South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping

Instagram fans have flocked to this coy but colorful flower. (Thanks, Bergdorf’s.)

Of all the flowers coloring the scenery of our Orchid Show, one in particular–technically not even an orchid–is drawing gasps and adoration in spades. Known as Medinilla magnifica to science (and the Showy Medinilla, or “Malaysian orchid” to everyone else), its bowing proliferation of pale pink flower clusters has found a home in botanical gardens throughout the world.

And you can have one at home if it suits you.

Contrary to its bold presentation, the Medinilla isn’t quite as rare or exotic as assumptions would suggest. It’s been raised successfully in conservatories from here to Belgium, where the late King Baudouin championed the flower through the latter half of the 20th century. So infatuated was he with this Southeast Asian native that it was placed on the country’s 10,000 franc note. But as a plant endemic to the small island of Luzon in the Philippines, Medinilla’s distribution in the wild has not proven broad enough to escape the consequences of horticultural fascination. It’s said that the demand of collectors has caused a decline in natural populations to such a degree that many believe the plant now exists only within the plant trade.

Of around 400 species of Medinilla in existence, magnifica is recognized as the only species commonly cultivated and kept in home collections. Here in the northeast it’s best to keep it in range of comfortable room temperatures throughout the year–somewhere between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Dry(er) soil over wet is also the rule, with light leaf mistings to keep the plant from becoming parched in the typically dry New York home. There’s more to it than can be said in a short blog update, of course, but you can gather further tips for keeping your Medinilla here.

Even if it’s not technically an orchid, the soft pink bracts and demure nod of this tropical inflorescence add so much to the many true orchids it accompanies. We’ll welcome it here any year.

If you would like to see the Medinilla for yourself, the Orchid Show runs from now until April 22. See our exhibition page for more information on workshops, lectures, and special evening events, and don’t forget to pick up tickets.

Photo courtesy of Bergdorf-Goodman’s generous Instagram.

Tags: Malaysian orchid, Medinilla magnifica, orchid show

This entry was posted
on Monday, March 12th, 2012 at 1:51 pm and is filed under Around the Garden, The Orchid Show.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/exhibit-news/the-orchid-show/a-magnificent-medinilla/

Related Posts:

• The Orchid Show Warms Up
• Imagining the Green Wall
• Aerial Orchids

Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education.

Last week we were discussing vertical gardens, or “living walls,” a specialty of French botanist Dr. Patrick Blanc. Since we are now in the midst of our spring Orchid Show, today we will explore why orchids are such good candidates for vertical gardening. With somewhere in the area of 70% of all orchids being epiphytic, members of the Orchidaceae family were destined to climb.

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 growing on top of another plant. The relation the 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 (where one benefits and the other is neutral). The term commensalism is derived from the Latin meaning “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. They are also protected there from herbivores that roam the forest floor. But 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. Without the ability to plant their roots firmly in the soil, they not only need to find a means of support, but also ways to effectively collect moisture and nutrients.

Epiphytes are a common phenomenon in the tropics. The plant’s adaptation to climbing is well-suited to the humid environment of tropical forests. Here, epiphytes obtain water and nutrients from the dust and moisture in the air and from dampness and debris on the surface of the host. Some of the roots of epiphytic orchids wrap themselves around their host, while others dangle freely in search of nourishment.

Orchids have what is called a velamen layer–a thick, silvery-white coating that covers the roots. However, the velamen tissues are in fact dead, filled with air that gives them a grayish color. Botanists believe that this layer is present to protect the roots and to help prevent water loss. Some people further suggest that the velamen coating acts like blotting paper, absorbing moisture from the surrounding environment to nourish the plant.

Velamen layer covering a dangling root

Epiphytic orchids have other adaptations that help them survive in their unique environment. Many of them have thick, waxy or leathery leaves. Some are slender and curl up on themselves, reducing the surface area and thus restricting water loss. Others look almost like succulents, with swollen leaves and pseudobulbs that store water for periods of hardship.

Many epiphytic orchids have a specialized adaptation called CAM photosynthesis (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) to help them survive their harsh living environment. This is common amongst plants found in arid conditions. The majority of plants open the stomata on their leaves (pores used for gas exchange) during the day to take in carbon dioxide to photosynthesize. But when the stoma opens during a hot day, water escapes and evaporates through a process called transpiration (like sweating). CAM plants keep their stomata shut during the day to reduce water loss and then open them at night to collect carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then stored as an acid (hence the name) and used for photosynthesis during the day.

