As defined on NYBG’s website, the New York City EcoFlora project “seeks to engage the public as citizen scientists to observe, collect, and compile information about the City’s plants and their relationships with other organisms, such as birds, insects, and mushrooms, and to combine these data with all that is already known from natural history collections and scientific publications.”

After a successful first year, they’re celebrating the many citizen scientists who have made this impressive documentation process possible.

“The New York City EcoFlora is a real-time, online, ongoing checklist of plants– the first ever to connect plants in the web of life in New York City– that will result in a dynamic resource for conservation planning as well as in New Yorkers that are better informed about the importance of urban ecologies and who can contribute to protecting them,” its organizers write.

For more information or to register for this year’s EcoFlora conference, visit NYBG’s website.

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Each year, as the cold loosens its grip on the air, daffodils announce the arrival of spring in the pavilion gardens. Soon come the brightly colored hyacinths and tulips, the whistle of the tufted titmice, and the cheery sounds of robins, cardinals and blue jays.

But it was not always this way. When Thomas Jefferson drew up plans for the Academical Village (see this issue’s retrospect “The Gardens, According to Plan”), he left the gardens blank, for private use by the faculty members living in each pavilion. According to UVA landscape architect Mary Hughes (Arch ’87), “They did anything they wanted in the back there. If they were gardeners, they could have a garden. If they weren’t gardeners, in most cases they ultimately filled up with outbuildings and smokehouses, slave quarters, utility buildings.”

It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s, when the Garden Club of Virginia undertook  to reinvent them, that the pavilion gardens became the colonial revival gardens that generations have known. The group brought in renowned landscape architects from Colonial Williamsburg to reimagine gardens Jefferson might recognize, using landscape fashion and plants from his time.

They also opened the gardens to the public—though that’s not always clear, says Zach Root, a landscaper who works in the east gardens. Sometimes students and tourists “don’t really get that they’re public, because they don’t look it—gates and walls and things.”

Still, thousands make their way to the gardens each spring. Landscaper Shannon Adams says she sees gardeners from all over the country who come to talk about plants; others come to celebrate weddings or the end of the school year; locals come to walk their dogs; and students come to sling up hammocks.

Adams says she loves working in the heart of Grounds, hearing and seeing a bit of everything that goes on. Here, we offer our readers farther afield a look at what she and others saw this spring.

Below images courtesy of The University of Virginia Magazine © 2018.

The post A Quick Look Behind the Scenes at the University of Virginia Gardens appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Featuring beautiful detail shots and other images by Gabriela Herman, the article explores everything from Daisy’s unique eye for garden aesthetics to the romantic plantings within, which reminisce of everything from her travels through Europe to her favorite children’s book, The Secret Garden. Visitors to the page can glean insight on our founder’s favorite “messy-yet-structured” approach to garden design, which informs not only this particular garden’s virtue but that of our magazine, as well.

Read the entire piece and check out the lovely photos now, via Martha Stewart Living.

The post Check Out Our Founder’s Garden in <em>Martha Stewart Living</em> appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

French women were famous for not gaining weight despite the recklessness with which they consume foie gras and cheese; they are not known for their balanced chakras or deep knowledge about the difference between kale and chard.

But Paris, which has never been associated with fitness centers or green juices, is now seeing the rise of booming wellness industry that mimics what is now standard in New York and LA.

Here are six new healthy, nature-inspired places worthy of exploration. 

Studio Modo Yoga

Cult hot yoga studio Modo Yoga has finally come to Paris, setting up shop in a studio on Boulevard Richard Lenoir. Also known as Moksha Yoga across the Atlantic, Modo Yoga is a concept that integrates the idea of caring for the environment.

The Modo community is committed to using only non-toxic, low-impact, and renewable products– and Modo Yoga Paris is the only one of all hot yoga studios in France to adopt an eco-friendly mission.

Studio Modo Yoga, 21 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011 Paris

Balzac’s Home Garden

In the heart of the old village of Passy, in the chic district of La Muette, Balzac’s pretty home (and its garden) is open for visitors. Only regulars from the 16th arrondissement of the capital, or those who love literature, know this garden. And with good reason: you still have to climb several stairs and admire the Eiffel Tower for a while before entering the Balzac House Garden, which is a hidden green space approximating 650 square meters.

Small but very green, Balzac’s garden has been having a renaissance among those seeking green solace in the City of Love. Nowadays, it’s composed of a large lawn– pleasant and perfect for those who wish to have a picnic– and is constantly blooming with boxwood, roses, and vines. It’s an ideal place to read, picnic, or meditate in seclusion. 

