November 7, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
Last week at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) the only indicators that fall was in the air was the abundance of pumpkins and a slightly crisp feel in the air. This week a burst of varied, radiant color could be seen on the ground and in the trees, as the leaves began to edge toward the end of their cycle for the year. The paths and trails became quite an idyllic setting, enjoyed even more as it is known that this moment was fleeting, and wouldn’t be quite the same tomorrow or the following week. Before visiting again this week, I had been a bit forlorn, thinking that I pretty much blew it by not going to the NYBG during the summer, but little did I know that the best was yet to come. It just reinforces an adage that a 6th grade history professor reinforced over and over again: “assume nothing.”
This weekend my inclination was to dress rather casually, as there’s not nearly enough time for cozy sneakers and flannel Monday-Friday. Hopefully you are also enjoying this delightful fall weather, taking in the change of seasons with some new fall wardrobe staples in tow!
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October 31, 2016
by Julia DiNardo
The main reason why I can’t leave New York City is really due in major part to its fantastic cultural institutions. The only problem is, when you work as much as I do, exploring them often gets compromised for the routine and responsibilities of adulthood, and before I knew it, 10 years had gone by since my last visit to one of the most majestic of them all, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). One of my closest friends, who knows that I am obsessed with all things Japanese these days brought to my attention the “Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden” show, and of course it became a top priority for me to check out!
I’ve been fascinated with ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, and the current fall flower display of kiku, or known in English as chrysanthemum, which works to train different species of the flower over months to grow in a certain direction, and hail from a centralized stem system. A closeup look at its roots will leave you awestruck, but then again, so does the New York Botanical Garden’s 250-acres of over a million living plants and collections, now in its 125th year. Long story short, I left the garden a newly minted member, which means I will be back in no time to take in the breathtaking and tranquil grounds and shows, and I am so glad to support this special place in the city.
It was an exceptionally comfortable fall day, temperature-wise, and I couldn’t help but wear some of my favorite new fall pieces to the NYBG. Always thinking practically, layers were a must, with an extra scarf and hat in the bag just in case the weather took a gusty turn. At the start of the season it’s always so exciting to wear and pair the new pieces with old favorites, but I think there’s more new than old in this particular look, which is just a-okay by me!
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