The New York Botanical Garden's 34th annual "Holiday Train Show" features miniature replicas of New York landmarks crafted from natural materials by the botanical artists of Applied Imagination. This year's edition adds two new models: the recently renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park and the Whitney Museum of American Art's Meatpacking District flagship, designed by Renzo Piano. The Whitney replica, built over three months by artist Ava Roberts and fabrication director Kaitlin Schmidt, uses a new two-way mirrored acrylic glass technique for the windows and incorporates materials like purple smoke bush branches, horse chestnut bark, and fallen Zelkova bark. The company, founded by Paul Busse in 1991 and now run by his daughter Laura Busse Dolan, creates whimsical versions of landmarks using leaves, sticks, fungi, and other dried plant materials.
The show matters because it represents a beloved New York holiday tradition that combines horticulture, model railroading, and architectural appreciation, drawing visitors to the NYBG each year. It also highlights the artistry and innovation of Applied Imagination, a family-run business that transforms natural foraged materials into intricate replicas of iconic buildings. The inclusion of the Whitney Museum—a modern architectural icon—demonstrates how the company adapts its techniques to contemporary structures, expanding the show's appeal beyond historic landmarks and underscoring the cultural significance of both the botanical garden and the museum in New York's holiday landscape.