The Zoo for Plants
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Seems like everyone wants to get their hands on the Lytro camera. This spectacular shot was taken by Amy Weiss, Curatorial Assistant at the William and Lynda Steere Herabrium. Click on the image to re-focus on the cherry blossoms - click and drag on the image to change your perspective.
May is here, and the list of What’s Beautiful Now is longer than ever.
It is thrilling how the early flowers continue to persist thanks to this wonderful, gradual spring that has been free of those pretty normal, intense hot days that are so common in New York City in April (and last year in March).
Daffodils are still around in some spots, and there are a few magnolias still holding on, but mostly we’re beginning to see the flowers that signify the heart of spring: lilacs, azaleas, dogwoods, crab apples, tree peonies, and, the very earliest roses!
This weekend marks the grand opening of our newest garden, the Native Plant Garden! Native wildflowers tend to be a little smaller, a little less showy than their cultivated brethren, so we have been making time to introduce you to some of them on our blog Plant Talk.
There’s really not a bum spot in the Garden right now. Every place you turn, it’s beautiful! And the weather is supposed to be spectacular this weekend, so come hang out with us and enjoy the amazing plants across our 250-acres.
What’s still beautiful? Last week’s tulips, for sure, though most of the flowering cherries of two weeks ago are now just a memory. I should point out, however, that there are many different kinds of flowering cherries, and the most classic, robust ones are in full bloom right now (for proof, check out the photo up top that looks like a fluffy pink Tribble).
Ready to plan your journey to the Bronx? Here’s everything you need to know. For day-to-day updates on what we’re seeing around grounds, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter where we post daily updates from our staff and visitors. Also, need help getting around? Our iPhone app can help out there. It’s free and available in the App Store. ~AR
Our family membership to the New York Botanical Garden wins best purchase of the year!
Not humblebragging or anything. Just, y’know, keeping pretty pictures around for the gap between the close of this cherry bloom and the start of the next. Definitely just that. —MN
It’s time for tulips to take a stand! What’s beautiful now? Oh boy, are you tired of hearing everything yet? Yeah, I thought so, so let’s be specific. The Perennial Garden has once again become the lunchtime lounging spot for me and my colleagues (that is if there’s a spare bench, you guys always get first dibs!).
While you’re in the Perennial Garden, you will likely be stopped dead in your tracks by an absolutely stunning bush sporting pompoms of nearly neon red flowers. That would be Rhododendron ‘Taurus’ which was described to me yesterday by our Manager of Plant Records Jon Peter as a “totally incredible plant!!!!” (not lying about the number of exclamation points there, that’s how awesome ‘Taurus’ is).
Along Seasonal Walk you’ll see tulips, tulips, and more tulips. While on Daffodil Hill you’ll see daffodils, daffodils, and more daffodils. Cherry Valley is home to, you guessed it, cherries, cherries and more cherries, while the Azalea Garden is featuring … meh, a few azaleas. Let’s just say it’s not her time yet.
If lilacs are your thing, they’re coming soon. If I could liken our lilac collection to a bag of microwave popcorn I would say we’ve probably heard about one or two pops. Not sure when the volley of fireworks will come, but probably next week, but with this cool weather, who can really tell?
And speaking of cool weather, you can still see lots of the beauties I was talking about last week and the week before, but most of the blooms of three-weeks ago have finally given up the ghost (sadface for the magnolias). Ready to plan your journey to the Bronx? Here’s everything you need to know.
For day-to-day updates on what we’re seeing around grounds, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter where we post daily updates from our staff and visitors. Also, need help getting around? Our iPhone app can help out there. It’s free and available in the App Store. ~AR
The heart is a The thousand-stringed instrument That can only be tuned with Love.
-Hafiz
What’s beautiful this week in the Bronx? CHERRY BLOSSOMS! Sooooo many cherry blossoms, spread widely around our 250 acres.
The most stunning example (and true staff favorite) is Prunus pendula var. ascendens, one of the biggest and most beautiful cherries on our grounds. It is situated just above Wamsler Rock (the big outcropping you can see from the main Tram Stop near the Visitor Center), at the juncture of the Rock Garden and the soon-to-open Native Plant Garden.
In addition, the monumental sculptures of Manolo Valdés are getting serious backup from a few stunning trees, the tulips are starting to lend bold shots of color to our landscape, and the topiary in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden have put on their summer frocks.
The weather this spring is proving perfect for blossom longevity, so many of the plants that we reported as blooming last week and the week before are still looking gorgeous. For day-to-day updates on what we’re seeing around grounds, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter where we post daily updates from our staff and visitors. Also, need help getting around? Our iPhone app can help out there. It’s free and available in the App Store. ~AR
A stroll through the garden #orchidshow with @gregcavo
What’s in bloom now at NYBG? Oh so much! The cherry blossoms are beginning, but for the moment they are eclipsed by the wonderful (and fragrant!) magnolias. Daffodils are popping up all over, Siberian squills are creating drifts in many of our gardens, and the azaleas are starting to provide a girly blush to the hillsides of the Azalea Garden.
The warmth of the last two days made many of our blooms pop, and now these more seasonal, cooler days will allow those blooms to hold on through the weekend. Combine what’s outside on our 150 acres with the spectacular Orchid Show in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and I really can’t think of a single reason to not come for a visit! ~AR
ps - Here’s what we reported to be in bloom last week. Many of these beauties are lingering, so be sure to keep an eye out for them, too.
‘Okame’ cherry near the Library Building is the first to bloom at NYBG!
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)
Alright, who’s ready for spring blossoms? ~AR
The New York Botanical Garden in Spring. photo amycoady
Soon my pretties … soon. I promise! ~AR
Springtime at the New York Botanical Garden, NYC.
Botanical Gardens - Bronx , NY
Spring is just about here! :)
It’s true, and it’s gorgeous! ~AR
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Artist Philip Haas installation of the Four Seasons in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard at the NYBG (New York Botanical Garden)....
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Imagined conversations from bygone times
What do we want?
A robust variety of naturally-occurring flora in bloom for campus beauty and...
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Botanical Gardens, Bronx, NY.
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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...
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Rosemary (in NYBG pot) and friend
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Love you, Mom <3
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Happy National Public Gardens Day! A female carpenter bee visiting the pea vines yesterday. She’s California’s largest bee.
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