Hello!
Forgive me (SO MUCH) for not blogging for an entire month. It's terrible! Some of you know I am in transition. I started my own office, Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture, this year and things are getting quite hectic. I also have moved to DC which makes this blog title a little inaccurate.
I think I have finally figured out a new title (ultimately, I decided against DC, Plants and Other Stuff) and hope to launch in the next week. Please be sure to visit me for the link when it finally is ready for viewing.
Thanks!!!!
Jennifer
Showing posts with label excuses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excuses. Show all posts
Friday, August 6, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Aloha! ...And other stuff
So, I am blogging today from beautiful, warm Honolulu, Hawaii.
I am here on a job until the end of next week. So my blog posts may be a bit spare. I had every good intention of blogging while here, but the first work day was pretty busy and I suspect that won't change. So, forgive me for a thin site this week.
But, before I go completely on hiatus, a few shots from Central Park, as of last week.
First up, Rhodotypos scandens, or jetbead.
Jetbead is one of those plants you never notice until it's blooming. It's a small, nondescript shrub with attractive jade-green foliage. But when it blooms, it's quite lovely. It used to be called white kerria, as the foliage resembles Kerria japonica but most people know it as jetbead now, named such for its black persistent berries. Rhodotypos is native to Japan and China and is invasive.
Another beauty in bloom right now is Halesia tetraptera or Carolina silverbell.
It's easy enough to discern why it's called silverbell; the lovely white blossoms hang like little bells. The seed pods are why it's given the species name tetraptera which literally means four-winged since the seed pods look like little starfruit.
This one below is a gorgeous mature specimen just northeast of the Central Park Bandshell.
That's it for now. I hope to tweet some photos from Hawaii this week so please follow me at twitter.com/jhornlandscape! If you don't well, then I will certainly have a wealth of blogworthy photos for when I'm back.
I am here on a job until the end of next week. So my blog posts may be a bit spare. I had every good intention of blogging while here, but the first work day was pretty busy and I suspect that won't change. So, forgive me for a thin site this week.
But, before I go completely on hiatus, a few shots from Central Park, as of last week.
First up, Rhodotypos scandens, or jetbead.
Jetbead is one of those plants you never notice until it's blooming. It's a small, nondescript shrub with attractive jade-green foliage. But when it blooms, it's quite lovely. It used to be called white kerria, as the foliage resembles Kerria japonica but most people know it as jetbead now, named such for its black persistent berries. Rhodotypos is native to Japan and China and is invasive.
Another beauty in bloom right now is Halesia tetraptera or Carolina silverbell.
It's easy enough to discern why it's called silverbell; the lovely white blossoms hang like little bells. The seed pods are why it's given the species name tetraptera which literally means four-winged since the seed pods look like little starfruit.
This one below is a gorgeous mature specimen just northeast of the Central Park Bandshell.
That's it for now. I hope to tweet some photos from Hawaii this week so please follow me at twitter.com/jhornlandscape! If you don't well, then I will certainly have a wealth of blogworthy photos for when I'm back.
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Biggest Star Magnolia I've Ever Seen
So, I went to the NYBG's Orchid Show on Saturday, along with what seemed like most of the city. The conservatory was packed to the gills, but the show was lovely and one can't help but be awed by the quantity and variety of orchid species on display.
I'll certainly be posting about those plants in the weeks to come, but this week I'll focus instead on what's happening outdoors.
First up, this specimen, which is undoubtedly the biggest star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) I've ever laid eyes on. Amazing, isn't it? I've posted about Magnolia stellata before and have more than a few posts on the genus Magnolia as well. I don't have much to add today, save that I saw this at the NYBG grounds on the left of the path that leads directly to the conservatory from the cafe building. I was dumbstruck by the size and a little sheepish. I must have walked past this tree dozens of times and never paid much attention to it. Only when I saw it in bloom did I register what it was and how remarkable its size is. Shame on me.
It also made me a liar as far as my current students are concerned. Just last week we were speculating on the lifespan of this species. I guessed that they rarely last more than fifty odd years. However, this seemed to be grouped with some trees that were listed as 75-100 years old, so I would guess this specimen could easily be a septuagenarian!
I'll certainly be posting about those plants in the weeks to come, but this week I'll focus instead on what's happening outdoors.