Balzac Garden, 47 Rue Raynouard, 75016 Paris

Chez Simone

Chez Simone is one of the most impressive modern community spaces we’ve seen– in Europe or elsewhere. A mix of co-working spaces, workshop space, a gym, and a restaurant define the space, which is more private and feels much cooler than, say, a yoga studio-meets-cage. Imagine a chic apartment in the heart of Paris that offers a complete program of exercise classes (yoga, pilates, dance, etc) in small group settings, as well as 15 minute drop-in spa treatments, a healthy Peruvian-inspired cafe, and a co-working space all in one. Ultimately, Chez Simone is all about wellness and empowerment– “Eating well, moving well, living well” is their motto. Think of it as Paris’ answer to The Wing, if The Wing was about wellness. 

Chez Simone, 140 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Catherine Dupuch

Massages, relaxation, and other energy work abounds in Paris, but none are as bespoke and seemingly in sync with nature as Catherine Dupuch. In her salon du Marais, Dupuch prepares personalized flower elixirs that address mood ailments and other psychological aspects of wellbeing. A must for any visitor or local seeking respite in a calm environment. 

Catherine Dupuch, 10 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris

Joseph-Migneret’s Garden

Also known as “The Garden of the Roses,” this vegetable enclosure is the result of an assemblage of three gardens behind a set of private mansions on rue des Francs-Bourgeois. 

It took all the ingenuity of its designer and landscaper to assemble the private gardens of three private mansions and to open them up to the public. While preserving the intimacy of the different spaces, this haven of accessible greenery includes one green carpet reserved for children’s games and a shaded fig tree grove. A third plot, more luminous and unobstructed, hosts a perfectly maintained flower garden.

Joseph-Migneret’s Garden, 35-37 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75004 Paris

Read our recap of the 11 Best Vegan Restaurants in Paris, or check out our compilation of Paris’s Most Romantic Hotels. Need some rest and relaxation? Here’s where Paris’s finest go for a spa day.

The post 5 Healthy Paris Hot Spots appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Tickets are available here.

The event, which has been dubbed New York City’s official rite of spring, is now in its 37th year. In addition to offering eye-popping displays of gorgeous cherry blossom trees, the festival doubles as a celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, featuring everything from Japanese food and cosplay characters to Japanese music and picnic-style hanami, also known as “cherry blossom viewing.”

The Japanese tradition of Sakura represents an annual celebration and appreciation of the fleeting beauty of nature, which is seen in Japanese culture as a metaphor for life. There’s never a better time to appreciate the beauty in our midst, the suggestion goes, because before long it will be gone.

Often regarded as one of the most spectacular displays of cherry blossoms in the world, the Botanic Garden’s collection of over 200 flowering cherry trees draws people from across the globe.

Cherry blossom festivals occur all over the world– in Japan, where cherry blossoms are native– but the celebration also takes place in the United States, and has a growing international appeal. Each celebration has its own character, unique to the community and country where it takes place.

In between the rows of cherry blossoms along the esplanade, visitors can expect a stage featuring several musical acts and performers throughout the day.

In the Osborne Garden, booths are set up to offer everything from books to manga workshops to seasonal Japanese confections. (And yes, you can eat cherry blossoms.) Tours are also open to visitors who want to gain a more nuanced understanding of the petals that rain like snow aloft.

Along the trellises, the wisteria will soon begin to fill out, just as the peonies grow heavy and lush, vibrant against their dark leaves. Tulips planted near the entrance and azaleas in neat beds both add to extravagant pinks and pastels on display. The entire park will be honoring the occasion. We can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate spring!

For more information, visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s website.

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With its poignant cinematography and endearing narrative style, The Gardener explores Cabot’s creation of Les Quatres Vents— his magnificent garden in Charlevoix County, Québec, which took over 75 years to complete and is now regarded as one of the most stunning private gardens in the world.

Directed by Sebastien Chabot, The Gardener openly reflects on the meaning of gardening and its impact on our lives, while exploring the creative mind of a man who was known by many to be both “eccentric, and a genius.” (Cabot died at the age of 86, in 2011.)

Many of the scenes created in the garden look as if they were pulled from a Wes Anderson film. “It’s garden theater, really,” one observer aptly notes.

