The Eastern Parkway entrance is closed; enter at 990 Washington Avenue or 455 Flatbush Avenue.The Eastern Parkway entrance is closed; use other entrances.
BBG’s Real-Life Training Program for Community Volunteers Learn + Grow + Connect + Serve The Brooklyn Urban Gardener (BUG) certificate program is an annual multiple-session course that covers the basics in urban gardening and community greening. It connects the educational resources of Brooklyn Botanic Garden to the greening efforts of…
Important: The parking lot is closed Friday, March 13–Sunday, March 15 for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on Sunday; use public transportation. The Osborne Garden and Eastern Parkway entrance are closed; use other entrances.
SPECIAL PUBLICATION Hardcover | 9" x 11" | 96 pages | 100% postconsumer recycled paper Winner, Garden Writers Association Gold Award The Tree Book’s beautiful illustrations show buds, leaf, flower, fruit, and seed of 33 trees that grow in North America. Histories of each tree bring to life its character…
This gorgeously illustrated book, created by Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s expert educators, teaches children how to observe environments as a naturalist does and leads them on 24 adventures that reveal the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park.
What better way to connect children with the natural world than through gardening? Team up with the youngsters in your care on scores of fun outdoor and indoor garden-related activities. Share the joy of watching plants and the animals that live among them grow and flourish as you guide children…
BBG’s Library provides reference services to home gardeners, staff, and the professional horticultural community. It is a convenient access point from which to learn more about all of the Library’s collections and the Garden’s plant collections. The Library is located on the second floor of the historic McKim, Mead &…
BBG members gain access to exclusive events, member discounts at participating businesses, and special deals with other gardens and collections all over the world.
This winter, visitors can enjoy hot and cold drinks plus sweet treats and savory lunch items at the pop-up Coffeehouse at Yellow Magnolia Café. Note: The Coffee Bar in the Atrium, outdoor Canteen, and full-service restaurant are closed for the winter season. Special Event
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{/exp:channel:entries} Stephanie Fletcher is a Brooklyn-based food writer and editor. 2nd Blossom Emerging
march 12: The first Amorphophallus konjac, Alvin, opened on Saturday, March 7. Simon is starting to unfurl and Theodore will bloom last. Gardener Chris Sprindis describes the aroma as, “distinctly dead mammal, with an undertone of musty basement.”
Amorphophallus konjac (devil’s-tongue), also known as voodoo-lily, is poised to put on a stinky show at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The plant is a cousin of corpse flowers A. titanum (titan arum) and A. gigas—and you’ll be able to see (and smell) the familial resemblance. Though A. konjac won’t reach the size or intensity of aroma of those corpse flowers, it does produce a tall, foul-scented inflorescence (flower head) that is devilishly attractive.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Voodoo-Lily-Measuring_JW_lightbox.jpg"}Propagation gardener Patrick Austin measures
Amorphophallus konjac (devil's-tongue) at 45 inches from the top of the soil to the top of the plant in the Greenhouse Workhouses. Photo by Jeremy Weine.
BBG is now exhibiting three devil’s-tongue plants at varying stages of flowering. The plants, acquired by the Garden after last year’s A. gigas bloom, were named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore by BBG propagation gardener Patrick Austin. One is expected to unfurl its inflorescence in the coming days and the other two will open in the coming weeks. The odorous blooms last only a few days; afterward, an enormous, palm-like leaf will start to emerge on each plant.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Voodoo-Lily-Closeup_JW_lightbox.jpg"}Amorphophallus konjac (devil's-tongue) is poised to unfurl its inflorescence in the coming days. Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, A. konjac is cultivated for food—its underground tuber is high in starch and fiber and is processed into konjac flour used to make shirataki noodles.
Please remember that you may not touch the plants.
BBG’s Real-Life Training Program for Community Volunteers
Learn + Grow + Connect + Serve
The Brooklyn Urban Gardener (BUG) certificate program is an annual multiple-session course that covers the basics in urban gardening and community greening. It connects the educational resources of Brooklyn Botanic Garden to the greening efforts of Brooklyn’s communities.
Upon completing all coursework, graduates are certified as Brooklyn Botanic Garden BUG volunteers. Certified BUGs then continue to support greening projects at schools, senior centers, block associations, community gardens, and other organizations.
BUG students can expect an experiential, train-the-trainer program. Using a hands-on, participatory education model, the course includes instruction in sustainable horticultural practices suited to the urban environment, street tree stewardship, community engagement practices, effective teaching methods, and an overview of the greening resources available in Brooklyn. The training is free.
A select number of applicants are chosen to participate in a group interview. From those, the class of 15 students is chosen and announced in July. Previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply. Classes begin in mid–September and run into November.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or call 718-623-7250.
FAQ
Who are BUGs?
BUGs are Brooklyn Urban Gardeners—Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) volunteers who have completed a demanding certification process that prepares them to assist and lead community greening projects throughout Brooklyn. BUGs love people, plants, the planet, teaching, and gardening. Above all, they are community-minded: willing, able, and eager to be of service in making Brooklyn a greener place.
What is BBG looking for in a BUG?
The BUG program enrolls an intergenerational, multicultural mix of adults from diverse economic and educational backgrounds. BUGs are adult residents of Brooklyn and devoted lifelong learners, with varying levels of gardening expertise, who know that plants can bring people together. The best candidates have experience with civic engagement and volunteerism and feel a sense of commitment to serve the borough we call home.
Who manages the BUG program?
BUG is facilitated and managed by the community greening staff in the Education department of Brooklyn Botanic Garden. BBG community greening programs promote the greening of the urban environment and reach over 50,000 Brooklyn residents a year through free educational workshops, conservation initiatives, and creative partnerships. Besides BUG, community greening programs include Making Brooklyn Bloom, the Community Garden Alliance, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, and the Street Tree Stewardship Initiative.
When does BUG training take place?
The BUG certificate program is a multisession course, held once annually during fall and winter. Classes are held on weekend afternoons (1–5 p.m.) and Thursday evenings (6–9 p.m.). Sessions take place from mid-September through November. Personal portfolio and study group activities extend into November when BUGs graduate.
Is there tuition or a fee?
The BUG program is completely free. This training is designed for people who intend to volunteer on an ongoing basis throughout Brooklyn on greening projects referred by Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or of their own devising. We ask that BUGs serve at least 20 hours per year after graduation to maintain BUG certification.
What is the time commitment for being a BUG?
It’s significant. Students are expected to attend every session of class (25 hours), do required reading and homework each week, attend study group meetings, and create a portfolio of their work in time for a graduation event held in November.
After graduating, BUGs are regularly informed of community greening projects seeking volunteer support. To maintain certification, BUGs are expected to continue to volunteer at least 20 hours per year.
Where are BUG classes held?
Classes are held in BBG’s classrooms and on the Garden’s grounds.
What subjects are covered in BUG classes?
