South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping

2011

February 5, 2011, unnamed sound northwest of Isla Georgiana

February 4, 2011, unnamed sound directly east of Seno Mama, Chile

February 2, 2011, Seno Courtenay, northern arm, Chile

January 31, 2011, Canal between Isla Georgiana and Isla Clementina,, Chile

January 30, 2011, Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, Chile

January 29, 2011, Isla Aguirre, Seno Quo Vadis, Chile

January 24, 2011, Seno Chasco, just north of isthmus to Brecknock Peninsula, Chile

January 23, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Puerto Consuelo, Seno Chasco, Chile

January 22, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 21, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 20, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Bluff, Chile

February 2, 2012; Isla Gordon, middle arm of Bahía Tres Brazos, approximately 54º58?S, 69º41?W

Tags: Bill Buck, Bill Buck Cape Horn 2012, Bryophytes, Lichens, Mosses, Science, Science Expeditions, The New York Botanical Garden, Vascular Plants

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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/science/from-the-field-bill-buck-in-cape-horn-day-15/

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26 Feb

From the Field: Bill Buck in Cape Horn, Day 14

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

February 3, 2012; Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, Fiordo Garibaldi, approximately 54º58′S, 69º49′W

This morning we collected in Brazo Inutil (approximately 54º58′S, 69º49′W). The day began with patches of blue sky and the promise of a nice day, but it was colder than it had been recently, which I should have known signaled a change in the weather. The collecting wasn’t great, but I know at this stage that I have seen and personally collected much of the flora, and so have to fight surrendering to boredom. Most of my time has been spent looking for mosses and I have not really paid great attention to lichens. NYBG now has three lichenologists, as well as a new lichen graduate student joining us soon. My colleagues at the Garden, as well as various researchers outside of my home institution, have asked me to be on the lookout for certain groups of lichens, and I have decided that now is the time for me to do so! Once I have found what mosses I can at any site, I then devote some time to looking for lichens.

At a safe distance from the glacier in the Garibaldi Fiord

Lichens are not a real strength of mine, but definitely an interest (especially when I have others to identify them!). Add the fact that this is an area that is not well collected for lichens, and suddenly I have a whole new field to captivate me. Since yesterday, every site I have visited has yielded at least a few lichens that have really excited me, things I have never seen before and that look, to my untrained eye, really interesting. And just to make it really exciting, the Spanish lichenologist, Leo Sancho, told me that he has a manuscript of the lichens of the region, and so it means that any interesting finds of mine might be able to be added to the projected lichen biota. What more could a field biologist ask for?!

Birds, not bryologists, disturbed this carpet of moss while looking for insects

This afternoon we moved to the Garibaldi Fiord, our next to last glacier site. Rather than collecting close to the glacier, though, I chose to collect on a small island in the fiord, in the hopes that the increased humidity would increase moss diversity. Unfortunately, such was not the case. Nevertheless I did find a couple of nice things, even if they are not new to our flora region. Blanka–with Juan and Ernesto–went nearer to the glacier and seems to have found something I don’t recognize. I think it is in a family, Pottiaceae, that I do not know well, and I hope it will prove interesting. However, it will require dissection and a compound microscope and so the mystery will have to wait until I get home.

The Don Jose Miguel dwarfed by the scenery while at anchor

I think the trip is beginning to catch up with us. Yesterday, many of us had upset stomaches and skipped a meal or two. Matt’s back has been bothering him, and today he was in a lot of pain. Fortunately, when I am traveling in these remote areas, I try to bring a small pharmacy with me, and I was able to give Matt a strong pain killer that has him mobile again. I find that my patience is beginning to wear thin, but so far I have not really snapped at anyone. That said, I am finding it harder and harder not to do so. It reinforces the need to carefully screen all prospective participants prior to the trip. We are together 24/7 in tight quarters, so it is critical that everyone be considerate of others. Of course it is hard to know this in advance. Overall, I have had a great time and any annoyances have really been minor, even it they didn’t seem so at the time.

I have now been in Chile for a bit over four weeks and am looking forward to going home. We have another two and a half days of collecting before we return to port in Punta Arenas. We then have a week to get everything dry and shipped out. It will be a busy time and the days should pass quickly. All too soon I’ll be home and missing the spectacular sub-Antarctic vistas. I need to keep this in mind and enjoy it while I can.

