One of my favorite things to do, especially when in the company of a lovely lady, is to take in the New York Botanical Garden. Coming up, from March 3rd~April 22nd, 2012, in its tenth year, is the The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc's Vertical Gardens, the nation's largest exhibition of orchids which transforms the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into an exotic display that dazzles the senses.
About the Botanical Gardens
In the late 19th century, Columbia University botanist Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife, Elizabeth, visited to England's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. They and their collegues at the Torrey Botanical Club decided New York should possess a great botanical garden as well. The site, located in the northern section of the Bronx was part of the estate of tobacco merchant Pierre Lorillard.
On April 18, 1891, the land was set aside by the New York State Legislature for the creation of “a public botanic garden of the highest class” for the City of New York. Prominent civic leaders and financiers, including Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and J. Pierpont Morgan, agreed to match the City's commitment to finance the buildings and improvements, initiating a public-private partnership that continues today. In 1896 The New York Botanical Garden appointed Nathaniel Lord Britton its first director.
The Botanical Garden has 50 gardens and more than one million living plants, including 30,000 mature trees, spread on its 250-acre landscape. These collections include the most beautiful rose garden in the United States and tropical and desert plants displayed in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where three public exhibitions are presented each year.
About the Show & Orchid Evenings
The show itself, features a diversity of orchids, found all over the world and showcases them in a series of events. One of the most elegant and unique is the show at night, Orchid Evenings, where guest can enjoy the lush environment of the Conservatory while savoring an orchid-inspired cocktail.
Tickets for Orchid Evening: Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over). Your ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special dinner offers at some partner restaurants. Advance tickets recommended.
New York Botanical Garden 2900 Southern Boulevard ~ Bronx, NY 10458 ~718.817.8700
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