Many botanists believe that a large number of epiphytes did not actually evolve from plants that inhabited the dark forest floors. They believe instead that their ancestors were plants which inhabited savannah grass lands near forest perimeters–they simply started to climb on the shoulders of their neighbors and eventually hoisted themselves up into a new niche. It is due to adaptive features such as CAM photosynthesis and the morphology of the epiphytic orchids’ leaves that this hypothesis has come about.

For the homeowner, the morphology of the orchid gives important clues to what type of care it needs. Thick, leathery leaves mean the orchid will prefer strong sun. On the other hand, thin leaves generally mean that the orchid needs to be protected from strong sun. A pseudobulb (swollen part on stem) is an indication that, in nature, the orchid fills up with water and then undergoes a dry period, so make sure not to overwater these chaps.

For more information on how to care for orchids of all types, stop by during Orchid Show weekends for one of my regular home gardening demonstrations, held Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Ross lecture hall.

The Orchid Show runs from now until April 22. Get your tickets now!

Tags: Epiphytes, orchid show, orchids

This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Gardening Tips, The Orchid Show.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/tip-of-the-week/aerial-orchids/

Related Posts:

• The Orchid Show Warms Up
• A Magnificent Medinilla
• And the Winners Are … The Caribbean Garden Photography Contest

Much ado about the weather this week. Yesterday was a mid-spring day borrowed straight from early May, sending most of our office staff into ecstatic fits. I’m all but convinced one or two of us were out on the grass, belting out celebratory verses from The Sound of Music. Today it’s a bit cooler, of course. But with the warm sun and a promise of picturesque afternoons for Saturday and Sunday, winter seems all but out the door.

The dogwood is blooming, the crocuses are bright, and the Orchid Show is settling into the groove for its second big weekend. This is the perfect opportunity to hop a subway train to the Bronx and treat yourself to Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens. But even if orchids aren’t your thing (a rare condition, albeit understandable), the schedule is packed with activities to suit.

Saturday, March 10

Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

Search for the many songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and other avian creatures that call the NYBG home. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our seasoned bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those migrating through. Her expertise tells us that we might even begin seeing the return of native spring migrants in the coming week. With the owls out and about for diurnal hunting, and a growing family of Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing.

Orchid QA
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.

The History and Mystery of Orchids — 1 and 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall

With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.

Flower Arranging with Orchids — 1 p.m.

Join floral designer Trish O’Sullivan as she demonstrates how to incorporate the beauty and elegance of fresh orchids into home and party design. Learn how to float orchids on leaves in glass, and to create the latest trends in orchid design.

Orchid Care Demonstration: Aerial Orchids — 3 p.m.

Orchids are the acrobats of the plant world, able to perch on the tips of branches and tumble down the sides of trees. Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a glimpse into the lives of orchids while learning how to successfully grow them.

A Season in Poetry — 4 p.m.
In the Conservatory Green School

Celebrate the season with renowned poets Star Black, Dave Lucas, and Patrick Phillips, each reading classic favorites as well as their own work at one of the largest botanical gardens in the United States. Co-presented with The Poetry Society of America.

Orchid Evenings – 6:30 to 9 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Enjoy a signature cocktail while viewing the Orchid Show and its thousands of spectacular flowers. Elegant beauty and the excitement of live DJs combine to create one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. Your Orchid Evenings ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special offers from our outstanding partners, including some of New York’s best restaurants (see below). Shop in the Garden will be open throughout the evening offering a variety of exotic orchids, so you can take home a piece of the magic!

Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over) Includes one complimentary cocktail. Advance tickets recommended. Choice of 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. entrance times.

Support provided by: Dylan’s Candy Bar

Sunday, March 11

Orchid QA
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden; 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.

The History and Mystery of Orchids — 1 and 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall

With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.

History of the Orchid: From Chinese Art to the Victorian Era — 1 p.m.

Since the time of Confucius, orchids have been revered for their beauty. Depicted in Chinese art and the objects of obsession in the Victorian-era, the legends and lore surrounding orchids are almost as diverse as the plants themselves. Join Marc Hachadourian, Curator of Glasshouse Collections, on a journey through the fascinating history of orchids that has made them one of the most popular cultivated plants in the world.

