Home » More About BBG » Pressroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2009
CONTACT
Leeann Lavin: 718-623-7289, leeannlavin@bbg.org
Kate Blumm: 718-623-7241, kateblumm@bbg.org
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Calendar of Events: Through June 2009
I. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS
II. CHILDREN'S GARDEN
III. DISCOVERY GARDEN
Note: Due to NYC Department of Sanitation funding cutbacks, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is currently unable to offer composting classes as part of its general program. However, the Master Composter Certificate Course is being offered at BBG in 2009.
I. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS
Gallery Exhibit: My Favorite Garden: Works by Monika E. de Vries Gohlke
Through Sunday, May 10
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 21
This impressive collection of watercolors, etchings, drypoints, aquatints, and sketches in pencil were produced over the last decade. The exhibition features images of the Garden's roses, orchids, and peonies, as well as some of BBG's remarkable trees, including hand-colored etchings of mango and coffee trees in the Tropical Pavilion and watercolors of the lesser-known native pawpaw and the curious Japanese raisin tree. The artist is a fellow of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society, and her work is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through May 10; free with Garden admission.
GreenBridge Workshop: Starting Seeds Indoors
Tuesday, March 17 | 6–8 p.m.
Start a spring garden on the right foot this year by discovering the best methods to propagate tasty, beautiful varieties of plants from seeds. Learn what skills, equipment and techniques are needed to start you own seeds at home while getting some hands-on practice right here at BBG! Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
GreenBridge Workshop: Greening Up Your Street
Thursday, March 26 | 6–8 p.m.
Want to green up your block? The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is now in its 15th year. Come hear from block leaders who have won the contest. Discuss street trees, front area gardens, containers, & window boxes with examples that will inspire. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
Hanami: Celebrating the Cherry-Viewing Season
Saturday, April 4–Sunday, May 10
Hanami is the Japanese cultural tradition of viewing & cherishing each moment of the cherry blossom season. Visitors can enjoy a stroll under a canopy of cherry trees, view Japanese artwork, taste a special menu at the Terrace CafÈ, and celebrate Sakura Matsuri, a two-day festival of Japanese culture for all ages.
Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Participate in New York City's ìrite of spring!î BBG's flowering cherries take center stage during this phenomenal weekend celebrating Japanese culture traditional and contemporary with over 50 events and performances. Enjoy world-class music & dance, taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, manga and anime activities, and workshops for both adults and children—all under a magnificent cloud of cherry blossoms!
GreenBridge Workshop: Basic Tree Planting
Thursday, April 2 | 5–7 p.m.
Trees clean the air, shelter birds, provide shade, and improve property values. In this workshop, learn how to plant a tree and join the MillionTreesNYC movement to make our city a greener, healthier place to live. Meet at Green-Wood Cemetery (5th Avenue and 25th Street entrance) for a hands-on demonstration by a certified arborist of the correct way to plant a container tree. Where to buy trees and how to care for them after planting will also be discussed. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
Male Fish on the Pill
Tuesday, April 7 | 6 p.m.
Join us for a fascinating free lecture about how human birth control pills can affect fish in the wild. Scientists have documented alterations in male minnows exposed to common contraceptive ingredients found in our waterways. The chemicals can alter the hormones in the fishes' blood, the growth and health of their organs, and even courtship and other social behaviors. No pre-registration required.
GreenBridge Workshop: Container Gardening
Thursday, April 16 | 6–8 p.m.
Making the most out of every inch of available soil is a must for urban gardeners! Window boxes and containers are the perfect solution to a small amount of growing space. Learn about design elements, soil mixtures and suggestions for edible and ornamental plants, plus tips for planting and maintaining containers year-round and this year's GreenBridge Window box kit sale! Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
GreenBridge Window Box Kit Sale
Order Deadline: April 24
In conjunction with the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest, GreenBridge—the community environmental horticulture program at BBG—is offering Brooklynites a chance to wow their neighborhood with window boxes! Window boxes are a great way to make a block greener and more colorful. BBG's window box kit includes everything needed to create a beautiful display—even the plants! Purchase an individual kit or a group of up to 30 kits for your neighborhood. Order forms are available at bbg.org Cost is $25 per kit; window box kits must be preordered by April 24 and will be available for pickup on May 16.
GreenBridge Workshop: Creating a Rain Garden
Wednesday, April 29 | 6–8 p.m.
