Yesterday I trekked from Queens to the boogie-down Bronx to see the Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden. It’s running until November 1st.

First I stopped to see the few painting and sketches they have on exhibit. It’s a small room in a big building and the line was about 15-20 minutes to get in. I can’t imagine how long it would take on the weekend. There the pieces chosen show Frida’s love of and her relationship with nature.

Downstairs was Humberto Spindola’s Two Fridas made out of wire and tissue and based on one of her paintings.

The last exhibit in the library building is a timeline of Frida’s and Diego Rivera’s time in Mexico City and what the buildings around them were like at the time.

Walking to the conservatory for another part of the exhibit, I passed by Wamsler Rock and then the Ladies’ Border plants and plants surrounding the conservatory.

There was a lot of green. I think the time to visit the NYBG is in the spring when there would be a lot more color. They have apple trees and cherry trees, which must look beautiful in the spring.

Throughout the NYBG there were special markers for any plants that are indigenous to Mexico. Inside the conservatory that continues – first in the rain forest and then in the desert. The other half of the conservatory is a collection of the plants found at Casa Azul.

Casita Azul in the children’s area:

There are a lot of activities at night and on the weekends – music, cooking classes, puppet shows – that are also part of the exhibit. I do wish that there was more explanation and exploration of Frida’s relationship with the different plants at Casa Azul.

I finished off the tour of the NYBG with a tram ride around the gardens. It’s a great overview and now I have several places that I want to visit on a trip back to the NYBG.

There was a taco truck near the entrance with excellent food and also a small café in the back with good food and margaritas and Mexican beer and soda.

By Carene Lydia Lopez