klik refresh: The Miniature World of the Holiday Train Show, in New York

The New York Botanical Garden has put up a new Holiday Train Show, which has been attracting several visitors. Held in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the show isn’t very far from the entrance to the garden. The display does feature some trains, but the real attractions are the models of famous buildings made entirely from plants.

The miniature trains weave around the lush plants and flowers, and replicas of the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, TWA Terminal at JFK and a few other buildings that are made entirely of plant parts. What’s special about these models is that they aren’t exact replicas of the structures themselves. Rather, artists have tried to capture the defining characteristics of these buildings. Creator Paul Busse, along with his team of artists gathers the material from woodlands around their studio situated in Kentucky, making an effort not to disturb the natural environment. The 100% natural models are created from plant material, with acorn chimney tops and magnolia leaf roofs. The reproduction of Washington Irving’s home has pink orchids surrounding it, one of the branches wrapped like a vine around the entrance. Small plants and flowers are used to depict trees and bushes on a perfectly manicured front lawn.

Photo © Lori L. Stalteri

Some of the visitor favorites, according to the Director of Exhibitions at the New York Botanical Garden, Karen Daubmann, are the reproduction of the Penn Station and the now demolished Yankee Stadium. The roof of the JFK’s Trans World Airlines Flight Center is interestingly made from a huge, browning tin roof tree leaf. The huge leaf is definitely a sight to behold. The Holiday Train Show is on view until January 16, 2012. Tickets need to be purchased in advance if you would like to get a time slot of your choice; each viewing is timed at 15-minute intervals.