Orchid Care Demonstration: Aerial Orchids — 3 p.m.

Orchids are the acrobats of the plant world, able to perch on the tips of branches and tumble down the sides of trees. Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a glimpse into the lives of orchids while learning how to successfully grow them.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

Outdoor Nature Explorations: Little Landscapes
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden — Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Growing tiny worlds in a jar is the latest craze in the gardening world, though terrariums have been around for ages. Look closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and create your own rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar to take home. Use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium specimens such as moss, lichens, and rocks.

Tags: bird walk, orchid show, weekend

This entry was posted
on Friday, March 9th, 2012 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Around the Garden, Exhibitions, The Orchid Show.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/exhibit-news/the-orchid-show-warms-up/

Related Posts:

• A Magnificent Medinilla
• Morning Eye Candy: Sunbeams
• Neotropical Blueberries

Ceratostema silvicola (Photo courtesy of Meri Shaffer)

Far south in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where the sandy flats aren’t struck through with creeks, you’ll find parcels of land dedicated to row upon row of scraggly bush. It’s the antithesis of a tropical landscape; like large-scale agriculture in the midwest, the skies over these tended fields are big and empty, with the occasional conifer contorting itself under and around a telephone wire near the bordering dirt roads. The pine woods sit further off.

In the winter it’s a vacant space save for the blueberry bushes. But these berries have a relative of a more tropical disposition. Perhaps not down in southern Jersey, but here in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, certainly.

During our Caribbean Garden photo contest, a small gathering of brazenly-colored plant species–all of them relatives–drew the attention of nearly every photographer competing. Week after week, pictures of these almost cartoonish flowers would flood our Flickr feed in tones of fuchsia, honeydew green, and grape-juice purple, pinned with hopes of taking the prize. But as of right now there isn’t much immediate information on hand in the Conservatory to help our shutterbugs understand just what it is they’re snapping.

I sought out the input of Dr. Paola Pedraza-Peñalosa, our resident expert, and came up with “neotropical Ericaceae,” a regional grouping of a plant family boasting over 4,000 members worldwide, many of which are actually toxic. When it comes to the few particular species in question, their importance in the plant world–not to mention the realm of health food–is an incipient discovery. It was just last year that Dr. Pedraza-Peñalosa and her colleague, biologist Edward Kennelly of Lehman College in the Bronx, made the public spotlight when news of their work on these members of the Ericaceae family got around. If not for the direct correlation between these plants and the small, blue summer indulgences we stuff into our pies, the lay public might have skipped right over the story.

Certain members of the neotropical Ericaceae are essentially blueberries. Tropical blueberries, and in a form somewhat removed from what you’re used to, but blueberries nonetheless. And where the cultivated highbush variety of the eastern United States may be a staple in healthy eating guidelines, it’s got nothing on its equatorial cousin. However, it is important to note at this point that–as I said–many Ericaceae can be toxic. And as with wild berries here in the U.S., what looks delicious and safe to eat may be a rather poisonous imposter. Grazing off the cuff is always ill-advised.

Cavendishia grandifolia (Photo courtesy of Ray Tesoriero)

As buzzwords go, “superfood” is becoming a popular term. It’s been tossed around over the last few years as the equally buzzworthy emergence of the antioxidant trend makes its rounds in Western vocabulary. In a time when fighting back against the tide of processed edibles is big business, exotic fruits are being put under increased scrutiny for their nutritional value (to make up for the void of vitamins and minerals most of us experience otherwise). And the neotropical blueberry does its job well; far better than the berries you find at local supermarkets, packaged away on shelves in the produce department.

After studying the flamboyant fruits of the neotropical Ericaceae grown in the Conservatory and the NYBG’s Nolen Greenhouses, Dr. Pedraza-Peñalosa and Dr. Kennelly found, quite surprisingly, that the concentration of antioxidants in certain tropical varieties is up to four times higher than that found in the highbush blueberries of eastern North America. That’s significant for something which could be important in combating cancer, heart disease, and other ailments so common in today’s population. In this case, the antioxidants are potent enough that Dr. Kennelly has dubbed neotropical blueberries “extreme superfruits.”

