So many snowdrops, so many high fives. —MN
(Source: naturewildlifeandsoon, via botanygifs)
This is what our grounds looked like a year ago (minus one day). Let’s just say things are moving a wee bit more slowly this year. But never fear! Blossom time is near!
Mar 27, 1912: The First Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees Are Planted in the U.S.
On this day in 1912, the first two Japanese cherry blossom trees were successfully planted by First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Japanese Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave the U.S. over 3000 trees to demonstrate the growing relationship between the U.S. and Japan.
Every spring, Washington D.C. commemorates the initial planting through the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
As we wait for this year’s blooming period, treat yourself to this delicious spring recipe!
Image: Cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. 2013 (Diana Alvarenga)
Yup! Fiending for spring proper right now. Are your feet ready for long walks under blooming color? —MN
Happy 1st day of spring, everyone!
(Source: trolladyret)
My moment of doubt over this reblog was replaced with “wait, who doesn’t love Miyazaki?” in a few scant seconds.
Mm, if only the spring bloom were so easy to kick off; it’s snowing as I type this and some magical greenery couldn’t hurt. Happy pre-equinox, folks! —MN
(Source: sixtruewords)
Spring, we know you’re there. You don’t have to be shy. —MN
They have evolved to occupy almost every environment on the planet. They survive in regions of constant change. They thrive in soils that almost never see rain. And as we will discover, they do much of their living in ways that go almost entirely undetected by us.
Kingdom of Plants – David Attenborough
(Source: sirattenborough, via botanicalperversion)
Ever wondered how beavers got the reputation for being busy, well, beavers? After checking out the nearly 200 images captured by one of our Forest critter cams of this busy, busy beaver, I think I finally understand. The Garden and the Bronx River are the proud residence of the first two beavers —José and Justin—to call New York City home in more than 200 years. Beavers were once common in our fair boroughs, but their luxurious pelts were their doom, and they were hunted and trapped to extinction in our area while simultaneously making Gotham a world capital of commerce and trade (they’re even featured on the official seal of the city).
Whether this beaver is José or Justin is almost impossible to tell, but it’s not the first time we have caught our resident critters on film. Over the summer, during an impressive heat wave, our critter cam also caught a curious fox, racoon, and one very exasperated looking great-horned owl. We’re sure there are more critter cam surprises to come, so stay tuned and keep an eye peeled when you’re visiting the Garden, you just never know who you’ll meet along the way! ~AR
ps - The awesome gifs were created by Matt Newman, aka MN.
Don’t be sad for the tree! It’s got a bright future ahead of it as mulch that could be integrated into the soil and stick around for decades, if not centuries, acting as nutrients for future plants. The circle of life indeed! ~AR
pith:
Mulchfest 2013 (#1/2)
This is a little sadder than your average plant gif. Poor thirsty plants! Remember to water your plants in the winter people, but not too much. It’s a fine balance. Many houseplants need more water because of drying central heat, but some need less. Use your best judgment. Or, ask us and send us a picture! We’ll see if we can help. ~AR
withering pulsing leaves - Yunfan Tan
Today’s forecast in New York is brought to you by Frosty the Snowman. Hope everybody’s ready to bundle up! —MN
(via theanimalblog)
We use these at the Garden now and then, like we did to move one of our fragrant katsura trees a couple of years ago. For some reason, tree spades make me think of portioning out a giant cake. …Hmmm. —MN
Tree spades are kind of the coolest gardening tool ever
Panellus stipticus! It’s Quasi-Weekly Fungus Time, and I thought you could use some bioluminescence in your day. I mean…glowy things. Seriously. —MN
Oh, David Attenborough. This would almost be creepy if it were anyone but you. Thankfully, your decades of service in nature education have given you carte blanche to be as strange as could ever suit your fancy.
Here’s to the educators—the nature show hosts, the science teachers, the botanists, the volunteers, and even the NYBG Explainers—who keep our love of green and growing things alive in future generations. Because somebody has to hug the plants, even if only figuratively. —MN
(Source: brilliantbotany)
Good plant GIFs are so few and far between, and seeing as it’s Halloweentime—how could I not? Poor rats. —MN
- Nepenthes attenboroughii is a montane species of insectivorous pitcher plant of the genus Nepenthes. It is named after the celebrated broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who is a keen enthusiast of the genus. The species is characterised by its large and distinctive bell-shaped lower and upper pitchers and narrow, upright lid. The type specimen of N. attenboroughii was collected on the summit of Mount Victoria, an ultramafic mountain in central Palawan, the Philippines. In the latter half of 2009, this taxon received a great deal of publicity in the national press of various countries as a sensational new plant that catches and kills rats.
- Venus flytrap (dionaea muscipula).
- A cape sundew (Drosera capensis) capturing a midge (perhaps of family Cecidomyiidae).
These phenomenal images of fruits, veggies, and flowers scanned by an MRI really drive home how physics affect the shape of things. The broccoli in particular blows my mind. Look at it. It’s like watching the universe form, or watching neural pathways in the brain, or zoning out to a fractal-based screensaver. I’m just waiting for someone to set these to music. Volunteers please! Thanks to AMNH for pointing these out on Twitter.
Update: Thanks to the Internet we now know these images were taken by Andy Ellison. You can find many more on his excellent website Inside Insides.
(via What do fruits and vegetables look like inside an MRI? Short answer: “Whoa.”)
Artist Philip Haas installation of the Four Seasons in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard at the NYBG (New York Botanical Garden)....
Imagined conversations from bygone times
What do we want?
A robust variety of naturally-occurring flora in bloom for campus beauty and...
Botanical Gardens, Bronx, NY.
People just accept that I love the New York Botanical Garden and look at the pictures of the pretty things.
BTW NYBG I love the new Native Plants...
Rosemary (in NYBG pot) and friend
Love you, Mom <3
Happy National Public Gardens Day! A female carpenter bee visiting the pea vines yesterday. She’s California’s largest bee.