Plants & Gardens Blog

Lambsquarters is an amaranth family member. It may be a weed here, but it's an agricultural crop in some parts of the world. No wonder—it's quite tasty. Read › Weed of the Month: Lambsquarters

This noisy, colorful woodpecker was once a southern species, but now its thriving in Brooklyn. Read › Birds of Brooklyn: Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Whether born in Latin America or Bushwick, gardeners here build community and share knowledge. Read › Community Garden Cultivates Social Justice

Fallen leaves and other "browns" help create the right mix of carbon and nitrogen in your compost pile. Now is the time to gather them, but where? And what about coffee chaff and sawdust? Read › Gathering “Browns” for Your Compost Pile

When viewed under a microscope, algae are stunningly beautiful. They form repeating patterns and Read › Pondlife: Algae Up Close

These lovely speckled berries are all kinds of trouble. Birds love them, so much so that the vine has become invasive. Read › Weed of the Month: Porcelain Berry

Poisonous to people, this lovely weed provides nourishment to birds. Look for both its flowers and berries in September. Read › Weed of the Month: Bittersweet Nightshade

Pigweed is considered an agricultural scourge in the United States, but elsewhere it's a nutritious food plant. In Jamaica, it's valued as a leafy green, and its protein-rich seeds are used like a grain in other parts of the world. Read › Weed of the Month: Pigweed

Identifying this poison ivy requires a keen eye since its leaf color and shape varies. Learn to recognize its distinguishing characteristics. Read › Weed of the Month: Poison Ivy

How did this Argentinian bird become a fixture in Brooklyn? Read › Birds of Brooklyn: Monk Parakeet