Select screenings of The Gardeners will air on Wednesday, March 28 at 7PM at various theaters around the country:

• Atlanta, GA – Midtown Art Cinema
• Boston, MA – Embassy Cinema
• Chicago, IL – Renaissance Place Cinema
• Dallas, TX – The Magnolia
• Minneapolis, MN –  Edina Cinema
• New York, NY – The Landmark at 57 West
• Philadelphia, PA – Ritz Five
• San Francisco, CA – Embarcadero Center Cinema
• Washington, DC – E Street Cinema

Watch the trailer for The Gardener, below. To learn more about Frank Cabot and his horticultural contributions to society, go here.

Love films about nature? Check out these 5 Transformative Environmental documentaries or dive into our archive of film recommendations.

The post Watch This Gorgeous Trailer for <em>The Gardener</em> Documentary appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

At a time when #MeToo and the politics of gender dynamics have never been more visible, Barratt’s hiring marks a progressive step forward, if nothing more than for what it represents. Much like in the realms of photography, fashion, and art, gardening and the institutions that surrounding it have long been male-dominated affairs– at least when it comes to positions of power.

Horticulture, landscape design, and master gardening, while inclusive of women at the participatory level, tend to become institutionalized along the same power structures as any other industry, with men leading from the top down and few women advancing to positions of major influence.

Barrett will succeed current President and CEO Gregory Long, who has led the institution for an innovative and extremely successful 29 years. Her start date is July 1, 2018.

Once of the first major exhibits under Barrett’s administration will be the summer run of “Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai’i,” which will open at NYBG on May 19. The exhibit represents a continuation of the plant-art theme that the garden continues to pioneer as they curate their special exhibits– a theme that Barrett’s seems well positioned to continue, given her background in the art world.

The New York Botanical Garden’s recent exhibits in this spirit included a critically acclaimed Frida Kahlo retrospective that shattered attendance records when it came to the garden in May of 2015, and Dale Chihuly’s monumental blown glass sculpture installation, which ran spring through fall in 2017.

The highly anticipated Edible Academy will also launch this summer at the garden. An initiative designed to provide education, hands-on activities, and programs to help children and families learn about growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs, the academy will be helmed by Vogue‘s favorite farmer and founder of Eagle Street Rooftop Farm Annie Novak– another amazing women who is advancing the cause of gardening in New York City, one seedling at a time.

Looking back at the New York Botanical Garden’s Frida Kahlo retrospective.

The post The New York Botanical Garden Has Hired Its First Female President appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Our founder grew up in a West Coast home with a garden full of potted Meyer Lemons, and in her opinion, that is the best indoor citrus plant you can buy. The Meyer Lemon is beautiful, iconic, and easy to care for; you just need sun, the correct soil, fertilizer, and a perfected watering schedule.

For those looking to become a #PlantMom to a citrus tree, we recommend buying indoor lemon trees from Four Winds in California— that’s where we got the Meyer Lemon Tree in this article’s photos. (Be advised that Four Winds offers plenty of advice for caring for this plant on their site– every tree we have purchased from them has been a success.)

For fertilizer, we recommend [easyazon_link identifier=”B01MRJIYVM” locale=”US” tag=”gardcoll03-20″]Dr. Earth Natural Wonder[/easyazon_link] to ensure that the tree is well nourished from the roots up (this is a critical step in caring for citrus that most novices overlook).

Some Tips For Growing Indoor Lemons

• As Four Winds points out, dwarf citrus trees are especially well-suited to container growing, which keeps them at a manageable size.
• Weather it! Condition your lemon tree to the weather if you have changing seasons– put the pot out in the day and bring it in at night so that they slowly adjust to changing temperatures while maximizing direct sun. Eventually, depending on your growing region, you may be able to leave them out full time.
• Comfy Commode! Remember to plant your tree in an appropriately sized pot with adequate drainage. A 12″, 5-gallon pot with 4-5 drainage holes in the bottom is ideal for a tree that is 2-3 years old, according to Four Winds.
• Fertilizer! Apply the fertilizer we mentioned above only to the soil surface of a plant whose roots have settled. Don’t use a soil mix that contains fertilizer, and when you do apply fertilizer to the surface, don’t mix it in. You don’t want to disturb those roots!
• Drainage! Elevate pots above standing drainage water– you want soil at about 50% moisture at all times.
• Sun! Face indoor citrus plants to the south or southeast– like the one we photographed facing downtown Manhattan, above. Citrus needs about 8 hours of sunlight per day, and if they can’t get it, you should invest in [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XR5RGCZ” locale=”US” tag=”gardcoll03-20″] grow lights[/easyazon_link].