BUG covers a lot of ground in a short time! Topics include asset-based community building, site assessment, growing more in less space, gardening with native plants, and more.
Who teaches BUG?
BUG workshops are led by a dedicated staff of BBG educators. Highly qualified guest instructors also bring wisdom from their specific areas of expertise. BUG’s facilitators believe that everyone learns, and everyone teaches. The BUG program’s approach honors the rich experience that each student brings with them and incorporates small-group learning, hands-on work, role playing, and of course, the invaluable challenges of collaborating with fellow BUG students.
I’m already a community greening volunteer. What can I gain from a BUG certificate?
Experienced greening volunteers can be great candidates for BUG; you are able to teach your fellow students while deepening your own understanding of and commitment to community greening. You’ll create a portfolio, do group work, increase your confidence as a greening teacher, and network with fellow students and instructors, all while becoming part of a remarkable community of BBG volunteers.
What is the BUG portfolio?
Each student builds upon a series of homework assignments to explore and document their progress. Most importantly, students create a site-assessment and gardening plan for a community or private garden site of their choosing. Students also include in their BUG portfolio a workshop outline of their own design on a greening-related topic of their choice as well as an action plan based on their vision of themselves as a BUG volunteer.
Does working on any community greening project count toward my annual 20 service hours?
Yes. After graduation, you may count any and all volunteer community greening work toward the 20 hours needed to maintain BUG certification. We urge BUG graduates to report their volunteer greening efforts to BBG annually.
Does everyone who applies get accepted to the program?
No. Fifteen students are accepted each year. We receive many more applications than there are spots available. Applications are reviewed in June. Once the number of prospective students has been narrowed down, group interviews are held in July to select the next class of 15 BUGs.
If I’m not accepted this year, can I reapply next year?
Yes! The admission process is strongly influenced by geographical location of applicants, so try, try again.
How can I learn more about whether the BUG program is right for me?
One way is to attend the next Making Brooklyn Bloom conference, held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden each March. Lots of BUG graduates are on hand to help answer questions.
More questions? Contact Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Community Greening staff at [email protected] or 718-623-7250.
Support
Brooklyn Botanic Garden gratefully acknowledges support for this program from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the NYC Council.
Important: The parking lot is closed Friday, March 13–Sunday, March 15 for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on Sunday; use public transportation. The Osborne Garden and Eastern Parkway entrance are closed; use other entrances.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn
Gala Chairs
Adam & Sylvana Durrett
Jennifer & Steven Eisenstadt
John Shaheen & Carl Dietz
5:30 p.m. | Strolling Cocktails
Plant Family Collection Lawn
Join us for an enchanted evening in the Garden, celebrating the 30th anniversary of BBG’s iconic Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. The Spring Gala offers a moment to mark this remarkable milestone and the collective actions that make Brooklyn a more verdant, resilient and livable place.
Proceeds from the Spring Gala support the Garden’s future by sustaining the care of BBG’s collections, enriching programs, and deepening community engagement. Tickets range from $750 to $5,000; tables for ten start at $15,000.
The evening’s menu will be designed and prepared by Union Square Events. Each course will feature fresh, seasonal ingredients that are sustainably grown and harvested.
Festive botanical attire encouraged. Tickets held at the door. Complimentary parking provided for cocktails and dinner guests.
For more information, contact Brooklyn Botanic Garden at [email protected].
Spring Gala 2026 Tables and Tickets
Event Contributors
As the Spring Gala winds down, join us for the After Party—a high-energy celebration, complete with great music and peak spring vibes. Dance the night away surrounded by blooms and fellow garden lovers at Brooklyn’s most vibrant celebration of the season.
Tickets include special access and two hours of open bar with signature cocktails, beer, wine, desserts, photo opportunities, activities, and more. Proceeds from the After Party provide essential support for the Garden’s programs and plant collections.
Advance ticket purchase required; space is limited.
Strictly 21+; valid ID required | Advance ticket purchase required
All tickets will be held at the door.
Dress to impress! Festive floral attire encouraged.
After Party Tickets
Explore the Bonsai Museum and conservatories through an engaging scavenger hunt, identifying the natural and unique features you notice. We’ll gather as a group to enjoy refreshments and share about our experience before creating our own terrarium using wide-mouth jars and bowls—a small ecosystem to take home and enjoy.
The program is free, but space is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register, contact us at [email protected].
Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Notice/Know/Kin: A Human/Tree Biography. This mixed-media art exhibit invites us inside the artist’s life and inside wood to reflect on our living relationships with trees and the Earth.
Artist Nina Browne, a woodworker turned urban naturalist, will begin the program with an exploration of the tree cuttings and natural materials in her pieces, followed by an art-making workshop led by Browne and Virginia Shou, a New York–based interdisciplinary designer and urban gardener.
Preregistration is required, and space is limited. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to attend or have questions about accessibility accommodations for this program. You can also find general information about accessibility at the Garden at bbg.org/access.
This program is designed for the d/Deaf community. Some portions are without voice interpretation.
Come celebrate spring with a seed exchange in the Discovery Garden!
We have a selection of seeds to share, whether you are growing for a street tree bed, your own garden plot, a community garden, or a sunny window in your apartment!
You can bring seeds, too! If you have seeds to share, please make sure they are labeled and are no more than two years old to ensure maximum success for all gardeners.
We’ll provide envelopes and small bags to take seeds home.
Gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions.
This is a drop-in program for gardeners of all ages, including families with children, teenagers, and adults. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Celebrate the Year of the Horse in BBG’s Steinhardt Conservatory! Explore the pavilions to find plants associated with Lunar New Year, including citrus, bamboo, pine, and much more.
Can you find these plants of the Lunar New Year?
Nymphaea × daubenyana (Daubeny’s Water-Lily)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Daubeny-water-lily_BB.jpg"}Photo by Blanca Begert.
View Location of Daubeny’s Water-Lily
Emerging from muddy waters, water-lilies are clean and unsullied, making them a symbol of purity and enlightenment. Daubeny’s water-lily was the first widely recognized hybrid water-lily.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Water-Lily-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
× Vandachostylis Crownfox Red Gem grex (Hybrid Orchid)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/_lightbox_retina/Crownfox-Red-Gem_52604787372_MS.jpg"}Photo by Michael Stewart.
View Location of Hybrid Orchid
Representing academic success and upright morals, the orchid was Confucius’s favorite flower. This orchid produces deep red flowers with a unique and distinctive texture.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Orchid-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Citrus × microcarpa (Calamondin)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Calamondin-in-quonset_260113_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
View Location of Calamondin
The Chinese name for calamondin translates to “four seasons of fortune” and the plant represents wealth and prosperity. A hybrid of kumquat and mandarin orange, calamondin fruit has a sweet peel and sour flesh.
