Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on June 29 2013, by Matt Newman
Her expression suggests she’s not too fond of the wildlife paparazzo, wouldn’t you say?
Today, Debbie Becker leads one last Saturday Bird Walk before putting these popular group binocular outings on hiatus until September 7. Join her at 11 a.m. near the Reflecting Pool of the Leon Levy Visitor Center!
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Wildlife on June 6 2013, by Matt Newman
Sure, the first things you think of when hawks come to mind are probably hooked talons, beaks, and stealthy swoops on unsuspecting (and occasionally adorable) rodents. But beneath their noble profiles and well-earned heritage as the monarchs of the sky (sorry, butterflies), even our Red-tailed Hawks have moments of awkward indignation that border on the cute and fluffy. Bath time in particular—with all its flopping and splashing about—is usually cause for giggles. And lucky for us, this often takes place in the Fountain of Life just outside our offices in the Library Building.
Our resident hawk aficionado and Visitor Services Attendant, Pat Gonzalez, happened to be outside filming one of the local hawks as it fed, dodged resentful bluejays, and washed off the day’s exertions. I’ve bumped the video forward to the most comical bit, but you can catch the rest by dragging the cursor to the beginning.
Posted in Around the Garden on May 22 2013, by Patricia Gonzalez
Although I have been photographing wildlife at The New York Botanical Garden since 2008, March 17th, 2012 was my last sighting of a Great-horned Owl. Since that time, during my frequent forays into the Thain Family Forest I could clearly hear them hooting, but have had zero luck in spotting them. But then this April, they made their reappearance when it became clear that one of the female owls had hatched two owlets.
Posted in Programs and Events on January 25 2013, by Matt Newman
In the last few months, thousands of children have come and gone through our Ross Hall, each doing his or her part to help Thomas and Friends™ navigate their way to Brendam Docks. And while it’s been a memorable holiday season for everyone involved, it’s finally time to bid our adieus for one more year; this weekend marks your last chance to catch Thomas before he steams his way home! With six showings between Saturday and Sunday, you’ll find at least a few more opportunities to get in a little sing-along time with your kids–so long as you make a point of registering in advance!
For those who appreciate the lively nature of the NYBG in winter, Debbie Becker returns this Saturday morning to lead her long-running Bird Walk, scoping out the Red-tailed Hawks, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and elusive owls that often call the Garden home. And while it may be a bit nippy outdoors, layering up and hitting the Forest trails is well worth the chilly toes (ski socks are a lifesaver)–winter is hands-down the best time to catch some of our most magnificent avian species on the wing.
Of course, our would-be snowbirds are just as welcome to fly in for a visit, come sun, snow, or any frosty combination of the two. Tropical Paradise is the cure for all things frigid! Inside the Conservatory you’ll find the gems of our permanent collection on special display, highlighting the botanical beauties and curiosities of sunnier climes. For those with a knack for camera work, or anyone who just wants to learn, really, our garden photography experts will be on hand once each weekend, holding workshops for shutterbugs of all skill levels. It’s the ideal warm-up for our Tropical Paradise photography contest, running throughout the exhibition and open to anyone with a Flickr account!
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on January 18 2013, by Matt Newman
When Bird Walk leader Debbie Becker makes the claim that winter is the best season for bird-watching, there’s no equivocation. Wayne Cahilly, our institutional mapping specialist, knows this. While hoping to capture the dawn sun filtering through the dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, he found this Red-tailed Hawk waiting patiently for breakfast to scurry past. The resulting photographs are worth sharing.
Photos by Wayne Cahilly
Posted in Around the Garden on October 12 2012, by Matt Newman
So how many of you are indulging in the pre-weekend chill like we are? If you’re eying that rack of scarves in your closet with hopeful impatience, I’d say you’re right there with us. And fortunately (for those of us with wool and fleece ensembles on the brain), these brisk October afternoons look to continue through Saturday and Sunday as we dig into The Haunted Pumpkin Garden and everything that rolls along with it. Hint, hint! You’ll want to yank your fall coat off the hanger and walk, drive, or train your way up to the NYBG, with a few easy-going activities to take in on the side, of course.
For the grown-ups, we’re still keeping perfect time with our Saturday Bird Walks, and Debbie Becker is as keen-eyed as she’s ever been. The Red-tailed Hawks have been making a show of things from time to time, but not without showy competition from a certain heron who’s been munching his way through the Rock Garden pond. Whether local or migrant, the bird populations are in full preparation for the winter switch. We’ll also be joining Sonia Uyterhoeven for another weekend gardening demonstration, this time turning our eye on pollinator plants. If livening up your home garden with Snow White-worthy levels of birds, bees, and butterflies is your game, Sonia’s got the know-how to make it happen.