First up, this specimen, which is undoubtedly the biggest star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) I've ever laid eyes on. Amazing, isn't it? I've posted about Magnolia stellata before and have more than a few posts on the genus Magnolia as well. I don't have much to add today, save that I saw this at the NYBG grounds on the left of the path that leads directly to the conservatory from the cafe building. I was dumbstruck by the size and a little sheepish. I must have walked past this tree dozens of times and never paid much attention to it. Only when I saw it in bloom did I register what it was and how remarkable its size is. Shame on me.
It also made me a liar as far as my current students are concerned. Just last week we were speculating on the lifespan of this species. I guessed that they rarely last more than fifty odd years. However, this seemed to be grouped with some trees that were listed as 75-100 years old, so I would guess this specimen could easily be a septuagenarian!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Philadelphia Flower Show
Well, it's been a hectic time here at the New York, Plants & Other Stuff headquarters. Last week, I was only able to post one measly item, though strangely it provided affirmation that my friends and family members actually read this blog -- I received more unsolicited remarks about that post than the last fifty!
Anyway, I was hopscotching through the middle Atlantic states last weekend, enjoying the spring weather, and was able to do a quick run through of the Philadelphia Flower Show.
I have a soft spot for these events. It's always fun to see weirdness like the image above. You'd never really encounter Forthergilla and Echinacea blooming at the same time unless some plantsperson forced the two at precisely the right schedule.
This year's theme was Passport to the World which I enjoyed quite a bit - participating vendors would select a region for their theme, and most would use natives that corresponded to said region accurately.
More later this week.
Anyway, I was hopscotching through the middle Atlantic states last weekend, enjoying the spring weather, and was able to do a quick run through of the Philadelphia Flower Show.
I have a soft spot for these events. It's always fun to see weirdness like the image above. You'd never really encounter Forthergilla and Echinacea blooming at the same time unless some plantsperson forced the two at precisely the right schedule.
This year's theme was Passport to the World which I enjoyed quite a bit - participating vendors would select a region for their theme, and most would use natives that corresponded to said region accurately.
More later this week.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hedera helix
Well, it's been cold lately in New York. The past few days we finally broke into weather above 35° and it felt downright tropical (if only). Add this to the fact that I'm planning a big move and packing and well, at least for the time being, I have a full time job, so it's safe to say I've been awfully busy.
But that doesn't mean I can't post something up here. Even if it's as plebeian as English ivy (Hedera helix), seen here growing up Platanus x. acerifolia at the Marble Cemetery.
Everyone knows this plant. Over the past five years of teaching, very few students are unable to identify this plant as ivy when encountered with it. It's a very handy, practically-bulletproof plant that can be used as a climbing vine (as above) or as a groundcover (as below).
But there are probably things about Hedera helix that the average person doesn't know.
The name itself comes to mind. Hedera is simply the Latin name for ivy, but helix tells one more about the plant. Specifically that the leaves emerge from the stem in a helical pattern (much like the way DNA molecules are arranged in a strand).
Above you see the more recognizable form of ivy climbing the wall, then it balloons out into a shrub-like mass and starts to fall back down the wall. That's the adult phase of the plant. The form we see most often is the juvenile stage.
Here's ivy, in adult form, climbing a tree at Liz Christy Garden. The overall form of the plant isn't the only thing that changes. If you look more closely, you see the leaf changes from a three-lobed shape into a more ovate-shaped leaf - the lobes disappear.
You also see that, like people, this plant is able to reproduce once it is in the adult stage. Bluish berries fruit a year after minute flowers are pollinated. These fruits are mildly toxic.
The next obvious question is, why can some ivy plants remain at the juvenile stage for decades, while others enter the adult phase? The key is height. Generally, when the plant is more than 20 feet above-ground, and it is not being pruned or clipped, it enters the adult phase.
But that doesn't mean I can't post something up here. Even if it's as plebeian as English ivy (Hedera helix), seen here growing up Platanus x. acerifolia at the Marble Cemetery.
Everyone knows this plant. Over the past five years of teaching, very few students are unable to identify this plant as ivy when encountered with it. It's a very handy, practically-bulletproof plant that can be used as a climbing vine (as above) or as a groundcover (as below).
But there are probably things about Hedera helix that the average person doesn't know.
The name itself comes to mind. Hedera is simply the Latin name for ivy, but helix tells one more about the plant. Specifically that the leaves emerge from the stem in a helical pattern (much like the way DNA molecules are arranged in a strand).