Find this calamondin in the Conservatory Entry House.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Calamondin-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Bambusa vulgaris ‘Vittata’ (Bamboo ‘Vittata’)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Bamboo-_Vittata_Entry-stairway_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
View Location of Bamboo ‘Vittata’
Flexible yet unbreakable, bamboo symbolizes strength, humility, and adaptability. This cultivar is known for the irregular green stripes running longitudinally along its hollow stems.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Bamboo-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Pinus parviflora (Japanese White Pine)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Pine-Japanese_white-on-slab_Bonsai_Museum_Rige_260113.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
View Location of Japanese White Pine
The pine thrives in rocky soil, featuring a strong trunk and gnarled branches. It represents integrity, resilience, and longevity. This species’ needle-like leaves grow in distinctive bundles of five.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Pine-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Prunus mume ‘Kobai’ (Japanese Apricot)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Japanese-Apricot_MS.jpg"}Photo by Michael Stewart.
View Location of Japanese Apricot
This tree can be found in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, and is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. The pink flowers bloom in mid to late winter and are followed by green to yellow fruit.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Apricot-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Citrus japonica (Round Kumquat)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Round-kumquat_Citrus-japonica_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
View Location of Kumquat
The gold-orange hue of kumquat fruit represents wealth and prosperity. Kumquat plants are hardier and more tolerant of cold weather than many of their relatives in the Citrus genus.
Find this round kumquat in the Warm Temperate Pavilion.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Kumquat-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Osmanthus fragrans (Fragrant Olive)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Fragrant-Olive_MS.jpg"}Photo by Michael Stewart.
View Location of Fragrant Olive
The Chinese name for this tree resembles the Chinese word for nobility. It is believed that planting olive trees in front of your house can attract prestige and honor. The lovely, enveloping fragrance of this unassuming shrub helps make the Warm Temperate Pavilion a winter highlight at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Find this fragrant olive in the Warm Temperate Pavilion.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Fragrant-Olive-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
We hope you enjoyed your visit and we wish you a happy Lunar New Year!
Gina Ingoglia is the author of more than 80 books for children. She is a graduate of Dickinson College and holds an MA in publishing from New York University. She graduated a George H. Cook Scholar in landscape architecture from Rutgers University and has a private practice in residential landscape and garden design; she is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). In 1996, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities from Dickinson College.
Ingoglia is vice president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society, and her botanical art has been exhibited with the Society in the United States and abroad. From 1987 to 1995 she wrote and illustrated the "Budding Gardener" column for Brooklyn Botanic Garden's publication, Plants & Gardens News. She lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York, with her husband, Earl Weiner. They have a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.
In 2009, the Garden Writers Association awarded Ingoglia their Gold Award for Best Illustration for The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups.
Created by Brooklyn Botanic Garden's expert educators, this gorgeously illustrated book teaches children how to observe environments as a naturalist does and leads them on 24 adventures that reveal the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park. Dozens of fun projects include keeping a journal, conducting field experiments, and looking for the signs of the seasons. Detailed, scientifically based drawings help young naturalists identify hundreds of North American plants and animals while the explore nature with all five senses.
A naturalist is a scientist who studies nature. Start looking at the world
through a naturalist’s eyes, and you will be amazed at what you learn.
A naturalist studies living things by observing
them and then tries to discover how they relate
to each other and their environment. In earlier
times, before there were many professional
scientists, most of what was known about life
on earth was discovered by naturalists. Today,
being a naturalist takes many different forms.
Field biologists, environmental educators, and
scientific illustrators are all modern naturalists.
You can be one too! The chapters in this book
will get you started. So will these tips.
Be quiet and still sometimes. Slow down and
use your senses to listen, look, smell, and feel
what’s around you.
Find a sit spot. Choose a place outside that you
can return to over and over again and observe.
Notice how it changes throughout the day and
throughout the year. Do you hear the same
birds in the morning and in the afternoon?
What flowers are blooming in April? In June?
Make comparisons. You are sure to see
differences as you explore. How does the forest
change as you hike higher up a mountain? How
is one tree’s bark different from another’s? How
do bumble bees look different from honey bees
and sweat bees?
Ask questions. When you observe closely,
you are sure to notice a lot of cool or unusual
things: Birds with knife-shaped bills, flowers
that look like bells, trees that smell like root
beer. Why would that plant or animal have that
trait? Does that shape, color, or smell help it in
some way? Does it help it make or find food?
Reproduce? Ward off predators?
Keep a journal. Buy a sturdy composition book
or journal to record what you observe. On
the next page—and throughout this book—
you will see examples of the kinds of details
you can record in your journal. Use some
of the scientific words you’ll see in boldface
throughout this book. They are defined in the glossary.
See Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Living in a Community, by Brian Johnson
Chapter 2: Plants Are Essential for Life, by Barbara Kurland
Chapter 3: Nature's Garden, by Monika Hannemann
Chapter 4; Plants Need Animals!, by Tracey Patterson
Chapter 5: Nature Recycles, by Patricia Hulse
Glossary of Plant and Gardening Terms
Taking Our Children Outside, by Marilyn Smith and Sharon Myrie
Download blank pages to use with activities described in the book.
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a tasting provided by local Prospect Heights restaurant Nin Hao. We’ll also be potting up plants that are believed to bring good luck to take home!
This free drop-in program is part of our February Break Discovery Days programming for families with children of all ages. Garden admission is pay-what-you-wish on Winter Weekdays through February 28.
Explore the Conservatory pavilions to find plants associated with Lunar New Year, including citrus, bamboo, pine, and much more. Read More ›
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
As snow blankets BBG’s outdoor collections, a world of wonder flourishes in the Steinhardt Conservatory below. During your next visit, try to spot one of these unusual fruits in the Tropical Pavilion. No snacking, please!
Synsepalum dulcificum
Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit), an evergreen shrub, has a remarkable ability: Its small, red berries make sour food taste sweet. Native to the tropical regions of West Africa, Synsepalum dulcificum has been used for centuries to make foods and drinks more palatable.
The chemical cause for the effect was unknown until 1968 when researchers identified and isolated the cause for the plant’s unique property—a glycoprotein they aptly called “miraculin.”
Miraculin works by binding itself to—but not activating—sweet-sensing taste receptors in the tongue. When subjected to sustenance with pH values between approximately 3.0 and 6.0, the miraculin causes these receptors to activate. Thus, eating miracle fruit doesn’t eliminate other food and drinks’ sourness. Rather, it layers sweetness atop the acidity.
Vanilla planifolia
The source of the world’s favorite ice cream flavor is a vining orchid fruiting this winter at BBG. When cultivated outside of its pollinators’ native range, the flowers of Vanilla planifolia (vanilla)—each of which blooms for one day only—must be pollinated by hand to bear fruit.
At BBG, this means Tropical Pavilion gardener Kate Murphy carefully and precisely connects “the flower’s male bit to the female bit”—but the bits are delicate and the maneuver requires precision and dexterity. The method was established in 1841 by Edmond Albius—an enslaved 12-year-old boy on the Island of Réunion—and is employed to pollinate virtually all the world’s vanilla today.
