With the Fool’s Day gone and taxes paid, the last week of April wraps up the last, passionate days of early spring, starring winds that bear the fragrance of fragile, new blossoms and staggering vistas beyond tree branches that are still leafing out. With pastel and memoir-writing workshops, an intimate gallery space, birding and a plenty of other garden and gallery walks, enjoy a visit that is as serendipitous or as structured as your mood demands. Zachary Bloom’s trunk show on Sunday afternoon offers a special treat; he’s back from a winter trip to Tucson, where he hand-selected gems for the pieces he’s created for Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd Street, this spring.
Thursday, April 23 Gallery Tour : Join an Exhibition Interpreter for a tour of Arbores Venerabiles. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Week event. Glyndor Gallery, noon.
Friday, April 24: Writing Workshop–Memoir Writing. Session 2: Oh, the stories you could share! Wave Hill is the perfect place to reflect on the past and to recall your own personal life experiences or family history. Learn from writing coach and former New York Times editor Joan Motyka, a variety of techniques to structure your ideas and get your pen flowing. 6-session fee: $150 member; $180 non-member. Registration required; call (718) 549-3200, ext. 305. Continues May 1, 8, 15 and 22. Wave Hill House, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 Tai Chi Chuan: Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. Classes are led by Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi Chuan School. Classes are held out-of-doors. Inclement weather cancels; call (718) 549.3200, ext. 245 by 8 a.m. of the day of the session to confirm. $10 member; $18 non-member. Pre-registration not required. Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 10 a.m. beginners, 11 a.m. intermediates.
Saturday, April 25 Notable Trees Trolley Tour: Start at Wave Hill’s Glyndor Gallery with a curator-led tour of Arbores Venerabiles, an exhibit of contemporary art celebrating Wave Hill’s renowned tree collection and 2009 Year of the Trees. Then venture outdoors to learn about notable Wave Hill trees with Benjamin Swett, nature photographer and author of Great Trees of New York City, and Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day. Next, the Bronx Culture Trolley transports us to the distinguished trees growing in parks and along streets in New York City. Learn about the history and unique attributes that distinguish these trees. Bring lunch or purchase a box-lunch in advance upon registration. $30 member; $40 non-member. Registration required; call (718) 549-3200, ext. 305. Arbor Week event. Meet At Glyndor Gallery, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 25: Garden Walk–Great Trees Of Wave Hill: Assistant Director of Public Programs Laurel Rimmer pays homage to favorite trees in Wave Hill’s living collection in celebration of Arbor Day. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Week event. Meet At Perkins Visitor Center, 11 a.m.
Sat, April 25: Woodland & Community Volunteering: Raoul Wallenberg Forest Park. Leave your own special legacy this Arbor Day by planting native trees and shrubs as part of the PlaNYC MillionTrees Initiative. Return to the park again and again to see how your trees and shrubs have grown by next week, next year, and in years to come. Light refreshments provided. Wear sturdy shoes. Call (718) 549-3200, ext. 223 for more information. Please note the special project times. Arbor Week event. Call (718) 549-3200, ext. 221 for meeting location. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sun, April 25, 26 Family Art Project–If I Were A Tree: If I Were A Tree/Si yo fuera un árbol: Find yourself in the spreading branches and fluttering leaves of one of Wave Hill’s majestic trees. Rub its bark and follow its branching. Collage a tree self-portrait and display it in a grove for a day. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Week event. The Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center, 1 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 Arbores Venerabiles Exhibition Tour: Celebrate Arbor Day with tours led by artists and curators of the Arbores Venerabiles exhibition. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Week event. Glyndor Gallery, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 Seasonal Birding: Session 2: Creatures of Habitat: Grab binoculars and head outside to explore Wave Hill’s gardens and the Herbert & Hyonja Abrons Woodlands. Naturalist Gabriel Willow shares his extensive knowledge of bird species, habitats and their interconnectedness with the natural world. During this session, explore Wave Hill’s deciduous and woodland habitats, and discover the identifying features of birds, from taxonomy to tail feathers and wing bars to eye rings. Ages 8 and up welcome with an adult. Series concludes May 31. 3-session fee: $25 member; $45 non-member. Single session fee: $10 member; $18 non-member. Registration required; call (718) 549-3200, ext. 305. Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Sunday, April 26 Sunday Brunch: Sunday Brunch features organic produce from Katchkie Farm, a project of Wave Hill’s exclusive caterer Great Performances. Reservations at (718) 549-3200, ext. 395 or by emailing wavehillcafe@greatperformances.com. $22 per person (not including admission to the grounds). Reservations by 4 p.m. the Friday before each Brunch. Wave Hill House, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 26: Arbores Venerabiles Exhibition Tour: Celebrate Arbor Day with tours led by artists and curators of the Arbores Venerabiles exhibition. Free with admission to the grounds. Arbor Week event. Glyndor Gallery, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 26: Garden Tour: Join in for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds. Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 26: Accents In Bloom Trunk Show In The Shop At Wave Hill: Zachary Bloom returns to Wave Hill for a trunk show that celebrates the wonders of the spring season. The son of a stone cutter and bead wholesaler, Bloom used an exquisite strand of natural turquoise to make his first piece of jewelry, a gift for his wife and inspiration, Fabiana. He has gone on to showcase his innovative designs in museums, galleries and boutiques. The spring show introduces new jewelry created especially for Wave Hill during his February 2009 trip to Tucson, Arizona, to hand-select gems. Let Zachary help you select the perfect gift for a loved one−or yourself! The Shop At Wave Hill, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28: Art Workshop–Spring Landscapes In Pastel: Session 3: Set up your easel and capture the emerging splendor of the spring landscape through the luminous qualities of pastels. Contemporary artist Wennie Huang demonstrates techniques, color theory and composition, as well as offering individual guidance as you explore a range of approaches in creating your own pastel painting. Classes are conducted outdoors to take full advantage of Wave Hill’s unique vistas, weather permitting. All levels welcome. 5-session fee: $90 member; $135 non-member. Registration required; call (718) 549-3200, ext. 305. Continues May 5 and 12. Wave Hill House, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28: Tree Tour: Explore Wave Hill’s collection of unique and inspiring trees with one of our knowledgeable Garden Guides as we celebrate 2009 Year of the Trees. Topics include native trees, spring-flowering trees and notable trees of Wave Hill; topics vary by week. Tour concludes at Glyndor Gallery with an introduction to the exhibition there. Free with admission to the grounds. Meet At Perkins Visitor Center, 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 29: Gallery Tour: Join an Exhibition Interpreter for a tour of Arbores Venerabiles. Free with admission to the grounds. Glyndor Gallery, noon.
Thursday, April 30: Gallery Tour: Join an Exhibition Interpreter for a tour of Arbores Venerabiles. Free with admission to the grounds. Glyndor Gallery, noon.