Evocative of both romantic Italian vistas and lush culinary scenes, Meyer Lemons are a functional and beautiful decor element. We love the way they look, as they add a refined elegance to any window.

Plus, lemons are so trendy right now: they are having a renaissance of visibility given the success of Beyoncé’s era-defining Lemonade, N.E.R.D. & Rihanna’s “Lemon,” and the general obsession that plant-based Instagrammers, models, and actresses have with hot lemon water. Meyer Lemon is also the key ingredient in Sqirl’s famous pesto sorrel rice bowl, and as well as Bedford Cheese Shop’s baked lemon ricotta. In 2018, moreover, this particular fruit is more relevant and visible than ever. So whether you’re a plant lover, a food lover, or simply a design lover, this is one indoor tree that can do no wrong.

The post How to Care for an Indoor Lemon Tree appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

The Amazon Plants Shop offers everything from indoor potted plants to plant-related gifts to outdoor tools for the garden, the likes of which have been sold in other categories of the site for years now.

The difference here, however, is the designation of a specific section for annuals, succulents, shrubs, perennials, bonsai plants, pots, and trusted brands like Brussel’s Bonsai, Proven Winners, and Delray Plants, among others.

For years, we’ve been talking about how hard it is to make something as wild and untamable as “plants” succumb to the mechanized business model of e-commerce, but if anyone is capable of doing it, it would be Amazon. (This article also suggests that a great shopping experience doesn’t necessarily have to be a beautiful one, so please excuse the Plant Shop’s utilitarian vibe.)

Tips for how to grow various plants in various hardiness zones are also provided courtesy of Proven Winners, which collectively guide the uninitiated through the process of figuring out what grows well where they live. As if you needed another reason shop online!

Love houseplants? So do millennials, apparently. 

The post Amazon Has a New Plants Shop and It’s Amazing appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

The couple, who posed for official press photos outside of Kensington Palace after their engagement was announced, have been dating since November 2016, but made their first public appearance as an engaged pair on Monday in The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace— a place that was very sentimental for Princess Diana, who would often visit the garden seeking moments of contemplation.

“She would come by the Sunken Garden and she would admire the floral displays in here as they changed through spring and summer and she would chat with [the staff],” Kensington Palace’s head gardener Sean Harkin once said in a video for the Huffington Post. This year, which marked the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, this same garden was transformed into a white memorial garden, which remains free and open to the public.

No details have yet leaked on the specific location and decor of the forthcoming royal wedding, which is scheduled for Spring 2018, but if the engagement location and engagement ring are any indication, the event will honor Diana and the past just as much as it establishes the future of the monarchy. (Markle’s three-stone diamond ring included two diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection, as well as a diamond from Botswana, where the couple vacationed to celebrate Markle’s 36th birthday, the Huffington Post reports.)

Markle will be the first American to marry into the royal family since Wallis Simpson, an American socialite from Baltimore (Markle will also join the ranks of several American sweethearts, like Grace Kelly, who married His Serene Highness Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in April 1956, and Rita Hayworth, who married Italian-born Prince Aly Khan in May 1949).

The Sunken Garden, of course, has also seen its share of royal activity. Planted in 1908, its grounds previously occupied parts of the castle’s tranquil ornamental gardens and currently models a style of classical gardening that was popular throughout the UK in the 18th century.

The garden is terraced with paving and boasts ornamental flower beds, an ornamental pond with fountains “formed from reused 18th-century water cisterns retrieved from the palace”, according to the official Kensington Palace website, an arched, red-twig lime walk formed from original stock trees, and a series of vibrant, exotic, and colorful plants like geraniums, cannas, and begonias on display throughout the spring and summer.

Photo: Molly Beauchemin

Photo: Molly Beauchemin

Photo: Molly Beauchemin

Photo: Molly Beauchemin

Photo: Molly Beauchemin

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When Queen Anne was coronated in 1702, she created an English-style garden and added an Orangery in 1704, which is now a favorite brunch spot of Garden Collage editors and fashion bloggers alike. The Orangery‘s beautiful garden setting and “graceful architecture” makes it an excellent, fashionable spot for entertaining away from the city chaos of London.

We recommend visiting the Orangery for afternoon tea service and then strolling the Sunken Garden before heading inside to the Kensington Palace shop in pursuit of Turkish Delight and English-made fine bone china. Harry and Meghan might be the real royalty, but a visit to the Sunken Garden can make anyone feel like a princess.

Interested in other gardens worthy of royalty? Check out the estate at inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter, or take a look behind the scenes at Agatha Christie’s garden in Devon.

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