The New York  Botanical  Garden

                                                                                   A  Photographic  Treasure

                                                               by  Kay  Wheeler

 

     The New York Botanical Garden is a 250 acre New York City historic site with 48 beautiful gardens.

The Enid A Haupt Conservatory is its crown jewel consisting of 11 galleries.  Here one finds "A World

of Plants," its permanent exhibition, which includes The Palms of the Americas Gallery, Lowland and

Upland Rain Forest Galleries and The Deserts of The Americas and Africa Galleries.  The Conservatory

collections include carnivorous plants, hanging baskets, aquatic plants, sub-tropicals and outdoor pools.

Two galleries are dedicated to seasonal flower exhibits.

     My frequent visits to The New York Botanical Garden, bring me into a world of peaceful calm and

beauty.  As a photographer, I also find it exciting as I explore the colorful gardensand grounds, the forest

and the walk along the Bronx River with its rushing waterfall.

    

     Come with me this Spring (my favorite season) and find yourself surrounded by the myriad of flowering

plants, cherry and crabapple trees, dogwoods, rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas and many others.  We'll

go in the early mornings when the warm, soft misty light creates a magical charm, enhancing the colors and

textures of the flowers still touched with dew.

     After searching for scenics and vignettes, we can enter my favorite world, the world of Macro photography.

We'll look for patterns, textures, reflections, color tones, translucencies and some impressionistic

possibilities.  With each visit back to The Garden, one will find new discoveries that come throughout the

changing seasons.   A WARNING - this may become addictive!

     This years upcoming exhibits are:

Woodland Garden -  4/15 - 6/15

Victorian Ornamentals - 7/1 - 10/26

Sculptures from The Museum of Modern Arts permanent collection in the conservatory courtyard - thru

August 21

Holiday Train Show  11/21/03  -  1/4/04  Here one finds nearly 100 replicas of New York City's historic

buildings, bridges and landmarks created of natural materials by Paul Busse.  Railway trains and trolleys

travel through tunnels, over bridges and around the buildings through the two exhibition houses.

    

     Throughout The Garden one finds flowering plants, shrubs and trees, a constantly changing display

from April until frost.   Fall foliage is ablaze with color throughout the grounds, in the forest and along

the Bronx River by the Snuff Mill Trail.  In winter, snow covers ornamental grasses and huge fir trees,

creating a fairyland.

     

     Many thousands of bulbs begin to flower in The Rock Garden in early April.  Later in April and May

100,000 daffodils flower on Daylily/Daffodil Walk, Daffodil Hill and near the Library & Watson Buildings.

Flowering trees and shrubs put on their show from April to June, including Azaleas, Crab Apples, Cherries,

Magnolias and Rhododendrons, Lilacs and Forsythias.  The Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden,

showcases the diversity and beauty of perennials for their flowers, textures and foliage.  Beds of

herbaceous peonies and irises flower nearby.

     The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden contains 2700 examples of roses including many All-American

Selections.  Up on the hill at the south end of the rose garden one finds the Dolores Hope Garden of Chinese

tree and herbaceous peonies.  Hundreds of Daylily cultivars flower in midsummer along Daylily/Daffodil

Walk.

       

     The Home Gardening Center has several gardens including the Mae L. Wien Cutting Garden, Helen's

Garden of Fragrant Plants, The Rodney White Country Garden and The Louise Loeb Vegetable Garden.  In October it's Autumn Garden of Korean Chrysanthemums is a riot of color.

The Everett Children's Adventure Garden and the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden have colorful flowers

and topiaries.  Across from the Everett Garden is the Mitsubishi Wild Wetland Trail where ducks, red-wing

blackbirds and other wildlife can be seen.

  

     PHOTO TIPS:

Early morning and late afternoon light is warmest.  Overcast light is soft.  In harsh, contrasty light I use a

tiffen Ultracontrast filter.  Be careful not to over-polarize in strong light and make the sky too dark.

Too many raindrops on a flower can be unsightly, especially if the sun has come out or if using flash.

Tripods are not permitted inside the conservatory, but are allowed by its courtyard pools.

Note:      Early morning passes allowing admission after 6a.m. are available from the security office.

For this and other information call 1 800 718 817 8000  For NYBG website information including directions

to The Garden, exhibits and "What's in Flower" listings - go to  www.nybg.org.

Here is the equipment I use to achieve the images shown here.  Nikon 8008S and Nikon F100.  Lenses

used are 24mm for scenics, 105 macro lens for real closeup work, a 28mm - 85mm for flexibility in cropping.

Filters are polarizer and Tiffen 812 warming filter.  I use a tripod wherever it is allowed and it's a Gitzo

model.

  

      Come join in the exploration of a most wonderful sanctuary, The New York Botanical Garden and do

bring your camera.

                                                                                                                               Kay Wheeler www.nybg.org