Bill Buck’s Previous Reports From the Field:

2012

January 31, 2012; Isla Gordon, Bahía Romanche, 54º57′S, 69º30′W

January 30, 2012; Isla Gordon, Bahía Romanche, 54º57′S, 69º30′W

January 29, 2012; Canal O’Brien, on the way to the Brazo Noroeste of the Beagle Channel, approximately 54º55′S, 70º35′W

January 25, 2012; Isla Darwin, Caleta Virginia, approximately 54º57′S, 70º10′W

January 24, 2012; Unnamed sound off Isla Whittlebury, in Bahia San Jorge, west of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º16?S, 70º00?W

January 23, 2012; Arm of Estero Webb, SW coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º14′S, 69º41′W

January 22, 2012.; Unnamed sound on Isla Gordon behind Cabo El Gorro, approximately 55º02′S, 69º48′W

January 21, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, 55º1′S, 69º35′W

January 20, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, approximately 55º11′S, 69º35′W

January 19, 2012; Chile, unnamed sound on north-central coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º00′S, 69º12′W

January 18, 2012; Canal O’Brien, just south of Isla O’Brien, 54º55′S, 70º35′W

2011

February 5, 2011, unnamed sound northwest of Isla Georgiana

February 4, 2011, unnamed sound directly east of Seno Mama, Chile

February 2, 2011, Seno Courtenay, northern arm, Chile

January 31, 2011, Canal between Isla Georgiana and Isla Clementina,, Chile

January 30, 2011, Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, Chile

January 29, 2011, Isla Aguirre, Seno Quo Vadis, Chile

January 24, 2011, Seno Chasco, just north of isthmus to Brecknock Peninsula, Chile

January 23, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Puerto Consuelo, Seno Chasco, Chile

January 22, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 21, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 20, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Bluff, Chile

January 31, 2012; Isla Gordon, Bahía Romanche, 54º57′S, 69º30′W

Tags: Bill Buck, Bill Buck Cape Horn 2012, Bryophytes, Lichens, Mosses, Science, Science Expeditions, The New York Botanical Garden, Vascular Plants

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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/science/from-the-field-bill-buck-in-cape-horn-day-14/

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24 Feb

From the Field: Bill Buck in Cape Horn, Day 13

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

February 2, 2012; Isla Gordon, middle arm of Bahía Tres Brazos, approximately 54º58′S, 69º41′W

You might have noticed that I didn’t write yesterday. About 5 p.m. I came down with a bad headache and went to my bunk. Apparently I missed some bad seas, including 9-10 foot waves in the Beagle Channel as we moved sites. I got up around 8 p.m., decided against dinner, took a couple of aspirin and went back to bed. I didn’t get up until about 8 a.m. I still have a mild headache, but felt that I needed to deal with yesterday’s collections.

So, while the others are out collecting this morning, I got yesterday’s haul onto the dryer and am now catching up on my blog. I had hoped to do this on the deck because it wasn’t raining this morning, and there were even a few patches of sun, but typical of the region, the skies have darkened again, and it is now spitting rain (at least not sleet or snow). I have managed to be able to sit outside, but under cover, which is a real treat because, once again, the scenery is spectacular. My vista is a row of snow-capped peaks, with much of the snow fresh. Usually when it is raining at sea level it is snowing on the mountains and since yesterday was colder than usual, the snow is lower down on the slopes.

The three gacliers of Seno Pia

And it is yesterday that I want to write about. The engines started about 6 a.m. I had been told the night before that it would be about a two hour ride to our destination, Pía Fiord. This fiord has two arms, and we were scheduled to hit both, the northeast (approximately 54º46′S, 69º35′W) in the morning, and the northwest in the afternoon. The Romanche Glacier has several branches which come down to the sea here, with a small piece of land separating them. We could tell we were getting close when the frequency of small icebergs increased. Our Zodiacs had to move slowly to avoid all the sea ice and we were put ashore on a small spit of land projecting into the harbor.

This is a popular stop, and several years ago I stopped here while on a cruise ship on which I was given a free room and collected samples while the other passengers went ashore. Another perk of that trip, occasionally at about 8 a.m., the crew would chip-off some glacial ice for a pre-breakfast whiskey! Despite its popularity, Pía Fiord is really a beautiful site.