Macleania ericae (Photo courtesy of Enrie M.)

Not that the U.S. produce industry has caught on–yet. You still can’t find these colorful berries for sale outside the local markets of South America. Getting your hands on them means venturing far afield from metropolitan New York, to countries like Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia, where many of the species thrive in moist, montane habitats up to 3000 meters above sea level. The threatened cloud forests of the Andes are a particular favorite for the edible varieties such as Cavendishia grandifolia and Anthopterus wardii, two of the species studied extensively by Pedraza-Peñalosa and Kennelly.

For now, the blueberries in the Conservatory may be the only ones you spot “in the wild.” Not that you should try to sample them–some species in the Ericaceae family can be toxic. But in due course, photographs of these candy-colored berries could become slightly less exotic, especially when you begin seeing them peek out from the label of every juice blend in the grocery store cold case. After all, it was only a short time ago that “acai” was an alien term to most.

The neotropical blueberries are flourishing in our Conservatory right now, adding even more beatific color to the mosaic created by the Orchid Show. Be sure to keep your eyes open for their bell-like blossoms when you visit.

For more photos from our Caribbean Garden photography contest, see the Flickr feeds of our generous contributors, Meri, Ray, and Enrie.

Tags: blueberries, Ericaceae, neotropical, superfood

This entry was posted
on Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 11:37 am and is filed under Around the Garden, The Orchid Show.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/exhibit-news/the-orchid-show/neotropical-blueberries/

Related Posts:

• And the Winners Are … The Caribbean Garden Photography Contest
• The Orchid Show Warms Up
• Caribbean Garden Photography Contest: Week Six Winners!

This is the original Espoma warehouse from 1929. (courtesy of Espoma)

While an organic industry has literally grown up around it in the past quarter century, the oldest American company in the natural lawn and garden sector continues to be recognized for its innovative leadership.

Espoma generates massive amounts of electricity atop its new warehouse facility.

Three years ago the Espoma Company of Millville, N.J., made the revolutionary announcement that it would stop selling virtually all of its products that contained synthetic chemicals. Taking steps since then to modernize its plant to meet growing nationwide demand, the company recently was honored for its environmental stewardship by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for its use of renewable energy. The company recently implemented a solar energy installation covering more than an acre (43,000 sq. ft.) of warehouse rooftops.

“We are deeply gratified to receive this recognition,” said Espoma Vice President Jeremy
Brunner, the fourth generation of his family to help run the business. “As a company built on natural organic gardening products, we feel we should be setting an example for others in the area of environmental stewardship.”

The system produces more than 700,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity — enough to power more than 60 homes for a full year, and save more than 1.4 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually. At periods of peak sunshine, Espoma is able to sell some of the electricity it generates back to the grid (this on-line site shows real-time electrical generation data: http://live.deckmonitoring.com/?id=espoma).

“In terms of reducing carbon dioxide, this is the equivalent of planting nearly 1.7 million trees,” said Brunner.

Espoma offers a complete selection of natural plant foods, lawn foods, control products, and potting mixes that are available nationwide.

Article source: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/03/espoma-honored-for-environmental-commitment/

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• National Pesticide Forum Set to Convene in New Haven, Ct.
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Even as big weekends go, this is a big weekend. The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory has gone through a complete metamorphosis over the past several weeks, with a dedicated team of horticulturists primping and preening a luxurious display thousands of orchids strong. As of tomorrow, Patrick Blanc’s careful designs will finally come to light for our guests to enjoy.

Beginning tomorrow, March 3, the doors of the tenth annual Orchid Show (yes, an entire decade) swing open to reveal the French master’s creations to the world. Everyone in New York should see this! Visit the Garden to find yourself surrounded by the artful flowers of the tropics, a virtual architecture of exotic leaves, petals, and vines swirling in and amongst each other. The diversity of orchids that now floods the space in sprays of color is impressive on its own, but the arrangement is simply breathtaking.

Along with the opening of the show, this weekend will also kickstart two months of lectures, workshops, and celebrations! You can join us for the History and Mystery of Orchids, a lecture series featuring seasoned orchid experts on the arrangement, cultivation, and background of the many species, as well as a talk held by Dr. Patrick Blanc himself.

