Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on February 29 2016, by Lansing Moore
The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium is now on view through April 17. Admire thousands orchids from across the globe as you follow the story of the intrepid orchid hunters and passionate collectors who pursued these flowers.
×Bratonia Kauai’s Choice in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Photography, The Orchid Show on February 24 2016, by Lansing Moore
Enjoy this sneak peek at The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium, opening this weekend to the public. This year’s exhibition transports visitors across the world to where these remarkable flowers are native.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Programs and Events on February 18 2016, by Lansing Moore
With the arrival of our 14th annual Orchid Show begins the most immersive season yet of this popular event series, with more music, refreshments, programs, and yes, specialty cocktails, than ever. With nine of these special evenings planned for select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout March and April, now is the time to plan your evening escape to the world of Orchidelirium.
There’s no better way to experience The Orchid Show than with delicious snacks and cocktails when the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is filled with the aroma of orchids and the evening sky is visible from within the glasshouse. Our friends at STARR Events provide specialty drinks and treats—including the Orchid Evenings signature cocktail, the Ginger Vanilla Fusion, a delicious blend of vanilla bean-infused vodka and ginger inspired by the Vanilla that comes from the Vanilla planifolia orchid.
This year NYBG is thrilled to welcome an exciting lineup of NYC DJs to enhance the atmosphere. Visiting dance and music ensembles from a variety of international traditions reflect the wide world of orchids—a flower with tens of thousands of species ranging across the globe. On March 5 & 26, visitors will have the chance to enjoy an informal and enlightening talk with one of NYBG’s own scientists about the more rare and unique varieties of this enigmatic plant.
Posted in Photography on December 8 2015, by Matt Newman
The leaves of the orchids in the Nolen Greenhouses see a warm and misty morning while the temperature drops outside.
Orchids in the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Horticulture on March 31 2015, by Lansing Moore
Christian Primeau is the NYBG‘s Manager of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Vanilla gets a bad rap. The term “vanilla” is bandied about to label all manner of the unexceptional, uninspiring or flat out boring. To my shock and dismay, a coworker recently applied this idiom to my beloved automobile. I’ll have you know, good sirs and madams, the 1988 Mercury Topaz has an abstruse appeal. Really, would I squander such an uproarious collection of bumper stickers on a so-called “boring” vehicle? FYI, the color isn’t beige…it’s called “Mojave Dune.” I mean, the factory only produced 300,000 units in Mojave Dune! You get the point. This is one sweet ride.
Likewise, the vanilla orchid (Vanilla planifolia) itself is far from ordinary. In my humble opinion, Vanilla planifolia may be counted among the most fascinating plants in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. More than a flavoring for criminally overpriced lattes, it’s a beautiful vining orchid with a captivating history and makes a truly unique houseplant.
Posted in Horticulture on March 4 2015, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.
Most of us grow our plants in soil—we fuss over potting mixes for containers and we amend our planting beds with leaf mould or compost. For those of us who don’t like to get our hands dirty, there is an alternative. Members of the Orchidaceae family love to show off their roots, and many of them were destined to climb. Some 70% of all orchids, in fact, are epiphytic.
Orchids that dangle in the air—sometimes known colloquially as air plants—are classified as epiphytes. Epi means “on top,” and phyte means “plant”—essentially adding up to a plant that grows on top of another plant. The relation an epiphyte has with the host is not parasitic (where it is harming the host), nor is it symbiotic/mutualistic (where both parties benefit, but rather commensalistic (when one benefits and the other is neutral). The term commensalism is derived from the Latin for “sharing a table.”
Like anything in life, adaptation to an aerial environment has its pros and cons. Plants grow in the upper echelons of the forest canopy in order to receive better light, a habit that also protects them from herbivores that roam the forest floor.
While the appeal for new accommodations with a spectacular view is enticing, the cons of co-habitation up in the forest canopy are significant. Orchids need to find a way to attach themselves to their obliging hosts. No longer with their roots firmly planted in the soil, they not only need to find a means of support but also ways to effectively take up moisture and nutrients.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 3 2015, by Lansing Moore
The celestial splendor of The Orchid Show: Chandeliers fills the lofty heights of our Victorian-style glasshouse.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Marlon Co
Posted in Horticulture on February 25 2015, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is NYBG‘s Gardener for Public Education.
If you are looking for a forgiving orchid, dancing ladies—or Oncidium—are a good choice for homeowners with decent light. Oncidiums are a species with panache—the dancing ladies have a lower lip or labellum which flares out like an opulent hoop skirt. Their sepals and petals are diminutive in contrast and look like the head and outstretched arms of little ladies. These lovely blossoms perch in profusion on long, branched flower stalks which bob and sway in a gentle breeze.
These lovely ladies use their good looks to their advantage; they are promiscuous and will be happy to hybridize with just about anyone. They hybridize well with Brassia, Miltonia, Odontoglossum, and many more species to create hybrids and complex hybrids that combine the best of both or multiple parents. The Oncidium Alliance is large with many vibrant orchids that are not only stunning, but also easy to care for.
Posted in Photography on February 19 2015, by Matt Newman
Sorry about the misleading title, but I could think of nothing but spring-colored peppermints when I saw these orchids waiting for their moment in the spotlight during The Orchid Show. See them for yourself beginning February 28.
Orchids in the Haupt Conservatory – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Adult Education on April 29 2014, by Plant Talk
Love is in the air, and we’re anticipating hundreds of couples hosting weddings and wedding-related events at the Garden this year.
And while brides and grooms enjoy their day of pampering, pledging, and partying, the run-up to the big day is often accompanied by pressure and panic. That’s where the wedding professional steps in with creative solutions, a willingness to compromise, and the ability to keep calm.
We sat down with New York City wedding floral design expert and NYBG instructor Tom Sebenius to learn more about designing for this most memorable day built around romance, personal preferences, and utmost attention to detail.
“Couples have so many options that being chosen to provide the flowers for their special day is a real honor,” Sebenius said.