Although I had been here before, my previous collecting mission was a study in quick and dirty plundering; I only had time to pick up the most conspicuous mosses. This time I had as much time as I wanted and therefore was able to more systematically survey the area.

The Zodiac crew enjoying the nice weather

I have never been one of those people who is obsessed with adding one more dot to a map in order to fill in distribution data, and so I have to keep reminding myself that in working on a flora, I need to do just that. But no matter how many ties I remind myself of this, it is still all too easy to pass over yet another common species while on the hunt for the real gems. And boy were there gems at Pía Fiord.

Once again I was able to find one of the rare lantern mosses (Andreaea fuegiana) that we sought so desperately at Caleta Coloane in the first half of the trip. I now know the reason I had overlooked the species on previous trips. It seems to have a very specialized ecology, growing on inclined to vertical rock outcrops with light–but more or less constant–water flowing over it. In this saturated condition, the small cushions, mostly less than 2 inches in diameter, look like many of the common, dark-pigmented liverworts that dominate the habitat.

Apparently experience counts in hunting mosses, just as it does in so many other aspects of life. Blanka and I had been together at Coloane (the weather having driven the others back to the ship) and so both of us now seem to understand the ecology of this rare–or at least seldom collected–moss, and sure enough we both found it yesterday. To collect this moss has become a goal for Juan, and it is like salt rubbed into the wound every time I bring it back and he doesn’t. Like me, he needs to get past the habit of ignoring the liverwort-looking bryophytes.

From my previous trip to Pía Fiord, I recalled that the spit of land where we came ashore becomes an island at high tide. Immediately upon remembering this, I headed back there early to monitor the situation. Certainly the access was less than when we disembarked, but I thought we would be out before it really became a problem. I used this opportunity to collect on the soon-to-be island and found a few nice mosses that I hadn’t seen on the mainland.

Bill and Laura heading into the old growth forest

During the second half of this trip, we have gained a second, but smaller, Zodiac which has a maximum capacity of four passengers plus a motorist. Our larger Zodiac usually has two crew members (a motorist and someone in the bow) and can hold as many as eight passengers, though fewer in rough seas. As I waited for the appointed pick-up time, the wind picked up, and the seas became white-capped. I then noticed the smaller Zodiac being lifted back onto the ship off in the distance; an ill omen of weather to come.

When noon arrived, the larger Zodiac came to get us, ferrying us back to the ship in two groups, five and four. On the way back a cold wind blew (we were adjacent to glaciers after all) and the waves sprayed us with frigid salt water. Even with wet gloves, my fingers were really cold and I hate to imagine how cold Xiaolan’s and the motorist’s fingers must have been with no protection.

The Zodiac returned for the second group, but unfortunately, once again, some of our group were late. Being the leader, it unfortunately falls on me to say something. I have no children, and I have no interest in being the father-figure disciplinarian., however, Matt and I agreed that something needed to be said; it is both inconsiderate to be late and it can be a safety issue. So, once again I pulled aside the worse offender for a little talk, stating that this would be the last time I would say anything, and that if it happened, then that person would not be invited back on future expeditions. This is by far the worst aspect of the trip for me, but it would be irresponsible of me to shirk it. (Note: thankfully, it never happened again.)

During lunch we moved to the northwest arm of Pía Fiord. Small icebergs dotted the seascape and limited the Zodiac to the east side of the fiord as we approached yet another glacier. Most of our group chose to hit the shore near the glacier, but after my morning responsibilities, I opted for a little solitude and chose a small stream valley quite close to where our ship was anchored. On both sides were patches of moss-covered, but otherwise bare soil, probably a result of a particularly large deluge-like event in the not-too-distant past resulting in large scale erosion.

Old growth forest

These early successional habitats are hard to find, because although the climate here is harsh, bare soil is rapidly colonized. What makes this possible is the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, Nostoc. Hornworts have pockets of the cyanobacterium in their thalli; the mosses often have small free-living colonies of Nostoc among their leaves; and the ubiquitous Gunnera magellanica has Nostoc colonies in its rhizomes. All these “leak” nitrogen into the environment and encourage plant growth, much like a high nitrogen commercial fertilizer would. Therefore, habitats with extensive areas of mostly bare soil are infrequent and short-lived.