After pollination, the flower drops off and green pods emerge that turn yellow and elongate until they resemble skinny bananas. The pods hold thousands of tiny black seeds and take eight to ten months to fully mature. Once harvested, it takes another few months of curing to develop vanilla’s characteristic flavor.
Averrhoa carambola
Averrhoa carambola (carambola), commonly called star fruit, is also currently bearing fruit in the Tropical Pavilion, just in time for Lunar New Year. The small, evergreen tree is a member of the Oxalidaceae, or wood-sorrels family, and has been cultivated in tropical Southeast Asia for centuries, though it is now extinct in the wild.
Carambola bears fruit the size of small pears, with mature trees producing more than 250 pounds per year in optimal conditions. Typically, each fruit features five prominent ridges, so slices of the fruit resemble five-pointed stars. Tasting sweet and sour, carambolas have low calorie content and are high in fiber and vitamin C.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with a special pairing for sharing in the Coffeehouse at Yellow Magnolia Café.
Enjoy a flight of three pours of wine, three cheeses, and two chocolate truffles for $34; additional wine flights $18.
A limited number of café tables are available to reserve in advance. Walk-ins are always welcome and will be accommodated as space allows. Separate Garden admission tickets are required.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden! Hands-on stations throughout this area encourage families, school groups, and camp groups to explore nature alongside our teenage Garden Apprentices.
This is a drop-in program for children of all ages. For school and camp groups, we request a ratio of no more than 10 children per adult. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Become a Discovery Docent at Brooklyn Botanic Garden!
Are you a nature lover who enjoys engaging with children? Join us!
Discovery Docents are adult volunteers who facilitate hands-on nature and science activities throughout the Discovery Garden, a one-acre, hands-on garden for kids and families at BBG. Docents interact with learners of all ages.
Discovery Docents engage with visitors at an activity station. Photo by Blanca Begert.
No prior experience is necessary—all that’s needed is an interest in nature, a willingness to grow and learn, and a friendly team attitude.
Docents are asked to commit to one three-hour shift at the same time each week for an entire season. Each shift includes helping with setup and cleanup, as well as a brief “docent lesson” that deepens our team’s knowledge of plants and BBG.
Participation is contingent upon a brief interview and background check.
Pull up for an evening of good vibes, cocktails, and self-guided tours as we celebrate Caribbean culture, music, and plants in the Steinhardt Conservatory.
Enjoy DJ sets by Danglez and Ayanna Heaven, and cocktails curated by I AM caribBEING’s Shelley Worrell and Yellow Magnolia Café.
Celebrate the spring blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden with casual, pop-up music and dance performances, morning programming for kids and families in the Discovery Garden, and Garden tours.
Jimmy Thomas, Vice President, Visitor Services & Public Safety
Learn how to design rodent resistant composting sites for homes, apartment buildings, and community gardens. Let Compost Power’s expert rat mitigation rubrics and tools guide you in mitigating existing rodent problems and determining when and how to leverage city-agency, nonprofit, or private pest control contractor support. While assessing a compost system at BBG’s Children’s Garden, get inspired to create a rodent reduction plan for your composting project. Part of this class will be held outdoors.
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
This program is a one-time class for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Join educators at activity stations throughout the Children’s Garden. Plant seeds, water vegetables and flowers, create nature crafts, taste fresh produce, dig in the soil, and more. Participants are welcome to register for multiple classes, but activities may repeat. Programs take place rain or shine!
One child-adult pair must register to participate together. Up to three children or adults may be added.
$20/$16 (member) for each additional adult or child in the group (up to 3 additional, 5 total)
Cost includes Garden admission.
Participation Requirements
One adult-child pair must register; may add up to 3 adults or children.
There are no refunds. Exchanges are subject to availability and must be made prior to the event date.
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
Class registration includes Garden access; see bbg.org/visit to confirm hours. Show your ticket at any entrance to enter.
BBG’s Library provides reference services to home gardeners, staff, and the professional horticultural community. It is a convenient access point from which to learn more about all of the Library’s collections and the Garden’s plant collections. The Library is located on the second floor of the historic McKim, Mead & White Administration Building (enter at 1000 Washington Avenue). Members may borrow one or two books for a period of up to two weeks.
LINNAEUS, the Garden’s online catalog, allows visitors to search and tag the Garden’s entire collection of books and serials.
Tuesday–Friday: 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Please email [email protected] ahead of your visit.
Gardener’s Help Line
Library staff can answer your gardening and horticulture questions. Contact [email protected]. Please include your phone number in your email query for a more timely response from our staff. You may also leave a voicemail message at 718-623-7270 and a member of our Library staff will return your call.
To expedite answers, the Help Line staff suggests the following:
Keep your question as straightforward as possible.
Identify your question category: pests and diseases, culture and propagation, plant identification, etc.
Identify the class of plant: tree, shrub, perennial, annual, etc.
Describe the problem. If you’re concerned about an insect, for example, note the appearance of the pest and where you have seen it (on leaves, stems, in the soil), as well as the damage it is doing.
Rare Book Room & Special Collections
Charles Stuart Gager, the first director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, was a man of extraordinary vision, a distinguished botanist, and a bibliophile. For Gager, assembling a great botanical library to support the historical and scientific study of plants was an integral part of building a great botanical garden. Through special endowments and generous gifts, Gager and those who followed built a collection of significant botanical and horticultural works that has few rivals.
Special collections consist of archives of notable individuals, institutional records of the Garden, historical and botanical photography, and original botanical artwork. The photographic and art collections consist, in part, of work produced by staff, commissioned by the Garden, or donated by artists or their estate in support of the Garden’s mission.
Rare Book Collection
The non-circulating rare book collection, comprising some 1500 volumes from the 15th century through the 20th century, is particularly strong in:
Early European herbals, including those by Brunfels, Dodoens, Fuchs, and Mattioli.
The great color-plate books, including those by Blackwell, Miller, Loudon, Hooker, and Redouté.
Landmark works by Linnaeus, including correspondence, Hortus Cliffortianus, and Species Plantarum.
New World floras by early travelers in the Americas, like Bartram, Catesby, and Michaux.
Bibliographic records for most of this collection are available through LINNAEUS, the Library's online catalog.
Other Notable Collections
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Historic Image Collection consists of glass plate negatives, lantern slides, film-based negatives, and works on paper created during the first half of the 20th century that document all aspects of the Garden and its programs.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society documents the Garden's living collections in watercolor, pen and ink, and other media.
A significant portion of the library’s science, rare book, and special collections is maintained off-site in storage with limited access.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators and teenage Garden apprentices.
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators.
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Calling all nature explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Calling all explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Wednesday evenings from May 27 through September 2 are for members only! Savor the Garden during the twilight hours and enjoy your favorite summer blossoms on these special nights when the Garden grounds, shop, and Canteen stay open exclusively for members.
