Photo Credit: Mark Lentz. Viewpoint: from within New York Botanical Gardens, in the Bronx; 12/29/01 3:57 PM.

Notes (Roving Rube): Chalk up another one for the architectural restoration firm of Beyer Blinder Belle! Besides Grand Central and Ellis Island, they were put in charge of restoring the Conservatory at the New York Botanical gardens. The project ran from 1993 to 1997, and included complete reconstruction of the building; & replacement by hand of 17,000 panes of glass; [and] installation of advanced computerized systems to control temperature, humidity, and ventilation, putting the latest technology at the service of a great 19th-century building. (Source: NYBG.org).

It is named the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, in honor of the conservationist whose financial contributions have primarily ensured its survival and restoration.

The Rube enjoyed this anecdote about Ms. Haupt, regarding another of her pet projects:

When it comes to gardens, Mrs. Haupt is yet another enthusiast. Impatiently, she seized Jean Paul's pointer and took over: "What's that tree? Where are you going to get it?" She noted the surface of a paved glade. "Is that concrete?" she demanded.
An architect with stern standards of excellence, Carlhian recoiled in shock. "Madame," he exclaimed, "the Smithsonian would never use manmade material in such a project as this garden. That surface is granite!"
Mrs. Haupt nodded in satisfaction and continued her quiz. When she finished, she turned to Secretary Ripley.
"I'm not interested in putting money into a Zen garden," she said.
Faces fell.
"I'm only interested in financing the whole thing. The entire garden. How much do you think it will cost?"
Since then it has been the Enid A. Haupt Garden. (Source: SI.edu)