Nevertheless there is a whole suite of bryophytes that have specialized in this kind of habitat, before the vascular plants arrive and out-compete them. I must have spent almost 45 minutes within ten yards of the shore picking up one small moss after another. The hair-cap mosses (Polytrichaceae) were particularly abundant and diverse. I slowly worked my way upstream and found the mosses changing, presumably due to the increased shade. On one streamside rock, provided with a constant high humidity from the splashing current, I found several mosses, but only one really excited me; it was (again!) one of the rare lantern mosses, Andreaea nitida. As before, it helped tremendously to know the ecology of the species in order to find it. Once again, though, I realized I was overlooking the common mosses, and so as I worked back downstream I tried to pick these up. As I approached the shore for my 4:15 p.m. pick-up time, an earlier Zodiac was passing by, so I waved it down. Back on board the ship I was able to get all my day’s collections numbered. It was shortly after that that my headache struck.

It is now about 10:30 a.m. and I am reluctant to get all suited up in my head-to-toe rubberized gear for what would probably be at most an hour of collecting. So, I will instead enjoy the relative quiet of the ship (except the constant rumble of the generator) until the others return (hopefully on time!).

February 2, 2012; Isla Gordon, western arm of Bahía Tres Brazos, ca. 54º59′S, 69º45′W

After babbling on for so long this morning, I am reluctant to write again, but two things demand attention; the weather and this afternoon’s field site. Today’s weather has been amazing. Although slightly overcast, with an occasional break in the clouds, there has been no real rain. It is warmer than it has been and the air has been calm. It is such a surprisingly nice day, even the crew is commenting on it.

What capped off the day though was my afternoon collecting site. Even from the ship it reminded me of the one truly old-growth forest we found last year. Such forests are exceedingly rare. They require surrounding mountains to shelter them from the wind, and a permanent river which drops its silt and results in deep soils. Only then can trees get really large. Here the largest trees are at least six feet in diameter, and harbor a suite of species that require a long-term, stable habitat with high humidity. Hornworts and liverworts carpet the forest floor and the numerous large fallen logs. Mosses are in a minority, but those that do occur are often small–and in small quantity–and mostly restricted to this special habitat. Small, curious birds who harbor no fear of humans come within inches, chirping away. The whole effect of the forest is that of a kind of wonderland. Although I could go on and on about this very special habitat, no words can accurately capture the mystical nature of such a place.

Tonight we go back to the same anchorage we used last night, alongside a small island near the mouth of Bahía Tres Brazos. Tomorrow we move onto the Garibaldi Fiord, and possibly the last glacier access of our trip. It’s hard to believe we have only about five more days on the ship. How time flies!

Bill Buck’s Previous Reports From the Field:

2012

January 30, 2012; Isla Gordon, Bahía Romanche, 54º57′S, 69º30′W

January 29, 2012; Canal O’Brien, on the way to the Brazo Noroeste of the Beagle Channel, approximately 54º55′S, 70º35′W

January 25, 2012; Isla Darwin, Caleta Virginia, approximately 54º57′S, 70º10′W

January 24, 2012; Unnamed sound off Isla Whittlebury, in Bahia San Jorge, west of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º16?S, 70º00?W

January 23, 2012; Arm of Estero Webb, SW coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º14′S, 69º41′W

January 22, 2012.; Unnamed sound on Isla Gordon behind Cabo El Gorro, approximately 55º02′S, 69º48′W

January 21, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, 55º1′S, 69º35′W

January 20, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, approximately 55º11′S, 69º35′W

January 19, 2012; Chile, unnamed sound on north-central coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º00′S, 69º12′W

January 18, 2012; Canal O’Brien, just south of Isla O’Brien, 54º55′S, 70º35′W

2011

February 5, 2011, unnamed sound northwest of Isla Georgiana

February 4, 2011, unnamed sound directly east of Seno Mama, Chile

February 2, 2011, Seno Courtenay, northern arm, Chile

January 31, 2011, Canal between Isla Georgiana and Isla Clementina,, Chile

January 30, 2011, Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, Chile

January 29, 2011, Isla Aguirre, Seno Quo Vadis, Chile

January 24, 2011, Seno Chasco, just north of isthmus to Brecknock Peninsula, Chile