Guest passes are accepted, so bring a friend! You may also purchase $10 guest tickets (limit 4 per person, exclusively for Members’ Evenings).
See below for details on seven special picnic nights. Outside food and beverages and blankets are not permitted at other times.
Not a Garden member yet? Join today to attend this and other exclusive member events throughout the year.
Picnic Nights: On these special nights, blankets and outside food and drink are permitted in select locations. Outside food and beverages and blankets are not permitted on other Members’ Summer Evenings or during public hours.
Garden members enjoy perks including discounts and special members-only hours. Members have exclusive access to the Garden every Wednesday evening in summer (May–August), and on autumn weekend mornings (September–October).
Members get more—BBG membership offers you exclusive discounts at the Garden!
Enjoy an exclusive 10% member discount (unless otherwise noted) at BBG dining and Terrain at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Reciprocal Privileges
As a benefit of membership, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is pleased to offer reciprocal privileges (free or discounted admission and other discounts) at horticultural institutions affiliated with the American Horticultural Society (AHS). Just show your current BBG membership card to receive free admission. For a complete list of participating institutions, visit the AHS Garden Network page.
Please check hours and other details with participating institutions in advance of visiting.
Contact Us
For more information on membership levels and benefits, including educational and corporate membership and discounts for senior citizens, call Membership at 718-623-7210 or email [email protected].
Not yet a member? Join today to receive a year of free admission and more!
Show your membership card to bypass the admission lines at BBG's Halloween festival. Event Details ›
For 6- and 7-year-olds. Sprouts work together to care for their garden plots! Sprouts practice seasonal horticulture skills such as planting, watering, weeding, organic pest control, and more. Participants harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262 nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Participation Requirements
For Sprouts, children must be at least 6 years old, or turn 6 within a month of the program’s start date.
For 2- and 3-year-olds with an adult. Learn about the wonders of gardening with your 2- or 3-year-old during this active hands-on program offered during spring and fall. Our youngest gardeners work with their adult partner to tend to their garden plots, sing songs, taste new foods, and create nature crafts.
This is not a drop-off program. Consistent weekly attendance of one adult per child is required. No additional adults or children including infants or older siblings, please.
Cost
60-minute sections: $262 nonmember/$236 member
90-minute sections: $367 nonmember/$341 member
Participation Requirements
One hour and 1.5-hour programs are offered. We recommend the 1.5-hour class for 3-year-olds or returning families.
The class is for one adult-child pair only; no siblings or additional adults please.
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
For 4 and 5-year-olds. Seeds work together to care for their garden plots! Seeds practice real gardening skills such as planting, watering, weeding, spreading compost, and more. Participants harvest and taste fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, listen to garden stories, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262/nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Participation Requirements
For Seeds, children must be 4 years old or turn 4 within a month after the program start date.
Seeds participants must be comfortable using the bathroom on their own. Child-size toilets are located inside the Children’s Garden House.
For 8- through 13-year-olds. City Farmers work together to care for their garden plots! City Farmers practice seasonal horticulture skills such as planting, trellis building, weed identification, organic pest control, seed saving, and more. Participants harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262 nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Discover plants from faraway places and different climates around the world on this tour of the Steinhardt Conservatory.
Included with Garden admission; no registration necessary; no groups. Schedule a group tour.
Please note tours can be canceled due to inclement weather. Check this page for updates.
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Hours
Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Thank you for supporting our fifth annual Lightscape Family Benefit. We were thrilled to share the night with nearly 500 guests and, thanks to your generosity, raise over $93,000 to strengthen and sustain the Garden’s youth education programs. See photos from the evening. If you didn’t make it to Lightscape Family Benefit, you can still contribute to BBG by making a gift here.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden invites you to an exclusive Lightscape experience at the Family Benefit Evening—a festive fundraiser that’s fun for kids and families alike. Enjoy a buffet of delicious food and treats, lively entertainment including balloon artists, magicians, stilt walkers, face painting, and more, and a stroll along BBG’s breathtaking illuminated trails. Adults can also unwind with drinks from the open bar as everyone enjoys this magical night amid the dazzling lights. Festive attire encouraged!
Now in its fifth year, this annual benefit offers a magical evening for families while supporting the Garden’s youth education programs—and 2025 is sure to be the best year yet!
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Photos by Will Ragozzino, Liz Ligon, and Sean Sime.
Family Benefit tickets include:
Exclusive access to the Lightscape experience—enjoy spectacular lights and colors as you meander through the outdoor trail without the crowds
Complimentary hot cocoa and cider (spiked for adults!) along the route, as well as special performances and family photo opportunities
Light fare, an open bar, and family fun activities for kids and adults indoors in BBG’s Palm House, including face painting
A BBG gift bag with take-home garden activity
Complimentary parking (self-park)
The estimated nondeductible portion of each Lightscape Family Benefit ticket is $50 per adult and $35 per child. For more information about tickets, donations, and sponsorships or to purchase tickets or donate by phone, call Special Events at 718-623-7356 or email [email protected].
Package & Ticket Levels
Tickets range from $75 to $150, with packages starting at $500. To be a part of the Lightscape Family Benefit Host Committee, join us at the Friend, Contributor, or Supporter level.
Supporter ($5,000)
Premier Host Committee listing on event materials
12 tickets (adult or child/teen)
Complimentary yearlong Contributor membership
Contributor ($2,500)
Host Committee listing on event materials
8 tickets (adult or child/teen)
Complimentary yearlong Friends & Family membership
Admissions and membership revenue helps Brooklyn Botanic Garden care for its 52 acres of grounds and conservatories and provide the environmental education programs, breathtaking botanical displays, exciting public events, and community greening efforts that have made the Garden a world-class living museum for all to enjoy. Thank you for supporting this with your visit!
Free Admission Opportunities
Admission is free:
BBG members receive free general admission year-round.
Children under 12 are always free.
Community Tickets: A portion of each day’s tickets are available free of charge to those who need them.
Free admission during public hours is also offered to the individuals and groups listed below. Check full details at the link below before planning your visit.
Academic members and participants in the following programs, with valid ID:
Students, employees of Medgar Evers
Students, employees, alum of Pratt
Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment students and families, employees
Cool Culture cardholders and their families
Garden Apprentice Program teens and families
Project Green Reach classrooms, students and families (with pass)
Urban Advantage teachers, classrooms, students and families (with voucher)
Visitors with the following affiliations, with valid ID:
Individual members of the following museum and garden associations: AHS, APGA, Museums Council of New York City
Members of gardens that participate in the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program
Employees of current corporate members
Brooklyn Botanic Garden volunteers
With preregistration:
Public library patrons with a Culture Pass reservation (with pass)
Registered, self-guided school and camp groups
Registered, self-guided groups from nonprofit senior centers, shelters, rehabilitation centers, and other 501(c)(3) organizations serving people with disabilities
Participants in accessibility programs, including monthly Memory Tours
Community Greening & NYC Compost Project workshop participants
This spring, bring your school group (of any age!) on a self-guided visit to the Discovery Garden. Our volunteer Discovery Docents will lead hands-on activity stations throughout this area of the Garden. Be sure to explore our meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats, too!
