Plants & Gardens Blog

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

The common nighthawk is not so common anymore, and it has always been difficult to spot. Fall migration will give you the best chance of spotting this elusive bird. Read › Birds of Brooklyn: Common Nighthawk

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 value of the indigenous perspective. 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

This tiny bird is a pleasure to observe in flight and will come to your home garden if you provide just what it likes. Read › Birds of Brooklyn: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

How did flowering plants become so successful? When did they arise? Where did they come from? Read › Great Moments in Plant Evolution, Part 4: The Dawn of Flowers

Sweet, crunchy, juicy snap peas are a special seasonal treat. Grow your own or look for them at the farmers’ market under their French nickname, mange-touts. Read › Eat Local: Snap Peas and Garlic Scape Mint Dip

These lovely blue and tawny birds can be found nesting under eaves, catching insects while in flight, or touching down on a pond for a quick bath. They also inspired the creation of the Audubon Society. Read › Birds of Brooklyn: Barn Swallow

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

As we continue our journey through geologic time, we will start to see plants that are more familiar to us: plants that reproduce with seeds, such as conifers and ginkgos. Read › Great Moments in Plant Evolution, Part 3: Extinction to Ginkgo