January 23, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Puerto Consuelo, Seno Chasco, Chile

January 22, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 21, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 20, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Bluff, Chile

January 23, 2012; Arm of Estero Webb, SW coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º14′S, 69º41′W

Tags: Bill Buck, Bill Buck Cape Horn 2012, Bryophytes, Lichens, Mosses, Science, Science Expeditions, The New York Botanical Garden, Vascular Plants

This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 23rd, 2012 at 4:22 pm and is filed under Bill Buck, From the Field, Science.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/science/from-the-field-bill-buck-in-cape-horn-day-13/

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17 Feb

Harbinger of Spring

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

NYBG member and resident bird photographer Laura Meyers was walking the grounds recently when she caught the hint of a welcome sight. It happened to be sitting on a sweet gum branch, munching a beakful of seeds. But as common as the Red-winged Blackbird is to most northerners, many don’t realize what the songbird signifies around this time of year.

As she sent along her photograph, Laura also shared this bit of information:

“I was happy and surprised to see a Red-winged Blackbird at The New York Botanical Garden this past Friday. Male Red-winged Blackbirds return north in the spring ahead of the females and migrate south after the females in the fall.”

Research on this little bird’s migratory patterns suggests that the first scant sightings of returning Red-wings in New York usually don’t come until the very end of February; if that’s not a confirmation of just how weird and contradictory this winter has been, not much else will suffice. But whatever the explanation, we’re only too happy to see the first signs of spring on our doorstep.

Keeping track of traveling birds like these may seem like an odd hobby to the uninitiated, but in fact it aids scientists in understanding the state of local wildlife and weather trends. Beginning this Saturday, the NYBG will be doing its part by inviting bird watchers of all ages (or anyone who wants to get outside for some fun) to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

The challenge is as simple as it sounds. Participants will be counting up the local birds at the Garden from Saturday, February 18, through Monday, contributing to a detailed snapshot of bird populations that pulls from numbers gathered across the North American continent. From the Florida Keys to the Yukon, eyes will be pointed upward. And we loan out binoculars, meaning you shouldn’t have any leftover excuses solid enough to keep you indoors this weekend.

Veteran birders and potential amateurs looking to pick up the habit are also welcome to join local legend Debbie Becker for our regular Saturday morning Bird Walks. Bring your camera, your binoculars, or both, and meet up with this 25-year master birdwatcher for a walk through the Garden.

Tags: bird walk, NYBG, Red-winged Blackbird, Spring

This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 16th, 2012 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Around the Garden, Photography, Wildlife.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/wildlife/harbinger-of-spring/

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15 Feb

Caribbean Garden Photography Contest: Week Three Winners!

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

The competition is really heating up! We had a record number of entrants last week, and expect even more this week. Do you have what it takes to win a $100 Adult Education gift certificate? Prove it! It’s easy to enter, and fun to boot.

Macro Winner, Week Three

Passion Flower by Barbara Reiner

Macro First Runner-Up, Week Three

Too Short by Barbara Reiner

Macro Second Runner-Up, Week Three

Caribbean Garden Treasure, VI by susies.genii

Sense of Place Winner, Week Three

Caribbean Garden 3 by F-Sharp Photo

Sense of Place First Runner-Up, Week Three

Canopy of Ferns by Tiffany Giovia

Sense of Place Second Runner-Up, Week Three

Caribbean Garden 8 by F-Sharp Photo

Congratulations to Barbara and F-Sharp Photo, and to everyone who entered this week. It was a really gorgeous group of photographs, and the competition was very intense. We’re only halfway through the competition, which means that there is still plenty of time to enter for a chance at our two fabulous prizes. So grab your camera and come visit us in the Bronx!

Week Two Winners

Week One Winners

Tags: Caribbean Garden, Caribbean Garden Photography Contest, Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, Photography, plants

This entry was posted
on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 10:59 am and is filed under Photography.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/photography/caribbean-garden-photography-contest-week-three-winners/

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13 Feb

The Children’s Gardening Program: Creating Young Horticulturists

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

Especially because this winter feels like an early springtime, it’s time to get excited for a new season of the Children’s Gardening Program at the two-acre Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. As of February 1, we opened registration for our popular Crafters and Sprouts for the spring, summer, and fall sessions.