This is a free, self-guided program for school groups of all ages. For each time slot, there is a maximum class size of 30 students. We request a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 10 students, and we will divide classes into smaller groups upon arrival.
School groups must register in advance for Discovery Garden access at these times.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page and your inbox for updates. Questions? Email [email protected].
This registration includes a ticket for school group Garden admission any time after 10 a.m. and Discovery Garden admission at the selected entry time. Maximum group size is 30 students plus teachers and chaperones.
Over a dozen different kinds of flowers grace the grounds of the late-winter garden at BBG. Celebrate the transition from winter to spring by admiring these petite, colorful, and sturdy blooms undeterred by the frost.
Join Lynne Spevack, L.C.S.W. for this hour-long, narrated nature walk designed to chase away the winter blues. This walk is held in light rain or snow; dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Included with Garden; no registration necessary; no groups, please. Schedule a group tour.
Please note tours can be canceled due to inclement weather. Check bbg.org for updates.
Beyond our celebrated butterflies, there is a world of interconnected predators and prey in every Brooklyn garden. Join us to understand the lives and life cycles of many of the helpful insects that keep pest insects in check: from ladybugs and parasitic wasps to lacewings, firefly larvae, and beyond. And learn how to attract them to your garden!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Soil is our foundation as gardeners and healthy soil is alive. The best urban gardening soils have healthy soil structure, drainage, fertility, filtering, and water-holding capacity. With the right ecological soil stewardship techniques, you can build your soil’s organic matter and foster thriving soil biology. Whether you garden in raised beds, containers, or directly in-ground, you will learn to better connect with the ground you grow on!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Infused oils hold profound kitchen medicine yet are a simple entry into the practice of herbalism. Learn about different base oils along with methods for herbal infusion, extraction, and use—from marinades to emulsions—packing flavor, aroma, and nutrients in every drop. From a buffet of herbs and spices, formulate your very own infused oil for your kitchen and community.
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
Free with registration. For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Celebrate Brooklyn’s West Indian community with a Tuesday Night Fête at the Garden featuring live DJs. Dance along to Caribbean beats while enjoying a curated cocktail and special food menu, plus take a free tour of tropical & Caribbean plants. Bring your flag and get ready to jump into the annual West Indian American Day parade!
Celebrate the fall season surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s most fabulous foliage. Enjoy live music, hands-on activities for families, and more. Come dressed in your best flannel—or a costume for an afternoon parade!
Check back for details soon.
Experience a collaborative soundscape exploring the connections between Brooklyn Botanic Garden and its community.
Bring a mat or towel, find a spot on the grass of Cherry Esplanade, lie back, and soak up the multisensory experience.
Ages 14 and up. Pop-up bar; no outside food, drink, or chairs permitted. Wheelchairs are welcome and accessible seating is available for people with limited mobility. Please contact [email protected] with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
Check back for details soon.
Celebrate summer at the Garden with live jazz on Thursday evenings. Bring a blanket to stretch out and enjoy the music, presented in partnership with local arts organizations. Performances start at 7. Each night also features a tour or other Garden activity. Pop-up bar; no outside food, drink, or chairs permitted.
Wheelchairs are welcome and accessible seating is available for people with limited mobility. Please contact [email protected] with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
Signature Plants are a benefit of membership at the Contributor level and above. Plants are hand-selected by BBG’s Horticulture staff for their beauty and ability to thrive in a wide range of hardiness zones and light, soil, and moisture conditions, so you’re sure to find something perfect for your garden or home.
2026 Signature Plant Pickup Events
Eligible members are invited to select their 2026 Signature Plant on one of two pickup dates:
Sunday, May 10, 2026 | 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Savor a spring day in the Garden with coffee and morning treats.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 6–8:30 p.m.
Enjoy wine and light snacks during a spring evening.
Please check back for updates.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden! Hands-on stations encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators and teenage Garden apprentices. Be sure to explore our meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats, too!
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Calling all explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Related Event
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
This midwinter break, families and kids can enjoy a special indoor edition of Discovery Programs in BBG’s Steinhardt Conservatory. This week’s program themes are:
Dates & Themes
Conservatory Quest (all ages)
Monday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 18
Travel from the desert to the rainforest (and beyond) in the blink of an eye! Use all five of your senses to investigate plants from these habitats.
First Discoveries (ages 4 & under)
Friday, February 20
Calling all toddlers and their caregivers! Enjoy a special indoor edition of First Discoveries, complete with crafts, stories, and other activities designed for our youngest nature explorers.
A One-Day Symposium, Trade Show, & Career Fair for Horticulture Professionals
Plant-O-Rama is Metro Hort Group’s largest annual event for professionals in horticulture attracting nearly 1,000 gardeners, designers, arborists, and educators working in public parks, botanical gardens, and private gardens and landscapes in the New York City tri-state region.
Individual tickets are required for access to morning or afternoon featured speakers and panel discussion. Admission to trade show, career fair, guided walks, and closing party is free. See full speaker list, schedule, and other details at metrohort.org.
Special notice: BBG’s parking lot is closed this weekend and street parking is extremely limited. Please use public transportation or make arrangements to be dropped off. Enter at 990 Washington Avenue or 455 Flatbush Avenue; the Eastern Parkway entrance is closed.
Hello, Brooklyn! Neighbors in Nature
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual spring conference Making Brooklyn Bloom is offered free to community gardeners and the broader public with exhibits, workshops, networking opportunities, and speakers focusing on sustainable horticulture.
This year’s conference theme, “Hello Brooklyn! Neighbors in Nature,” highlights BBG’s community greening programs, particularly the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. Participate in workshops, enjoy tours and talks, and network with NYC greening organizations at a conference that has brought Brooklyn nature-lovers together for over 40 years.
Conference tickets are required for all attendees. This free ticket provides admission to the Garden and conference.
Registration opens March 2 for morning sessions—including workshops, talks, and tours—and the keynote address and is online only. Limited spots; no on-site registration. Registration details will be emailed to ticketholders. Afternoon sessions do not require registration and are first come, first served on event day.
ASL available at all Auditorium talks; reserved seating areas for ASL users and those with limited mobility at front of Auditorium. If you need further assistance or require any other accommodations to participate fully,
please reach out to us by February 28 at
[email protected] or 718-623-7250.
Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address
Radical Joy and Resistance
Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
In the Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address, Kofi Thomas—community gardener, public speaker, and comedian—explores the lessons that nature can teach us about resilience, interdependence, and harmony within community. “I believe we can fight for the land and for each other with a smile... as long as we look to nature for the lessons that teach us how to care for one another,” says Thomas. “In fact, without the principles embodied in our gardens, there would be no community.”
