Plants & Gardens Blog

We spoke with Dr. Shalene Jha, associate professor in the department of integrative biology at the University of Texas-Austin, about urban habitats, “bee bread,” and gardening toward a better future. Read › Dr. Shalene Jha on Community Gardens as Biodiversity Havens

People might think of plants as being removed from politics. “But they come with a lot of history,” says Chelsea Forgenie, co-curator of the exhibit Trees of Little Caribbean. Read › Celebrating Caribbean Trees

"Into the Garden" is a new series of interviews about plants, people, and everything in between. Read › Artist Phyllis Ma on Learning from Mushrooms

Artist and AnkhLave Arts Alliance founder Dario Mohr talks with BBG about reclaimed histories, his Grenadian heritage, and creating inclusive spaces in the arts. Read › Artist Dario Mohr on Black History and Sacred Spaces

Time outside can brighten mood, boost energy and sharpen the mind. Read more about it and enjoy a self-guided winter walk at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Read › Chase Away the Winter Blues with a Walk in the Garden

The Japanese tradition known as "forest bathing" has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical health. Read › Shinrin-Yoku: Spending Time in Nature as a Form of Meditation

Heather Bruegl, a historian and director of education for Forge Project and a member of the Oneida Nation, talks about Lenape history, the importance of making a living land acknowledgement, and the value of examining the stories we tell about natural history. Read › Lenapehoking: The Land of the Lenape

Chenae Bullock talked to Brooklyn Botanic Garden about her mother's gardens, Shinnecock canoe culture, and why the future of the environment depends on being able to see the value of Indigenous perspectives. Read › Talking with Chenae Bullock

Across the borough, gardeners enthusiastically embraced a restructuring of the contest and managed to turn a social distancing strategy into a way to connect with neighbors. Read › Brooklyn’s Beloved Window Boxes

Plants have evolved in a complex world and are very sensitive to particular and subtle cues. Decisions about where we put buildings and how we build them have a much larger impact than we often realize. Read › Plants, Sunlight, and Buildings