In any case, there’s too much to do this weekend for me to cram it all into a few paragraphs. Here’s a handy schedule for those of you looking to welcome the incoming spring with us:

Saturday, March 3

Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meets at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Search for the many songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and other avian creatures that call the NYBG home. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our seasoned bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those migrating through. With the owls out and about for diurnal hunting, and a growing family of Red-Tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing.

Orchid QA
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.

History and Mystery of Orchids — 1 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall

With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.

The Vertical Garden: From Nature to the City with Designer Patrick Blanc — 1 p.m.

French botanist and guest designer of this year’s Orchid Show, Patrick Blanc talks about his travels and projects around the world while discussing the inspirations for his signature “green walls.” His characteristic color-rich, textural, living tapestries have been commissioned for cityscapes, interiors, museum exhibitions, and fashion shows worldwide. He will also be signing copies of his newly revised book, The Vertical Garden: From Nature to the City, as well as Gardening Vertically: 24 Ideas for Creating Your Own Green Walls.

Orchid Care Demonstration: Know and Grow Orchids — 3 p.m.

Celebrate the opening of the Orchid Show by joining Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, to learn the basics of orchid care and how to choose and successfully grow these exotic plants. With a little know-how, keeping a collection of the most beautiful tropical blossoms becomes simple.

Sunday, March 4

Orchid QA
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.

History and Mystery of Orchids — 1 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall

With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need of a passport.

Why Native Orchids Grow Where They Do: The Secret is Under Our Feet — 1 p.m.

The vast majority of plants require an association with mycorrhizal fungi to obtain nutrients and grow in natural environments. Orchids are no exception. However, while most mycorrhizal associations are beneficial to both partners, orchids generally parasitize their mycorrhizal fungi, actually digesting them to obtain nutrients. Learn how Melissa McCormick, researcher at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, has used DNA analysis to find where host fungi grow in the soil to support orchid growth, and how environmental disruptions may affect this important, life-sustaining relationship.

Orchid Care Demonstration: Know and Grow Orchids — 3 p.m.

Celebrate the opening of the Orchid Show by joining Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, to learn the basics of orchid care and how to choose and successfully grow these exotic plants. With a little know-how, keeping a collection of the most beautiful tropical blossoms becomes simple.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

Outdoor Nature Explorations: Little Landscapes
Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

Growing tiny worlds in a jar is the latest craze in the gardening world, though terrariums have been around for ages. Look closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and create your own rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar to take home. Use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium specimens such as moss, lichens, and rocks.

Tags: Lectures, orchid show, weekend

This entry was posted
on Friday, March 2nd, 2012 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Around the Garden, Exhibitions, The Orchid Show.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/exhibit-news/the-orchid-show-celebrates-10-years-this-weekend/

Related Posts:

• The Orchid Show Warms Up
• Neotropical Blueberries
• Caribbean Garden Photography Contest: Week Six Winners!

With the opening of the Orchid Show comes Orchid Evenings, an opportunity to wander the climbing walls of orchids in all of their after-dark elegance. Drink in hand, music setting the tone, Saturday nights in March and April become the show’s finest hours. But there’s a secret to our cocktails–it’s right out in the open.

Of all the natural flavors in the world, which two best personify indulgence? Chocolate is invariably the first half of the answer. A few weeks ago we covered the tropical origin of that delectable culinary dilettante in the cacao plant. But what of chocolate’s opposite number–vanilla?

The ubiquitous sweetness of vanilla flavoring also hails from a plant, and likewise a tropical one, but few laymen know anything of vanilla beyond the fact that it comes from a “bean.” You can buy them (two or three to a jar) in most supermarket spice aisles–spindly and dark with a seductive fragrance that nearly justifies the cost. And there the curiosity often ends. But in honor of our Orchid Show, we thought we’d blow the lid off the vanilla bean’s poorly-kept secret: it’s not a bean at all, but the seed pod of an orchid (Vanilla planifolia).

Looking just as sweet as its namesake suggests, the vanilla orchid is the only member of the orchid family that is grown en masse for industrial purposes. Without it, we wouldn’t have vanilla ice cream, or anything that requires extract for that matter (all baked desserts go out the window). Who’d have thought such a delicate flower would be the basis for an entire industry?