Want a garden that looks good year-round, requires little maintenance, and helps prevent water pollution? Learn why rain gardens are a great new gardening trend, how to design one for every property, and what plants to choose. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
BBG's Annual Benefit Plant Sale 2009
Wed. May 6 | 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and Thurs., May 7 | 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
With the largest quality selection of plants in the metro area, BBG's Plant Sale draws thousands of plant lovers each year who take advantage of the unmatched value in addition to the helpful gardening advice of on-site BBG experts. Over 20,000 plants will be on display on Cherry Esplanade, with the garden's glorious cherry trees in full bloom. Best of all, the Plant Sale benefits children's education programs at the Garden. Free with Garden admission.
GreenBridge Workshop: Street Tree Bed Gardening
Thursay, May 21 and Thursday, June 11 | 6–8 p.m.
Street trees do so much to improve our environment, but they often receive little care. In this free class, learn the benefits of street trees, how to improve the health of a street tree by caring for the bed, get tips on tree-bed gardening and more in-depth information on street-tree care. Bring street-tree care questions and find out more about the city's efforts to increase and protect the urban forest canopy. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
How Not to Kill Your Houseplant
Tuesday, May 21 | 2–4:30 p.m.
After this class you will never again have to wonder whether you watered too much or too little, when it is time to "pot up" a plant into a bigger container, or about any other fundamental questions of indoor plant care. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.
A Garden to Die For: Wicked Plants at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Sunday, May 31–Sunday, September 6
This summer, BBG takes visitors for a walk on the wild side--of plant life, that is. With a brochure to guide them, and new interpretive signs as well as an audio tour, visitors will come face to face with the power of plant life, encountering species that have the capacity to poison, kill and otherwise destroy, as well as those that heal and salve. Building on the concepts highlighted by Amy Stewart's new book Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, by Amy Stewart, BBG will offer visitors a real-time experience of the awesome power of plant life. Plus, on May 31, A Garden to Die For kicks off with a special Discovery Workshop for families, an evening lecture by Stewart, an exhibit of the book's extraordinary etching by artist Briony Morrow-Cribbs on display in the Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery, and a display of special wicked plant-related rare books in the Gardener's Resource Center. Free with Garden Admission.
Gallery Exhibition: Wicked Plants: Prints by Briony Morrow-Cribbs
Sunday, May 31–Sunday, September 6
Artist Briony Morrow-Cribbs has created a collection of elaborate etchings to illustrate Amy Stewart's Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, which anchors BBG's summer botanic exhibition. In the Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery, visitors will find up to 30 prints in which the artist demonstrates her place in the continuum of a classical scientific and artistic tradition—etching—married to a contemporary perspective on plant life in an age of decline in our natural world. Free with Garden admission.
June Is Rose Month
June 1–June 30, 2009
What could be more romantic than a single rose? How about tens of thousands of them? Delight the senses with a bounty of blooming roses during June Is Rose Month—a celebration honoring the enduring beauty of the rose at BBG's world-famous Cranford Rose Garden. Special guided tours (Saturday and Sundays at 3 p.m.), an Everything Roses collection in the Gift Shop, and a display of roses in botanical literature and art books in the Gardener's Resource Center all pay homage to the Cranford Rose Garden, which is home to more than 5,000 rosebushes and nearly 1,200 different Rosa species, cultivars, and hybrids. Visit bbg.org/rosemonth for more information on the Cranford Rose Garden and June Is Rose Month. Plus, see visitor photos—and upload your own—at BBG's June Is Rose Month photo pool on Flickr.
Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest
Deadline for Entry: June 1
For the 15th year, GreenBridge will sponsor the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest in cooperation with borough president Marty Markowitz! More than 1,200 blocks throughout Brooklyn have entered the contest since it was founded in 1994, and an estimated 500,000 residents have participated in this borough-wide beautification and greening effort. This program offers an opportunity for block and merchant's associations to participate in making Brooklyn beautiful while building community relations as neighbors work together. The contest includes both residential and commercial categories, as well as awards for street tree beds, storefronts, window boxes, and best community garden streetscape. The deadline for entering the contest is Monday, June 1. To enter the contest, see photos of past winners, learn about judging criteria, watch an informative video and more, visit the GreenBridge website.
GreenBridge Workshop: Edible Landscaping
Thursday, June 4 | 6–8 pm
Edible landscaping is an eye-catching and practical way to make the most of limited urban garden space. See some of the surprising and attractive edible species that flourish right here in Brooklyn, and learn how to plan a garden that will be attractive and tasty through spring, summer, and fall. We will focus on edible vines, trees, shrubs, and plants that do well in containers. No charge, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.