Schedule
10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Open Activities and Tabling
Palm House
Connect with dozens of NYC greening groups.
Pick up a free veggie start courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden while they last.
Learn about BBG’s Brooklyn Urban Gardener certificate program.
Enter your block in BBG’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest.
Rotunda
Pick up free veggie seeds.
Visit the Ask a Gardener table for answers to your horticultural questions.
Browse the Library’s Community Greening exhibit.
Check out displays from NYC greening groups.
Conservatory, Lower Level
Pot up your own houseplant, while supplies last, at the Propagation Station.
Explore the tree-inspired art exhibit “Notice/Know/Kin”
(plus catch a gallery talk with exhibit artist and BBG community field manager Nina Browne at 3 p.m.).
Visitor Center
Botanical Beading: Stringing Job’s Tears
Make a piece of jewelry strung with Job’s tears seeds. While materials last.
Beading Sonic Strands
Join the 2026 Heidi Nitze Art × Environment Fellows Olalekan Jeyifous and AD—WO in beading natural and found materials for a public art installation at BBG. While materials last.
Painting with Native Plants
Create a painting using ink from chàkinkwèm (Lenape for pokeweed) berries and other native plants, with Native Roots Farm Foundation.
11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; limited space available.
Note: Registration is now closed for morning workshops and tours. Walk-up space is available for the Auditorium talk.
12–1 p.m.
Lunch
Snacks and lunches are available for purchase in the Palm House.
Bring-Your-Lunch Breakout Sessions
Classrooms
Join a conversation about Composting, Community Gardening, School Gardening, or Street Tree Stewardship.
Bring-Your-Lunch Zones
Conservatory, lower level
Look for signage for areas to sit, eat your lunch, and chat with fellow attendees.
1:30–2:45 p.m.
Keynote
Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address: “Radical Joy and Resistance” (online pre-registration required; opens March 2) Auditorium
Presented by Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
Note: Advance registration for the keynote address is full. There will be a standby line at the event.
Leave us your feedback and get a token of our thanks!
Sessions: Talks, Workshops & Tours
Workshops & tours repeat at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
There are different auditorium talks in the morning and the afternoon. See descriptions below.
Registration is now closed for morning workshops and tours. Walk-up space is available for the Auditorium talk.
Afternoon sessions are first come, first served on event day; no registration.
Auditorium Talks
ASL interpretation will be available for all talks. Reserved seating areas for wheelchair and ASL users at front of Auditorium.
Our Insect Neighbors
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Dr. Laura Melissa Guzman, Department of Entomology, Cornell University
Ever wondered who’s buzzing around the block? Are they friend or foe? Many insects are in decline, but cities can be safe havens for these ecologically important species. How can we support insect biodiversity? Learn some common insect IDs and find out how to engage with citizen science to support our most underappreciated and overlooked Brooklynites. Online pre-registration required; opens March 2.
Keynote: Radical Joy and Resistance
1:30–2:45 p.m.
Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
In the Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address, Thomas explores the lessons that nature can teach us about resilience, interdependence, and harmony within community. Learn about the importance of reflecting on what nature has to offer us when we consider how to care for one another, and our ourselves. Online pre-registration required; opens March 2.
Bananas of the World
3–4 p.m.
Anthony Basil Rodriguez, Ethnobotanist
Bananas are deeply intertwined with human history, yet preserving the biodiversity of this iconic plant faces vast challenges. Come on a photographic journey through an ethnobotanist’s fieldwork around the globe. At the intersection of art and botany, delve into the scientific and cultural significance of this food staple, exploring bananas’ role in local traditions, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
Workshops
Each workshop runs twice, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. & 3–4 p.m. Morning workshops require online pre-registration; opens March 2.
Beginning With a Seed
Greenhouse 2 Joanne D’Auria, HortAbility
A great workshop for beginning gardeners! Seeds hold such potential, yet what is a seed? Learn the basics of seed types, life cycles, and how seed-starting compares to other ways to propagate. Start some seeds for your garden or windowsill.
Blooming with Meaning: Flower Stories of the African Diaspora
Lily Pool Room Maya Marie S., Deep Routes
Flowers have been connecting communities and neighbors together for centuries, epecially the people of the African diaspora. Join us as we share some of these diasporic stories, explore Black florists’ contributions to New York’s flower scene, and learn the origins of a selection of beloved flowers. Take home a flower start and seeds.
Community Gardens: Telling Our Stories
Room 123 Hiroko Neely, The Amazing Garden
Whether for posterity or for strengthening future membership, capturing the histories of Brooklyn’s community garden movement is vital work. Hear from a local independent filmmaker and community gardener who is documenting the history of Red Hook’s Amazing Garden’s history through interviews and stories shared by its founders and longtime gardeners, helping preserve their legacy for generations of neighbors to come.
Interspecies Gardening in Brooklyn
Magnolia Room Rona Taylor, Brooklyn Urban Gardener
How can urban gardeners think more holistically about the plants, pollinators, soil microbes, and other wildlife that share our garden spaces? How can we successfully navigate city bureaucracy and funding sources to make these holistic projects come to life. Hear from a local community activist seeking to do just that in a Brooklyn park and playground space.
Seed Saving
Greenhouse 3 Scott Thomas, Wyckoff House Museum
Saving seeds and their stories is essential to preserving our past and safeguarding our future. Explore the science and practice of collecting and storing many kinds of seed. Take home some seeds to try.
Street Tree Habitats
Room 236 Kara Lesondak & Debra Sweet, Crown Heights Keepers
We know that street tree beds can be the most challenging urban spaces in which to garden. Can we actually transform them into havens for locally evolved plants and pollinators? Yes, we can! Learn how from the reigning 2025 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest residential champions.
Vermicomposting at Home
Room 125 Jean Lewis-Laldee, Brooklyn Urban Garden
Compost happens—even in a tiny Brooklyn apartment! Learn how to harness the power of red worms to convert your kitchen scraps into black gold, no matter where you live.
Special Tours
Join an indoor or outdoor tour with BBG volunteers and staff. Each tour repeats at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Morning tours require online pre-registration; opens March 2.
Gardening in Shade Tour: Lessons from the Woodland Garden
Outdoors; meet at the Visitor Center staircase Ivan Gilbert, BBG
Every urban gardener has a challenging spot of dry shade, often under a tree. Woodland ecosystems have much to teach us. Tour BBG’s shady Elizabeth Scholtz Woodland Garden—led by the gardener himself —for some planting inspiration this season. Weather permitting.
Lichen Tour of BBG
Outdoors; meet at the Lily Pool Terrace staircase Isabella Array, BBG
When did you first notice a lichen—the living things that grow on the surface of trees and stones? Take a journey to understand and identify the lichens around us and gain a deeper appreciation for these marvelous lifeforms.
Weather permitting.