Above you see the more recognizable form of ivy climbing the wall, then it balloons out into a shrub-like mass and starts to fall back down the wall. That's the adult phase of the plant. The form we see most often is the juvenile stage.
Here's ivy, in adult form, climbing a tree at Liz Christy Garden. The overall form of the plant isn't the only thing that changes. If you look more closely, you see the leaf changes from a three-lobed shape into a more ovate-shaped leaf - the lobes disappear.
You also see that, like people, this plant is able to reproduce once it is in the adult stage. Bluish berries fruit a year after minute flowers are pollinated. These fruits are mildly toxic.
The next obvious question is, why can some ivy plants remain at the juvenile stage for decades, while others enter the adult phase? The key is height. Generally, when the plant is more than 20 feet above-ground, and it is not being pruned or clipped, it enters the adult phase.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Glossy Abelia
I'll be honest, I haven't taken these photos with my new camera; it's just too miserable outside. Hopefully I will get new shots soon (i.e., the weather will warm up), but in the meantime, some photos of Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora), still blooming at the NYBG back in December.
I'd never classify this plant as a specimen - it's loose sprawling habit requires too much maintenance to shape into anything sculptural - but it's a terrific massing plant for public or institutional landscapes.
And obviously, it blooms well into the winter. I'd be curious how it has handled these 20 degree days.
Abelia x grandiflora is a hybrid of Abelia chinensis and uniflora.
I'd never classify this plant as a specimen - it's loose sprawling habit requires too much maintenance to shape into anything sculptural - but it's a terrific massing plant for public or institutional landscapes.
And obviously, it blooms well into the winter. I'd be curious how it has handled these 20 degree days.
Abelia x grandiflora is a hybrid of Abelia chinensis and uniflora.
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Camera! & Links
So yesterday I finally got a new camera, which is very exciting since I feel like I'm traveling without a passport when I don't have a camera with me. It's a Canon PowerShot SX120IS - so far I like it -- my previous camera was a Canon and I am, evidently, in a family of Canon owners so there's a convenience to sharing the same memory cards and cables. That said, if you have this camera and hate it, please let me know. I have 13 days to return it.
Hopefully this means I will have some more material next week, but in the meantime, some links:
You may have heard that David Murbach passed away this week. Murbach was the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree hunter. He would scour landscapes near and far for the perfect Christmas tree, which we already know is almost always a Picea abies. He also founded a local horticulture group here in New York called MetroHort. I saw him speak there once - he shared slides with us of various seasonal landscape schemes for Rockefeller Plaza and elaborated on how they were designed and how plants were sourced. The New York Times has an obituary of him here.
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US News and World Report published an article called, Top 50 Careers for 2010. Landscape architecture is listed in the category "Creative and Service" - this group seems like a bit of a catchall, since plumbers, funeral directors and security system installers are also included.
Hopefully this means I will have some more material next week, but in the meantime, some links:
You may have heard that David Murbach passed away this week. Murbach was the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree hunter. He would scour landscapes near and far for the perfect Christmas tree, which we already know is almost always a Picea abies. He also founded a local horticulture group here in New York called MetroHort. I saw him speak there once - he shared slides with us of various seasonal landscape schemes for Rockefeller Plaza and elaborated on how they were designed and how plants were sourced. The New York Times has an obituary of him here.
********
US News and World Report published an article called, Top 50 Careers for 2010. Landscape architecture is listed in the category "Creative and Service" - this group seems like a bit of a catchall, since plumbers, funeral directors and security system installers are also included.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Callicarpa and Penn Station (the good one)
It's always a good bet that when you see a plant full of untouched fruit in the winter, that said plant is not native. The subtext is that the non-native fruit is undesirable to the native wildlife. Things get a little muddy when you consider that some of our local wildlife is also non-native, or that deer -- a native animal -- will eat almost anything. But the concept has some merit, and if you assume the plant below is a non-native, you'd be right.
Here comes the part where I have to admit to a previous mistake (I hate that). When I last spoke about this genus, Callicarpa, I showed photos and equivocated on the species. I suggested it could be Callicarpa dichotoma or Callicarpa japonica and then I favored the latter.
Seeing these specimens at the NYBG last week, it's clear that the plant I posted on in September 2008 was Callicarpa dichotoma and this plant is C. japonica. The fruit set is decidedly different, the latter plant has fruit and flowers borne on longer cymes whereas the former has fruit set closely to the stem of the plant. Cymes, if you recall the post about linden flowers, are the small stems that connect the flower (or fruit) to the twig. Mea culpa.