II. CHILDREN'S GARDEN
Become a part of the spring tradition during our 95th year of helping children grow and harvest food in Brooklyn! Kids experience spring firsthand, from the muddy fields of April to the first tender sprouts of May to the delicious salad veggies of June. Come back for another year of Garden fun or participate for the first time and find out what's so special about serving to family and friends salad that you have grown and prepared yourself. All of our Children's Garden classes are designed with a low child-to-instructor ratio to help ensure quality programming. Register now to save a space in our popular spring programs. Independence Community Foundation Scholarship Fund for the Children's Garden provides limited scholarships for all age groups based on need. For information, call the Registration Office at 718-623-7220.
KinderGarden: Seeds
For Pre-K through 1st Graders (Four-, Five-, and Six-Year-Olds)
Our youngest gardeners work communally in the KinderGarden plots. Structured play, games, and arts and crafts are used to teach the basics of gardening both indoors and out! Children plant and maintain cool-weather crops and help prepare the Garden for summer. Kids take home flowers and vegetables they have grown and harvested themselves. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.
5 Saturdays: April 25, May 9, 16, 30; June 6 | Noon – 1:30 p.m.
KinderGarden: Seedlings
For Pre-K through 1st Graders (Four-, Five-, and Six-Year-Olds)
The Seedlings plant and maintain cool-weather crops in the Children's Garden communal plots. Later in the season, we will plant warm-weather crops for the upcoming summer. Kids take home vegetables they have grown and harvested themselves. Children listen to garden-related stories and participate in structured play, including games and arts and crafts, to learn the fundamentals. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.
SECTION A: 7 Fridays: April 3, 17, 24; May 8. 15, 29, June 5 | 4 – 5:30 p.m.
SECTION B: 7 Saturdays: April 4, 18, 25; May 9, 16, 30, June 6 | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
City Farmers
For 2nd through 7th Graders
Spring gardeners dig, line rows, plant seeds and seedlings, weed, cultivate, and harvest a variety of crops. City Farmers work in twos or threes on their own plot of fertile soil. An instructor leads each small age-based groups Nature-based activities, science projects, cooking and crafts are often part of the day's program. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.
SECTION A: 7 Fridays: April 3, 17, 24; May 8. 15, 29, June 5 | 4 – 5:30 p.m.
SECTION B: 7 Saturdays: April 4, 18, 25; May 9, 16, 30, June 6 | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
City Farmers Spring Break Mini-Session
For 2nd through 7th Graders
Help jump-start the Children's Garden during Spring Break! Activities include measuring & lining out garden beds, planting seeds, and preparing planters. Kids take home their own plants and seeds, as well as a rare early-spring garden experience. Call 718-623-7220 to register.
3 Sessions: April 14, 15, 16 | 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
III. DISCOVERY GARDEN
BBG's outdoor adventure garden is designed especially for young children to explore plant life from a kid's perspective. Children can investigate amazing plants and colorful flowers, follow butterflies and birds in a wildlife meadow, pump water down a bamboo waterfall to a stream, hide under a tree, hike a nature trail, and meet a giant green spider. The Discovery Garden includes safe areas designed for toddlers to experience plant life firsthand and have fun. Plus, this spring and summer new and exciting themes and activities will extend achild's garden experience every month in the Discovery Garden! Be sure to stop in and learn more about each month's seasonal topic. Programs canceled in inclement weather.
Around the World in the Conservatories
Saturday, March 21 | Drop in between 2–4 p.m.
The plants in BBG's Conservatory come from all around the world! How have these plants adapted to growing in different climates? How do people use them in their daily lives? Come to this free, fun-filled scavenger hunt to explore these global gems & pot up a plant to take home. Free with Garden admission.
Spring Sprouts
Sunday, April 19 | Drop in between 2–4 p.m.
Celebrate spring by planting seeds in a garden or windowbox! In this free workshop, kids will learn about seeds, how they sprout, and different types of seeds to grow easily at home. Taste some yummy seed treats and explore the many ways seeds are important in our lives. Free with Garden admission.
Discovery Tuesdays: Flower Fun!
Tuesdays in May | Drop in between 2–4 p.m.
April showers DO bring May flowers to the Discovery Garden! Explore flowers in the garden of all shapes and kinds and discover why they're so important in our lives (and in our gardens). Free with Garden admission.
Discovery June: Plant Part-y
Tuesday Discovery Workshops: Weekly | drop in between 1–3 p.m.
Saturday Garden Explorations: Weekly | drop in between 1–3 p.m.
Sunday Discovery Workshop: June 14 | drop in between 1–3 p.m.
Use your senses to investigate plants and their parts throughout the garden. Learn to identify roots, leaves, and other structures and how they help plants to grow. Discover how they're used around the world!