Plants & Gardens Blog

The Garden was founded in 1910, and just a short while later, the influenza pandemic emerged. School group attendance dropped to near zero and the conservatories closed, though for a different reason than they have now. Read › Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1918: A Time of Pandemic, War, and Poverty

Four million years ago, plants were small and relatively simple in structure. How did they evolve into tree-sized organisms with roots, leaves, wood, and seeds? Read › Great Moments in Plant Evolution, Part 2: The Origin of Trees and Forests

Early estimates put the amount of sunlight lost at 1.5 to more than 4 hours per day, depending on the greenhouse and the season. The heaviest losses occur during spring, summer, and fall, when plants need the most sunlight. Read › See How Proposed Towers Would Cast Shadows Over the Garden

This month, Adrian Benepe joins Brooklyn Botanic Garden as its seventh president. At a time of historic challenge, he shares his thoughts on the role botanic gardens can play in sustainable cities, resilient communities, and our collective mental health. Read › Q&A with Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Adrian Benepe

On top of the Garden’s Visitor Center is a beautiful and functional green roof that looks like a prairie and helps reduce water pollution stormwater. Read › Get to Know the Garden’s Green Roof

When the Garden shut down in the spring, staff decided to raise food in the educational plots. Read › Children’s Garden Grows Food for the Community

Tropical Storm Isaias caused extensive tree damage, not just in the Garden, but throughout the city. Strong winds damaged limbs and destroyed entire trees heavy with wet summer foliage. Read › Crews Continue Work After Tropical Storm Isaias

Savor the play of spring light and colors, the sounds of birds and pollinators at work, and the fantastical profusion of blooms in this delightful video of the Rose Garden in June. Read › Rose Garden Visit (Video)

The Lilac Collection is in bloom for the first spring in its new location.

Read › Lilacs in Bloom in Their New Home

Blooming at an historic and bittersweet moment, this rare planting of more than 300 peonies first arrived from Japan is 2002 and has persevered despite many unexpected setbacks. Read › The Colorful Story of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Japanese Tree Peonies