Onward, to some fun models. The building below is a new addition to the NYBG train show but chances are it's a familiar building to most New Yorkers. Its familiarity is not because we see the building depicted in movies or postcards, but sadly because it was a beautiful building that the city foolishly demolished.
As you can see from the hand in the left of the photo, the model is massive. It's beautiful, too, though one has to look at some of the stunning black and white photos of the original structure to realize how lovely the building really was.
The model makers, as you can see, were very detailed. Though that man is evidently very, very tall.
Note the acorn cap on the column!
Here comes the part where I have to admit to a previous mistake (I hate that). When I last spoke about this genus, Callicarpa, I showed photos and equivocated on the species. I suggested it could be Callicarpa dichotoma or Callicarpa japonica and then I favored the latter.
Seeing these specimens at the NYBG last week, it's clear that the plant I posted on in September 2008 was Callicarpa dichotoma and this plant is C. japonica. The fruit set is decidedly different, the latter plant has fruit and flowers borne on longer cymes whereas the former has fruit set closely to the stem of the plant. Cymes, if you recall the post about linden flowers, are the small stems that connect the flower (or fruit) to the twig. Mea culpa.
Onward, to some fun models. The building below is a new addition to the NYBG train show but chances are it's a familiar building to most New Yorkers. Its familiarity is not because we see the building depicted in movies or postcards, but sadly because it was a beautiful building that the city foolishly demolished.
As you can see from the hand in the left of the photo, the model is massive. It's beautiful, too, though one has to look at some of the stunning black and white photos of the original structure to realize how lovely the building really was.
The model makers, as you can see, were very detailed. Though that man is evidently very, very tall.
Note the acorn cap on the column!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Pandas and Vacation
Chances are you've noticed that I've been remiss on blog posts for the last few weeks. It's true; I've been lazy.
And it's only getting worse between now and September 10 -- I'll be traveling until then, for work and vacation. On the bright side, I'll be visiting some good spots for blog material and will be downright annoying with this site in the last weeks of September.
In the meantime, last weekend I got a chance to check out the developing Asia Trail exhibit at the National Zoo.
After all my time working on zoo exhibits at the Bronx Zoo, I was excited to see a good capital project develop in DC. And I liked that fence detail, too.
Of course, nothing beats my previous visit to the National Zoo in February 2006, when the curators there were kind enough to show me some of the cooling enclosures designed to keep the pandas comfortable on hot summer days. As you can see, they also indulged me in a snapshot with one of their famous tenants.
Please come back in a week or two for more New York, Plants and of course the Other Stuff.
And it's only getting worse between now and September 10 -- I'll be traveling until then, for work and vacation. On the bright side, I'll be visiting some good spots for blog material and will be downright annoying with this site in the last weeks of September.
In the meantime, last weekend I got a chance to check out the developing Asia Trail exhibit at the National Zoo.
After all my time working on zoo exhibits at the Bronx Zoo, I was excited to see a good capital project develop in DC. And I liked that fence detail, too.
Of course, nothing beats my previous visit to the National Zoo in February 2006, when the curators there were kind enough to show me some of the cooling enclosures designed to keep the pandas comfortable on hot summer days. As you can see, they also indulged me in a snapshot with one of their famous tenants.
Please come back in a week or two for more New York, Plants and of course the Other Stuff.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Weblog Awards
No, I am not nominated in this big online blog competition (voting on that I believe, ended yesterday), but I was called out in an article for top 100 botany blogs!
http://www.online-college-blog.com/index.php/uncategorized/top-100-botany-blogs/
I have been remiss this month in posting. It's so very cold and I hate to post about things that aren't happening right now. But, this does motivate me to post more. I have some more photos from South America and am going to Puerto Rico soon, so I will have plenty of tropical plant posts in the next month or so.
And then, it won't be long for spring.
http://www.online-college-blog.com/index.php/uncategorized/top-100-botany-blogs/
I have been remiss this month in posting. It's so very cold and I hate to post about things that aren't happening right now. But, this does motivate me to post more. I have some more photos from South America and am going to Puerto Rico soon, so I will have plenty of tropical plant posts in the next month or so.
And then, it won't be long for spring.
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