Dried fruit of the vanilla orchid

Producing enough vanilla to sate the desires of the U.S. population alone (1,200 tons annually) begs more effort than your average tomato farm. With an annual flower that blooms just once before shedding, and for a fleeting four hours at that, this climbing orchid requires constant vigilance to ensure an abundant crop come the harvest. Workers are tasked with pollinating each plant by hand, and that can mean hundreds of individual flowers per raceme. After a nine-month ripening period, the seed pods are collected and the tiny seeds within–as well as the outer covering itself–are used to create vanilla flavoring.

Beginning Saturday, March 3, Patrick Blanc’s vertical gardens host a starlit cocktail hour with sophistication to put the local bar scene to shame. Created by the wizards at Dylan’s Candy Bar, our signature drink–the Vanilla Ginger Moon–builds on a base of corn whiskey through the mellow vanilla sweetness of Liquor 43. Notes of citrus, herbs, and spices from this ancient liqueur recipe then peak with a dash of ginger ale.

Come for the elegance, enjoy the drinks, and stay for the live music. Orchid Evenings are a chance to take in the Orchid Show in its evening dress, lit for allure and intimacy. And while you’re strolling the Conservatory, reveling in the color and scope of Blanc’s vertical gardens, you can thank one small, cream-colored flower for its contribution to your cocktail.

Tags: Orchid, Orchid Evenings, orchid show, vanilla

This entry was posted
on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at 11:00 am and is filed under Exhibitions, The Orchid Show.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/03/exhibit-news/sweetness-and-light-a-culinary-orchid/

Related Posts:

• Morning Eye Candy: How Does an Orchid Get Its Spots?
• Neotropical Blueberries
• Morning Eye Candy: Winter Whites

Last weekend’s predictions for snowfall missed the mark by a mile, so we’re spending today confident that the last white of winter is well behind us. Or that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Because without the snow, it makes spending a day at the NYBG a piece of cake, and the trains (usually) tend to run on time. With the Caribbean Garden winding down in preparation for the opening of this year’s Orchid Show, there’s also more motivation to come pay us a visit!

If you’re one of the lucky New Yorkers to have a full three-day weekend to enjoy, we’re even going to open the gates on Monday to make the most of it. We don’t exactly do that every week. And with the kids out of school, you might consider this an example of opportunity knocking–how often do you get to spend a day with them while out and about, anyway?

Saturday, February 18

Great Backyard Bird Count – All day
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

This is a big deal! Throughout the weekend, we’ll be doing our part to help scientists with Cornell University and the National Audubon Society track the populations of North American birds. Borrow a pair of binoculars and a tally sheet when you get to the Garden, then join one of our Explainers in tracking down the many birds living in the Bronx. Record your findings on the official website from right here at the Discovery Center, and you’ll have contributed to a worthwhile effort that spans an entire continent.

Bird Walk – 11 a.m.
Meets at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

If you’re coming for the Great Backyard Bird Count, you might as well join Debbie Becker for the weekend Bird Walk! Seek out owls, hawks, songbirds and more as you join the group for a trek through the Garden, learning about the bird-friendly plants and habitats that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites. You might even get a chance to spot Rose and Vince, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that has been living here in the Bronx for years.

Healing Plants Tour – 1 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center.

Join a Garden Docent on a guided tour inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, viewing intriguing plant species with healing capabilities and learning about their unique medicinal properties.

Salsa: Listen and Learn – 2 p.m.
Meet at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s Green School

Discover the Caribbean origins of salsa music. Educator Jose Obando brings a collection of salsa memorabilia and traditional instruments to help tell the story of this island classic. While you’re here for the demonstration, you can even learn a few dance steps for yourself!

Sunday, February 19

Great Backyard Bird Count – All day
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

Calling all bird watchers! Pick up a tally sheet to help count and identify the Garden’s birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Borrow a pair of binoculars and join one of our Explainers as they comb the grounds for birds. When you’re done, you can record your findings on the official website from the Discovery Center, contributing not only to a nationwide effort, but one spanning the continent.

Conservatory Tour – 12:30 p.m.
Meets at the Conservatory entrance

Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s docents. Take an eco-tour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays. Admission included with an All-Garden Pass.

Photography Tips and Tricks — 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory entrance

Join an expert garden photographer as he dispenses tips, encouragement, and critique for budding photographers and veterans alike. After picking up a few new tricks, you can enter your work into our weekly Caribbean Garden photo contests for a chance at a gift certificate to put toward NYBG Adult Education classes.

