Sunday, April 14, 2013

NY Botanical Garden's 2013 Opening Weekend Celebration



New 3.5 Acre Native Plant Garden at The New York Botanical Garden 
Celebrates the Beauty of Native Flora 
Most Contemporary Garden Design Ever Installed on the National Historic Landmark Site 
Includes a Dramatic 230-Foot-Long Water Feature as Its Centerpiece 
Symposium, Dedication, and Ribbon-Cutting on May 3, 2013 
Grand Opening Weekends with Public Education Programs on May 4 & 5 and 11 & 12 


In early May, The New York Botanical Garden debuts the new Native Plant Garden, a cutting-edge 3.5-acre installation with a dramatic 230-foot-long water feature as its centerpiece. It is the most contemporary garden design ever created at The New York Botanical Garden. The Native Plant Garden was designed by Oehme, van Sweden, landscape architects specializing in the New American Garden style, to harmonize a stunning designed terrain with the diversity of microclimates across the site. The layout, in the middle of the Botanical Garden’s historic grounds, is both sustainable and visually inventive, a radical blend of modern sensibilities along with environmentally friendly elements. Built to inspire and teach visitors about the beauty of native flora throughout the seasons, it also illustrates how native plants can be used to produce attractive and imaginative gardens. The Native Plant Garden is a gift of the Leon Levy Foundation.

Hoary Skullcap
Skutellaria incana
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen 

The enclosed facility features a central pool with water cascading over stone weirs. A promenade of broad boardwalks made from black locust, a native hardwood, and intimate paths lead visitors through a range of settings, from the shaded woodland to the dry, open meadow, and lush wetlands featuring nearly 100,000 plants. The garden has as its framework a dramatic set of heritage oak trees and is bursting with native trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers, confirming that native plants can be as magnificent as their exotic counterparts more commonly used in traditional gardens. A covered outdoor classroom pavilion offers a venue for school groups and others to learn about native plants and the birds and insects they sustain. “The new Native Plant Garden will be a surprise to many lovers of the venerable landscapes of The New York Botanical Garden,” said Gregory Long, Chief Executive Officer and The William C. Steere Sr. President. “In a very central location, next to the ancient Thain Family Forest and nestled between the traditional landscapes of the Azalea Garden and the Ross Conifer Arboretum, the Native Plant Garden is a major contemporary intervention, replete with a large crescent-shaped water feature, positioned quite prominently, and resting quite comfortably, in a National Historic Landmark site. The mission of the new garden is to teach our visitors about the beauty and usefulness of the plants of northeastern North America, and that message will be communicated in a fresh and vibrant place unlike any other at NYBG. We are so thankful to the Leon Levy Foundation for its generous support in making this garden possible, and to the visionary designer Sheila Brady at Oehme, van Sweden.”

Gray Sedge
Carex grayi
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen 

Beginning with a symposium, dedication, and ribbon-cutting on May 3, and followed by public education programs during two grand opening weekends May 4 & 5 and May 11 & 12, visitors can enjoy workshops by regional native plant experts, Home Gardening Demonstrations, bird walks, and many other activities to celebrate this new attraction. 



 The Native Plant Garden celebrates the exquisiteness and diversity of native plants and the contributions they make to the Botanical Garden’s landscape throughout the seasons. In spring, carpets of trillium, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches, and a mix of other beautiful ephemerals, along with accents of lady slipper orchids, are all part of the great variety of stunning plants native to northeastern North America that are on display. Meadow grasses dance in summer winds as sunlight dapples through the canopies of the nearby stately oaks and other large native trees. Redstemmed dogwoods and golden birches flash against the blue autumn sky above and the russet red and purple hues of the grasses and bulbs in their fall glory. Winter reveals the intricate architecture of the ancient trees towering above bedrock knolls, while abundant clusters of red winterberry fruit add eye-catching color to brown twigs.
Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen 


“What makes this garden special is that it was not only designed to be a beautiful and inspiring garden, but it was also designed to teach our visitors the essential role that plants play in the living ecosystem all around us,” said Jody Payne, Curator of the Native Plant Garden. “The many habitats throughout the garden will transport our visitors well outside of New York City.”

Opening Weekend Celebration
Saturday and Sunday, May 4 & 5; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Learn about the Native Plant Garden and its plants to appreciate the importance of these species. Sample wine, enjoy music, and explore painting with watercolors. Kids can look for butterflies, join family scavenger hunts, and listen to native folklore. Visit Shop in the Garden to choose from a wide selection of plants to take home with you.

The New York Botanical Garden is a museum of plants located at Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road. It is easy to reach by MetroNorth Railroad or subway. The Garden is open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday and Monday federal holidays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The best
way to enjoy the Garden is with the All-Garden Pass, which includes admission to the grounds as well as to seasonal gardens, exhibitions, and attractions such as the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, and Tram Tour.

The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10458

The New York Botanical Garden is located on property owned in full by the City of New York, and its operation is made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. A portion of the Garden’s general operating funds is provided by The New York City Council and The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Bronx Borough President and Bronx elected representatives in the City Council and State Legislature provide leadership funding.

A DISCOUNT FOR MY READERS: 

We're happy to offer you a discount to the grand opening weekend and mother's day weekend. The coupon information is:

SAVE 20% ON
ALL-GARDEN PASS TICKETS
USE CODE 9942 ONLINE AT NYBG.ORG
Valid only when you use code 9942 online at nybg.org. Valid for All-Garden
Pass visits made May 4 through September 12. Offer subject to availability.
Orders are limited to 6 tickets. Discount cannot be combined with any other
promotional offer or previously purchased tickets. Discount may be modified or
withdrawn without prior notice. Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable.


The Orchid Show
March 2 – April 22
The 11th annual exhibition celebrates this storied flower in all its amazing forms with thousands of brilliantly colored orchids.
More info and tickets: nybg.org/tos


*Disclaimer: There has been no monetary compensation for posting this content. Brands mentioned are not affiliates or sponsors of this blog post. The opinions expressed are completely my own based on my experiences.



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3 comments

Unknown said...

Lovely! I will bring my mother to the garden. She just moved up here from FL and hasn't been to the garden before. She'll love it!

Sandy at You May Be Wandering said...

I love the NYBG! We almost went today but decided it was a bit too chilly so we would wait another week for more things to bloom...I hope you had a great weekend! xoxo

Daryl said...

growing up i lived in the bronx and often went to the Gardens on a weekend for a wander .. havent been in a long time, thanks for the nudge i am going to see if i can get up there soon

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