Garden Sprouts introduces three- to five-year-olds and their accompanying parent to garden exploration, from digging for earthworms to planting seeds. Sprouts enjoy seasonal gardening tasks, the opportunity to sample garden-fresh produce grown in their own plots, and activities especially crafted for the young green thumb.

And for the older kids aged six to twelve, there’s Garden Crafters! Over the course of 12 springtime Saturday sessions they’ll plant and harvest from their own plots, learning more about organic gardening, cooking, botany, and fun topics like harvest games, springtime birds, and trees. Summer weekday sessions and the fall Saturday sessions ensure a season of hands-on learning.

Space is limited, but don’t fret–if you can’t get the kids into the spring session, consider registering well in advance for the popular summer and fall programs. It might just be the most enjoyable curriculum they complete all year.

For a detailed list of program schedules and activities, visit our education page. Call 718-817-8181 to register.

Tags: children’s gardening program, Education, Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden

This entry was posted
on Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 11:00 am and is filed under Programs and Events.
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/garden-programming/the-childrens-gardening-program-creating-young-horticulturists/

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12 Feb

While Away the Weekend at the NYBG

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

It almost felt like winter this week. Almost. With a breezy evening of light flurries in the city (I actually had to use my ice scraper for once) the temperatures dropped just enough for us to pretend we weren’t leapfrogging one of the year’s most obvious seasons. And this weekend’s weather report suggests more of the same.

Now going into our third week of the photography contest, the competition is picking up the tempo. The first week’s competitors were joined by several more talented shutterbugs this time around, and all together the group produced a stack of fantastic pictures that had us poring over the results for some time. Turns out that the more brilliant pictures you have to shuffle through, the longer it takes to come to conclusions on who won–it’s worse when the judges can’t seem to entirely agree! It was like Twelve Angry Men in here. But we came up with a fresh batch of eye candy we think will inspire you to try for yourself.

There’s more to the weekend than zoom lenses and ISO settings, of course. Here’s what’s happening:

Saturday, February 4

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

The hawks are still ruling the air at the NYBG. Rose and Vince have kept up their public appearances while Jr. makes the rounds in search of food, and Pat Gonzalez informs us that another Red-tailed hawk from the elder couple’s 2011 brood may have decided to stay with its parents here at the Garden. Join Debbie Becker this Saturday for some bird watching and you’ll almost certainly catch this family of raptors on the wing. Bring your camera, your binoculars, and a coat!

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.

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

Don’t get snowed in this weekend–stay warm with our salsa instructor. Throughout the run of our Caribbean Garden exhibition we’re offering the chance to work out the winter chill with Jose Obando in the Conservatory, learning the history, tradition, and rhythmic steps of Cuba’s favorite dance style.

Sunday, February 5

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

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

Don’t skip our photography contest just because you found out about it late! Because this isn’t a ladder-style competition, it means you can submit your photographs during any week’s judging and still have a chance at the big prizes. The final winners will ultimately be decided based on best picture, and not points! But if you need to brush up on your skills first, Sunday is the day for it. Professional garden photographers Rich Pomerantz and Alan Detrick return for another series of photography mini-workshops, offering tips, tricks, critiques and more.

Ongoing Children’s Programs

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

Don’t leave the Garden without a souvenir for your little ones. The kids can stop by the Adventure Garden and take part in the exploration of New York’s native plants, then get into gardening for themselves by potting up tropical plants of their own to take home.

Adventures in Adaptations Scavenger Hunt
Self-guided

For a kid, there’s always the imagination to fall back on, but sometimes a tangible challenge is what really does the trick. To that end, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory transforms into an adventurous jungle with questions and answers around every bend. Pick up a field notebook at the ticket booth on your way into the NYBG and set the kids on a scavenger hunt to not only figure out what plants Dr. Ed Apshon is talking about, but to find out where in the world he’s headed next.

Don’t forget your tickets! The Caribbean Garden is an event for everyone, but you’ll need a Conservatory pass to get in.