Monday, February 20

Great Backyard Bird Count – All day
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

Calling all bird watchers! Pick up a tally sheet to help count and identify the Garden’s birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Borrow a pair of binoculars and join one of our Explainers as they go around tracking birds. Record your findings on the official website from the Discovery Center, and contribute to a continent-wide effort.

Conservatory Tour – 1 p.m.
Meets at the Conservatory entrance

Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an acre of plants under glass, with one of the Garden’s docents. Take an eco-tour around the world through 11 distinct habitats, including two types of rain forest, deserts of the Americas and of Africa, and aquatic and carnivorous plant displays. Admission included with an All-Garden Pass.

Photography Tips and Tricks – 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet at the Conservatory entrance

Join an expert garden photographer as he dispenses tips, encouragement, and critique for budding photographers and veterans alike. After picking up a few new tricks, you can enter your work into our weekly Caribbean Garden photo contests for a chance at a gift certificate to put toward NYBG Adult Education classes.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

Tropical Discoveries and Wintertime Wonders — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden

Explore plants native to New York in the winter wonderland of the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Sort fruits and leaves from around the world, and pot up plants from both climates to take home as souvenirs.

Adventures in Adaptation — Self-Guided
Pick up your field notebook at ticketing booths and begin the search in the Conservatory.

Embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and Garden grounds. One of our scientists has been traveling the world studying plant adaptations, and we need your help to figure out not only where he’s been, but where he’s headed next!

Tags: Bird Count, bird walk, Caribbean Garden, orchid show, Photography, Salsa, weekend

This entry was posted
on Friday, February 17th, 2012 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Around the Garden.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/around-the-garden/a-high-flying-three-day-weekend/

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NOTE: This is an update of a position paper I first published in 2007.

As I’ve traveled around the nation on our organization SafeLawns.org, I’ve sensed a tremendous amount of confusion about organic products. “What’s really organic, and what isn’t?” people ask. Just yesterday, on the phone with Consumers Digest magazine, a reporter was asking about the proliferation of seemingly safe, natural products — and wondering how much of the messaging was “greenwashing” the labels to deceive consumers.

Though chemical companies will say that an organic product is anything that contains a carbon molecule, the real definition is quite simple: the product must have originated from a plant, animal or mineral. Period.

WHEN SHOPPING

The Organic Trade Association recommends looking for product labels that say: “This fertilizer product is allowed for use in organic production;” “Meets National Organic Program requirements for organic production;” “ Suitable for organic farming;” “Acceptable for use in organic production;” “Meets the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP) for use in organic production;” or “This product is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production.” Such statements are currently in use or have been approved for use on labels of fertilizer and soil amendment products allowed in organic production.

Gardeners can find suppliers of fertilizer products allowed in organic farming and gardening on OTA’s Organic Pages Online. This directory includes a wide range of products such as blended dry fertilizers, composts, liquid fertilizers, micronutrients, soil conditioners, and a variety of other organic garden inputs. The OTA also urges gardeners to become familiar with the National Organic Program and its lists of prohibited substances or practices.

THE BIOSOLIDS DEBATE

“Urea and biosolids are examples of substances prohibited from use in organic farming that can be found in some fertilizers labeled ‘organic,’” according to OTA.

To me, something like urea offers no gray area. Synthetic nitrogen sources such as urea are created in a laboratory by intensely heating methane; it’s absolutely not organic. Biosolid composts and fertilizers, on the other hand, are the source of great debates among all sorts of people I respect on both sides of the issue. Biosolids — derived from human waste — have been the basis of Milorganite fertilizer for decades. This popular brand from the Milwaukee sewage treatment plant is used on lawns across America and many consider the product to be organic, although it would never clear OMRI or the NOP standards.

When writing my book, The Organic Lawn Care Manual, I included this passage:
Opponents of biosolids point to reports of contamination with various toxic substances, including heavy metals and non-biodegradable PCBs, a group of known cancer-causing compounds. Some folks, frankly, can’t stomach the idea of having the byproducts of human waste applied anywhere on their properties. The biggest issue, for many, involves clarity. If biosolids are allowed to be labeled organic, consumers won’t know what is inside the product.

