Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Azalea Garden

For Mom!

Posted in Around the Garden on April 28 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Mothers. Where would we be without them? They bring us into this world, they raise us, teach us, feed us, clothe us, and then hopefully, they send us off to be a good person, and perhaps (at least for 51% of the population) to replay the same role as a mother, too. It’s a wonder that mothers only get one day dedicated solely to them! So, to thank mom for all she has done for you, why not do something nice for her?

In the Azalea Garden

At the Garden, we’re throwing a garden party over Mother’s Day weekend in conjunction with the grand opening of our amazing new Azalea Garden. The Opening Weekend Celebration–May 7 – 8; 12-6 p.m–is a day full of picnic lunches, lawn games, Azalea Garden tours, music, kites, the opportunity for kids to make a bouquet, just for mom, and much more. Picnic lunches must be ordered online, in advance. Once at the Garden, pick up your lunch and then enjoy your day amid the sun-dappled, kaleidoscope of colors in this incredible new garden. Other food and beverages will be available for purchase on site.

Dramm Plastic Watering Cans

If your mom prefers to spend the day in her own garden (or maybe you can’t make it to New York), we’ve got you covered, too. The Shop in the Garden features an extensive collection of beautiful (and functional) garden tools, including these rainbow-hued watering tools from Dramm, these beauties featuring a Celia Birtwell print, these cheerful pots made exclusively for NYBG, the wonderful Sustainable Rose Garden–edited by Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden curator, Peter Kukielski–and these super functional and stylish paper braid visors.

NYBG 120th Anniversary Azalea Scarf

Maybe your mom prefers to keep her couture out of the garden? Then she’ll love this exclusive silk scarf created to celebrate the Garden’s 120th anniversary. These sculptural wooden bracelets are a big hit with fashionable moms amongst the Garden staff, as are these classic umbrellas and fashionable, yet functional market tote bags.

If you come to the Garden for Mother’s Day weekend, snap some pictures and share them with us on Twitter (@nybg), Facebook, or in our Flickr Group Pool. If we get enough pictures, we’ll post some of them here on the blog! For Mom!

A Spring Walk in the Garden

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on April 26 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Ann Rafalko is Director of Online Content.

It is beautiful here today. Just in case you can’t make it out of your office to hop a train and come up to the Bronx, I thought I’d take a walk and snap some pictures for you. It’s more than just beautiful out, too. According to one birder I met today, it’s also prime warbler migrating time. As he put it, the next two weeks will be “warbler heaven.” So whether you’re a birder, photographer, gardener, or walker, now is the time to come and visit the Garden!

So much more below including cherry blossoms, incredible tulips, and the amazing Rock Garden.