Tags: Caribbean Garden, NYBG, weekend

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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/02/exhibit-news/while-away-the-weekend-at-the-nybg/

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10 Feb

From the Field: Bill Buck in Cape Horn, Day 8

Author: admin // Category: landscaping ideas

January 24, 2012; Unnamed sound off Isla Whittlebury, in Bahia San Jorge, west of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º16′S, 70º00′W

Before retiring for the evening last night I talked with the captain and told him that ideally tomorrow, we would like to get to one of the more exposed southern islands, Isla Waterman, and that he would have to decide–based on weather and sea conditions–if it would be possible in the morning. As a backup, I told him we would be quite happy collecting on Isla Whittlebury, off of which we were anchored for the night. This morning the engines started at 7 a.m., and almost everyone just stayed in their bunks for the ride. Because we were moving for about an hour, and we hit rough seas for about 20 minutes on the way (while crossing Seno Christmas), I realized that we would soon be arriving at our first choice, Isla Waterman.

Isla Waterman

When we eventually left the warmth of our bunks and ventured out onto deck, I was immediately reminded of last year; a cold, driving rain drenched the low-slung landscape of Magellanic tundra in front of us. Once ashore the spongy vegetation, dominated by liverworts, transported me back a year in time. Many common species presented themselves, and many uncommon taxa found their way into my collecting bag. With good rain gear and warm clothing, I was completely comfortable and actually enjoyed the inclement weather.

Back on our trusty ship, we had, once again, to traverse the rough seas of Seno Christmas. But it wasn’t the choppy seas that made the crossing completely unforgettable, instead it was a real culinary treat; our cook had prepared gnocchi from scratch, for 16! I have had all too many heavy gnocchi in my life, but these were light and tender, and the special tomato and red bell pepper sauce he made just for me (I’m the only vegetarian this year) was heavenly.

The view from the afternoon collecting site

For the afternoon we visited another glacial area at the terminus of yet another unnamed sound. The collecting was a bit disappointing, but only because it had been so spectacular at Caleta Coloane a few days earlier. Regardless, I still managed to find some interesting mosses. When I saw the zodiac dropping off some of our group at a nearby site, I signaled it to pick me up and take me back to the ship. I had multiple reasons (all selfish): I wanted a little time alone, without a group; I wanted a hot shower; and I wanted to get my specimens processed without having to compete for table space. I was successful with all.

Zodiac and glacier

We are now at sea again at the beginning of a three-hour voyage, heading toward Isla Darwin. This was not on our original itinerary but the lure of the name has proven irresistible. The middle hour of the trip is scheduled to be rough, so I am hurrying to finish today’s blog so that I might weather the turbulent waters in my bunk. I was asked by the cook if we wanted to eat before or after the bad seas. Because the lunch was so large and filling, we are planning to eat afterwards.

Looking for safe anchorage, Isla Pellara

Tomorrow we visit Isla Darwin for a half day before returning to Punta Arenas to deal with our mounting quantities of wet specimens. We will also lose Mauricio. He will be missed since he is always in a good mood and has really enjoyed his vascular plant collecting. We are all hoping that Isla Darwin will live up to its namesake.

Bill Buck’s Previous Reports From the Field:

2012

January 22, 2012.; Unnamed sound on Isla Gordon behind Cabo El Gorro, approximately 55º02′S, 69º48′W

January 21, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, 55º1′S, 69º35′W

January 20, 2012; Isla Hoste, Estero Fouque, approximately 55º11′S, 69º35′W

January 19, 2012; Chile, unnamed sound on north-central coast of Isla Hoste, approximately 55º00′S, 69º12′W

January 18, 2012; Canal O’Brien, just south of Isla O’Brien, 54º55′S, 70º35′W

2011

February 5, 2011, unnamed sound northwest of Isla Georgiana

February 4, 2011, unnamed sound directly east of Seno Mama, Chile

February 2, 2011, Seno Courtenay, northern arm, Chile

January 31, 2011, Canal between Isla Georgiana and Isla Clementina,, Chile

January 30, 2011, Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, Chile

January 29, 2011, Isla Aguirre, Seno Quo Vadis, Chile

January 24, 2011, Seno Chasco, just north of isthmus to Brecknock Peninsula, Chile

January 23, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Puerto Consuelo, Seno Chasco, Chile

January 22, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 21, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Brujo, Chile

January 20, 2011, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Seno Bluff, Chile