“Sewage sludge isn’t just human waste, it’s also everything else that people flush into the system — a fact the industry tries to obscure,” said Ellen Z. Harrison, director of Cornell University’s Waste Management Institute. “Many of these other materials never, ever break down. I don’t feel enough testing has been done. Very little data exists about the long-term effects of biosolids and land treatment.”

Having since personally visited the Milorganite plant, I now believe that company does as good a job as possible testing its product to make sure it is as free, as possible, from contaminants. I would now use Milorganite on my own lawn. I cannot say that, however, for all bio-solids products because I do not believe all companies and plants adhere to the strict Miloganite testing regimen.

BLATANT DECEPTION

The biggest area of confusion in the use of organic products, however, involves the deliberate deception perpetrated by some extremely clever marketers. That means that you, as a consumer, parent, pet owner and homeowner, need to be a really good student of the language. Watch closely, for example, for the phrase “organic based.” Those aforementioned chemists will claim that the most synthetic product in the world is organic.

To a deceptive marketer, the ambiguity about this word creates opportunity. By placing the phrase “organic based” on a bag, the marketers are duping people into thinking the product is perfectly safe and natural. Many organic based products do contain some organic materials, but most often also contain synthetic materials that are often of inferior quality and less expensive for them to produce.

The other favored word by marketing companies is that word “natural.” Absolutely no legal strangleholds are placed on the word “natural,” and therefore it can literally mean anything.
The best advice is to be sure to ALWAYS read the ingredient labels. If you see a whole bunch of chemical compounds listed on the bag, box or bottle, then chances are it’s not truly organic.

A FINAL WORD ON SAFETY

One other misconception concerns organics and safety. While organic products, as a group, are more sustainable, generally safer, and by far preferred to synthetic chemicals, it’s important to note that not all organic products are inherently safe — especially when it comes to organic insect killers and deterrents.

Pyrethrins, for example, have been proven to be dangerous in some cases — even through they are derived from flowers. Certain limestones, though they’re invaluable mined minerals, emit a dust that should be avoided by using a simple paper mask during application. Several other examples exist, but it’s worth stating again and again: always read and follow the label no matter what.

Article source: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/02/organic-based-products-are-rarely-organic/

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Sometimes it seems like no amount of scheduling can prepare you for a school vacation week. It so often ends up an unpredictable whirlwind of video games, laziness, messy rooms and puzzling out dinner plans. But you can save the remains of your patience! With the kids freed from class next week, The New York Botanical Garden has rearranged the calendar to make it easy for you to keep the little ones occupied–anything to get them off the couch and out of the house. We’ll be offering longer hours, ongoing children’s events every day of the week, and of course our Winter Science Camp to keep young minds sharp.

At the heart of every kid’s experience here at the NYBG is the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. To ensure everyone gets a chance to explore, we’re setting aside its regular afternoon schedule and running events there from the moment the Garden’s gates open at 10 a.m., and on until closing. This gives kids the best opportunity to start their Adventures in Adaptations trek early! With field notebook in hand, kids will hunt through the lush tropical foliage of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, solving the riddle of Dr. Ed Apshon’s whereabouts as they discover exotic and fascinating plant life. The trail will ultimately lead them to the Discovery Center, where they can celebrate their successful expedition by potting a plant to take home for themselves.

With only five spots left, our science camp for eight- to ten-year-olds is also proving popular, making it a great idea to get your reservations in sooner rather than later. The course offers children a “behind the scenes” learning experience under the guidance of the NYBG’s world-renowned plant educators. Kids will investigate plants in the Herbarium unseen by the public, enjoy early-morning exploration in the Forest, and experience a curriculum you just won’t find in the local elementary school schedule. Where else can they try their hand at planting vegetables, creating paint from plants, or pressing their own specimens?

The ten-day weather forecast borders on perfect while the snow is keeping its distance, so for the upcoming vacation, skip the hassle of entertaining the kids yourself; it’s what we’re here for. And to prove how dedicated we are to your sanity, we’re even opening our doors on Monday. You have every opportunity to make the next week a cakewalk–take advantage!

Tags: Adventures in Adaptation, Conservatory, Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, Winter Science Camp

This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 11:00 am and is filed under Around the Garden, Programs and Events.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/garden-programming/with-school-vacation-comes-a-chance-to-explore/

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