Posted in Around the Garden on September 28 2012, by Matt Newman
If you’re moping around your desk on this gray Friday with daydreams of dry shoes in your head, rest assured you’ve got a kindred spirit here at the NYBG. But if there’s any kind of karmic balance in the universe, this weekend should be the payoff, because forecasts are promising a mostly sunny Saturday and Sunday in the city with temperatures to make you think spring is throwing an encore.
In the Perennial and Rose Gardens, that spring sentiment has never been stronger. These spots are home to some of the Garden’s most vibrant fall blooms, as well as many of the last outdoor flowers you’ll see before winter sets in. You’ll want to shuffle your schedule book around to make room for our tours and demonstrations, where expert Tour Guides and Garden horticulturists–Sonia Uyterhoeven included–dish out tips and info on rose gardening, autumn chrysanthemums, and everything in between.
Posted in Around the Garden on September 21 2012, by Matt Newman
As much as hearing the phrase rattled off might tap dance on your last nerve, good things really do come to those who wait. And that’s especially true for gardeners. During the first balmy weeks of summer the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden buzzed with activity as Mario Batali‘s top chefs planted nostalgia left and right, each seedling and young tomato plant a piece of their culinary history–a vegetable that inspired a recipe, or a memorable fruit from childhood. Their potential was nurtured and encouraged through months of careful tending, and now, with fall upon us, the Edible Garden‘s harvest is ready to take the spotlight.
The fanfare begins this Sunday in Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens, where gourmands–young and old alike–can pick up a few new recipes while exploring the bounty planted by each of Mario’s chefs. Decorate a harvest bag, make your own chef’s hat, or sample your way through organic goodies. Whatever makes you and your kids happy! The Edible Garden Festival is set to continue into the afternoon with cooking demonstrations by NYBG staff, capped off by a master lesson from none other than Mario Batali himself. Afterwards, he’ll set to stunning tastebuds with his four-course, garden-to-table dinner event in the famed Garden Stone Mill.
Posted in Around the Garden on September 14 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s like we blinked and suddenly: fall color! For now, the effect is subtle. You might find a few more leaves than average blowing along the grass under the tulip trees. Make your way into the 50-acre Forest and you’ll see familiar reds, oranges, and yellows lighting up the trees here and there. We’re not complaining about the chill in the air, either. But whether the calendar confirms it or not, autumn is dancing its way into New York City, and the NYBG is the place to be.
This weekend is the perfect time to escape into nature and soak up what feels like a second spring. Saturday’s Bird Walk starts you off with a jaunt around the Garden, binoculars in hand, spotting creatures of every sort with our reigning birdwatcher extraordinaire, Debbie Becker. After that, I can’t talk up the Rose Garden Tour enough, especially now that the fall bloom is underway. We’ve had visitors from the four corners talking up the collection on Twitter, and their awe is not misplaced; it’s one of our most popular autumn displays.
We’ll also be joining Sonia Uyterhoeven on Saturday and Sunday for a wrap-up of water lily season. She’s an expert on the planting and care of aquatic plants, so home growers won’t want to miss these open demonstrations around the Conservatory water lily pool. And I should mention Saturday’s Season in Poetry session in the Perennial Garden, for those of you touched with an appreciation for the lyrical. But whatever you choose to do, think about making an entire day of it. No point in squandering this weather with the cold close on its tail!
Posted in Around the Garden on September 7 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s a bittersweet end of season for most home gardeners. There’s that brief interim of cool pre-autumn nights to look forward to, but the vegetable garden will probably start looking a little less like a bountiful Eden, and more like a bedraggled salad. Not that it has to be that way!
Join us this weekend for En Fin de Saison, Sonia Uyterhoeven‘s in-depth demonstration of how you can draw out your harvest just a little bit longer. As the NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education, Sonia will offer insights into keeping your kitchen table stacked with hardy, late-season fare you might not have considered before. Even better, there’s no registration necessary, and the demonstration will run at 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday also highlights our latest lyric exploration in the Salon Series, delving into the oeuvre of Paul Verlaine through the interpretive recitations of three of New York’s most respected poets. Consider it a prelude to the next transition in Monet’s Garden, as we look toward moving from summer palettes to the colors of fall.