café creates a festive setting to enjoy a kid-approved menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts; two gourmet food trucks offering burgers and tacos; and a variety of holiday-themed activities. Color in a gingerbread activity sheet, and stop by our photo kiosk for a memorable souvenir. MasterCard Cardholders receive a complimentary sweet treat with a purchase of $10 or more.

Frosty’s Schnapps Haus, a Bavarian-themed outdoor dining option to keep you warm in winter, offers a variety of treats such as roasted chestnuts and pretzels from an authentic pretzel cart as well as spiked hot beverages. Also at the Visitor Center, enjoy first-class culinary creations at the Pine Tree Café amid one of the Garden’s arboreal wonders: a world-renowned collection of rare and unusual pines from Asia, Europe, and North America that features century-old specimens nearly 100 feet tall. The family-friendly menu ranges from artisanal panini, Neapolitan-style pizza, and signature salads to sweet treats and snacks. For a full-service dining experience, make a reservation at the Hudson Garden Grill, offering innovative New American cuisine and locally sourced ingredients.

Click through to view the full schedule of special events for this weekend’s grand opening—including our annual holiday tree lighting. Plan your visit, and come hungry!

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This Weekend: Three Days of Fall Beauty

Posted in Programs and Events on October 9 2015, by Lansing Moore

Symphyotrichum novae angliae 'Septemberrubin'Happy Friday, and to all those who have Monday off for the holiday weekend—you’ve earned it! Enjoy your long weekend with a fall escape to NYBG, where we have three days of tours, live entertainment, film screenings, and all-new family programs surrounding FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life.

As you take a moment to enjoy the fall, plan ahead and book your tickets now for this year’s return of the beloved Holiday Train Show®. Early bird ticket buyers can save 20% on All-Garden Pass admission before October 11, and reserve tickets before the most popular dates sell out. MasterCard Cardholders save 30% on All-Garden Pass admission to the Holiday Train Show® when they use their MasterCard to purchase tickets online in advance. View more information and see the discount codes that help you plan ahead for the holidays and save! Remember, October 11 is the final day of this promotion, so plan your holiday visit today.

Continue reading for the full schedule of programs and events happening throughout the Garden for October 10, 11, & 12.

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This Weekend: Celebrate Early Spring with Three Days of Family Programs!

Posted in Programs and Events on April 3 2015, by Lansing Moore

NYBG crocus early springThis weekend, NYBG kicks off the spring blooming season with three days of Orchid Show programs, brisk walks, and interactive family fun! That’s right, we are open on Monday, April 6—so come celebrate the holiday and share the Garden with your loved ones!

Dig! Plant Grow! is back, just in time for kids to enjoy playing outside again, with a new session entitled Wake Up, Garden! The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is filled with interactive gardening fun, while in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Little Landscapes continues through Monday. Get more information about family programs.

Monday promises to be absolutely gorgeous, so we have two brisk walking tours scheduled to enhance your experience of the Native Plant Garden and the Thain Family Forest, the two areas of the Garden that best showcase the beauty of our region at all times of year. See the full schedule of upcoming tours and begin planning your time in the sun.

Meanwhile, The Orchid Show: Chandeliers continues through April 19, so don’t miss your chance to see this soaring floral display and enjoy the fragrance of thousands of orchids filling the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Only four Orchid Evenings remain if you’re looking to plan the perfect evening with someone special.

Read on for more details about this weekend at the Garden!

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