Bronx botanical garden offers tasty treats

September 22, 2010

The New York Botanical Garden located in the Bronx is hosting its second Edible Garden exhibit, offering plant lovers a chance to view prefect examples of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

The Boston Globe reports that the garden, which is nearly 120 years old, has replaced its typical exhibit of ornamental plants with the likes of ripe, red grapes, Thai basil, lavender, Bronze fennel and sweet licorice.

The exhibit was designed by Martha Stewart, who wanted to create a space that would mingle many scents, both unfamiliar and new. Hop vines drape the exhibit, while pruned sweet bay trees are potted in large terra cotta pots.

Next month, Chef Mario Batali will come to the garden to present a cooking demonstration using some of the herbs and plants found in the exhibit. The garden offers interactive activities for plant enthusiasts of all ages.

Visitors are able to taste various recipes featuring ingredients from the garden as they stroll around the park. Information on how to grow some of the plants at home will also be made available. Those who prefer to cook rather than grow can take audio tours of the gardens on their cellphones, guided by the voices of various celebrity chefs.

Every Wednesday there is a farmer's market, though the food available at the sale is not picked directly from the garden. Because the display is a work of art, most of the plants are left to grow naturally, the news source reports.

Throughout the coming weeks there will be several festivals taking place at the gardens. This coming weekend, Elsie Ramos, who authored the book Elsie's Turkey Tacos and Arroz Con Pollo: More than 100 Latin-Flavored, Great-Tasting Recipes for Working Moms, will give a cooking demonstration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In addition to the exhibit, many displays of flowers and interesting plants are still in place. The Edible Garden exhibit is spread throughout the garden, so visitors may want to take advantage of the trams available to transport people from one area of the vast 250-acre garden to the other.

Lavender is one of the many fragrant plants that makes up the Edible Garden exhibit. The plant also makes an excellent addition to gift bouquets because of its vibrant color. According to LavenderHillsOfKentucky.com, there are over 200 varieties of lavender in the world. The blossoms are available in white, pink, yellow, blue and purple.

b25f0c5a-2306-4054-968a-e959d50c5b6d|0|.0

Comments

Add comment

Commenting Options

Enter your personal information to the left

Name*

E-mail*

Website

b i u quote

Notify me when new comments are added

comment policy