New York Botanical Garden Tour

At the end of the semester, the Hortus Forum executive board had the opportunity to take an unofficial trip to New York City, where we visited the New York Botanical Garden for an incredible behind-the-scenes learning experience. Throughout the day, we explored the garden's stunning landscapes and seasonal displays, discovering new and unusual plants while gaining a deeper appreciation for the artistry and planning that goes into creating world-class botanical exhibits.

One of the highlights of our visit was touring the Nolen Greenhouses, home to the garden's production and living collections. We met with curators responsible for managing the botanical collections as well as gardeners who produce thousands of plants for seasonal displays across the garden. They shared the challenges of operating a large-scale greenhouse, from coordinating seasonal production schedules to maintaining the health of diverse plant species grown in bulk for exhibitions.

As we continued our tour through the garden's living collections, we gained a greater appreciation for the role botanical gardens play in preserving plant diversity. Along the way, we had the rare opportunity to see Nesocodon mauritianus in bloom while learning about the species from Mark Hachadourian, a Cornell alumnus and Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and Senior Curator of Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden. He explained how this endangered plant serves as an excellent example of why botanical gardens are so important for conservation and research.

Native to the remote island of Mauritius, Nesocodon mauritianus is best known for its striking light blue, bell-shaped flowers that produce vivid red nectar—one of the rarest nectar colors found in nature. The flowers are pollinated by day geckos, making this species a fascinating example of the unique evolutionary relationships that can develop in isolated island ecosystems. Seeing such an extraordinary plant in person while hearing its story from one of the world's leading horticulturists made for an unforgettable experience.

The conservation message continued as we toured the garden's behind-the-scenes research collections. These greenhouses house an extraordinary diversity of plants maintained for scientific study and conservation, allowing researchers to better understand and protect rare and threatened species from around the world. During the tour, we encountered plants we had never seen before and learned about the environmental pressures many of them face in the wild, including habitat loss and climate change. Experiencing these collections firsthand reinforced the vital role botanical gardens play in advancing plant conservation, scientific research, and public education.

Our visit to the New York Botanical Garden was an unforgettable experience that gave our executive board a greater appreciation for the work that goes into managing one of the world's premier botanical institutions. From large-scale greenhouse production and breathtaking public displays to conservation research and rare botanical collections, the trip offered valuable lessons that will continue to inspire our club's passion for horticulture, education, and protecting plant biodiversity.