A virtual visit to the New York Botanical Gardens

With the terrorist attacks in New York City, the year 2001 will linger long in our collective memories. It seemed appropriate then to visit the city "virtually" and drop by the New York Botanical Garden (http://www.nybg.org). Located in the Bronx, on 250 acres of land, the NYBG is one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world. It is home to 48 different gardens and plant collections, including 50 acres of the forest that once covered the entire city. The garden is "dedicated to the study and conservation of the world's plants".

In support of the mission, the NYBG runs an extensive continuing education program with over 700 different courses and programs available - including children's programs that use innovative approaches to teach them about plants and insects to instill a lifelong interest. The website concentrates on the features and educational aspects of the garden itself. Links are limited and usually lead one far from the original site.

The website also allows access to a number of searchable databases. One database of interest is the NYBG's Herbarium. This is the fourth largest of its kind in the world and the largest in the Western Hemisphere, with 6.5 million specimens. Not only will a search yield valuable information, but it also provides a view of an extensive botanical art collection.

I found some aspects in common with the work of our own Society. We are revisiting Victory Gardens this year in the Yearbook. The New York Botanical Garden is responding to current environmental challenges by encouraging a return to Victory Gardens - with a twist. Rather than designing gardens to increase food production, New Yorkers are being encouraged to look at houseplants that can improve indoor air quality and increase the oxygen supply. This is needed after the lengthy fires following September 11, 2001 that have spewed toxic elements into the air. A list of these helpful houseplants is available, as is a list of trees that are less susceptible to air pollution damage. (http://www.nybg.org/)

For those who are not into looking at scientific information, there are wonderful photographs, especially of the Enid A Haupt Conservatory, a spectacular Victorian glass house with over 3,000 plants. You can also browse through seven demonstration gardens including a fragrance garden, a vegetable garden, a wildlife garden, a country garden, a shade garden, a cutting garden and an autumn garden. Of course, no visit would be complete without a visit to the gift shop for a little on-line shopping.

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