Our Changing Climate Tour of the Conservatory
Indoors; Steinhardt Conservatory, upper level BBG Garden Guide
From green algae to plants, our photosynthesizing neighbors have adapted to climates all over the world for billions of years. Taking inspiration from the planet’s biodiversity, visit the Trail of Plant Evolution, Aquatic House, and Tropical Pavilion. Explore the carbon cycle and learn the importance of conserving tropical forests and wetlands.
This tour is 40 minutes.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden gratefully acknowledges support for this program from the Family of Wilbur A. Levin, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS Assembly, the NYS Senate, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Sanitation, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and the NYC Council.
Leadership Support, Community Greening Programs
Major Sponsor, Making Brooklyn Bloom
All positions have been filled for 2026. Please check back in December for information about the 2027 fellowship.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden Education Fellowship program prepares aspiring environmental educators for positions in the field, both at BBG and beyond.
Education Fellows spend the growing season in BBG’s Children’s Garden, teaching young people to grow, harvest, and cook their own food, care for the environment, and explore the natural world.
Fellows teach age-appropriate gardening lessons to a group of up to 12 children with the assistance of two to three teen apprentices from our Garden Apprentice Program. Fellows are responsible for caring for their garden beds and designing hands-on garden-based lessons for children ages 4 through 13. Fellows also teach up to eight family programs, guiding children and their families at hands-on stations in the Children’s Garden. Early Childhood Fellows co-teach an additional class for children 2–3 alongside their adult caregiver.
The comprehensive paid training program covers food gardening, seasonal themes, best practices for outdoor education, and horticulture skills. Training topics include garden bed maintenance, child development and behavioral differences, universal design for learning, mentorship training, botany, and more.
There are some holidays and days between seasons with no scheduled shifts. Please see the 2026 application for the complete schedule.
Qualifications
We look for candidates who have some experience with either children or gardening and who hope to pursue a career in horticulture or informal science education. Candidates must be comfortable working outdoors and performing manual labor in various weather conditions.
Please email us at [email protected] with any questions about the program or application process.
Program alumni have pursued careers as school garden teachers, environmental education coordinators, horticulturists, and more at institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, Edible Schoolyard NYC, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Wave Hill, and STEM From Dance.
“I learned some great skills around education, behavioral management, and teamwork that I will hold to. I think this fellowship also made me a much stronger gardener and fueled my interest in the environment by giving me a strong network of peers who are equally excited by the study of ecology and agriculture.”
“I loved seeing kids be excited about gardening and nature! It was so fun and sweet to share my joy about gardening with them and to see how excited they were about it too. I also appreciated the combination of structure and abundant existing lesson plans and activities we could choose from, combined with lots of freedom to try new things.”
“I loved the kids I worked with and the age-group, the gardening, my wonderful colleagues, and overall, I felt super supported and appreciated as an employee.”
For children 4 through 13. During this 6-session program, groups work together to care for their garden plots! Participants practice horticulture skills such as planting, watering, weeding, compost exploration, and more. Groups harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Age Groups
Ages 4–5
Ages 6–7
Ages 8–10
Ages 11–13
Cost
$445 nonmember/$419 member
Transform sidewalks, medians, tree pits, and curb strips into thriving green spaces! In this two-part class, students will learn the basics of how to design and care for urban streetscape plantings. Learn practical techniques for working with limited soil, choosing resilient native and pollinator-friendly plants, managing water sustainably, and navigating city regulations. Perfect for anyone interested in urban greening, landscape design, or community beautification. Some prior gardening experience is beneficial.
150 Eastern Parkway (temporarily closed)
455 Flatbush Avenue
990 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Public Transportation
Subway
to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum for 150 Eastern Parkway and 990 Washington Avenue entrances
to Prospect Park for 455 Flatbush Avenue entrance (no B train on weekends)
to Franklin Avenue (no elevator) for 990 Washington Avenue and 150 Eastern Parkway entrances
Bus
Nearest bus services:
B16 to Ocean Avenue
B41 to Empire Boulevard
B43 to Washington Avenue
B45 to Washington Avenue
B48 to Eastern Parkway
10-minute walk from a Garden entrance:
B16 to Lincoln Road
B41 or B69 to Brooklyn Public Library
B49 to Eastern Parkway
B65 to Classon Avenue
LIRR
LIRR to Flatbush Avenue/Atlantic Avenue Station. Connect with 2, 3, 4, or 5 train or B41 bus.
Parking
Pay-on-Entry Days: Parking is $27, payable on entry, on all First Saturdays. .
Attended parking (for a fee) is available at 900 Washington Avenue.
The parking lot is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no overnight parking; monthly parking by arrangement.
Time
Rate (off-peak days)
Up to 1 hour
$10
Up to 2 hours
$12
Up to 3 hours
$14
Up to 4 hours
$16
Up to 5 hours
$18
Maximum to closing
$24
Up to 24 hours
$35
Lost ticket (pays per day)
$35
Special event rates apply on busy days.
School buses (only when space permits): $25 for maximum to closing; $50 for up to 24 hours; $50 per day for lost ticket.
Regular buses: $90 for maximum to closing; $120 for up to 24 hours; $120 per day for lost ticket.
Drawing from Latin American and Caribbean traditions such as cumbia, bolero, son jarocho, Julia Rocha led community workshops and created a bilingual music performance connecting the human-plant relationship and exploring our responsibilities as land stewards.
In 2024, Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosted Patrick Costello as artist in residence. During his residency, Costello led a family-friendly hand-puppet workshop, conducted a community chorus in the Garden, and created an immersive and participatory processional performance called The Holes are Alive: A Garden Tour focused on plants and pollinators.
From June through September 2023, Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosted Kamala Sankaram as artist in residence. Drawing inspiration from trees in our collection, tree care and caretakers, and the symbolism of trees as places of gathering, shelter, and culture, Sankaram created two new pieces inspired by the Garden’s 2023 theme, Power of Trees.
During his summer 2022 residency, Jean-René Delsoin's study of BBG’s gardens, plants, trees, and wildlife along with Haitian culture, traditions, and heritage informed a work created and presented in collaboration with NYC-based dance and drum practitioners.
Residency Support
During the residency, the artist spends time creating work in and inspired by the Garden. They host public classes, seminars, or activities, then showcase their final work in the fall.
Residency Support
Access to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden library and archives
Research meetings with gardeners and staff
Access to the Garden, including outside of public hours by arrangement
Access to BBG’s events and programs
A shared desk area and Wi-Fi
Artist stipend of $8,000 plus additional funds for production & performer support
Selection Criteria
Eligibility
Discipline: Artists interested in the live performance world including (but not limited to) choreographers, dancers, musicians, playwrights, and theater makers.
Artist must be a resident of New York City. This residency does not provide housing or transportation.
Artist must respect the plant life and abide by Garden rules. A residency contract will be executed.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an equal opportunity organization and encourages all eligible applicants to apply.
Application Components
Portfolio of 3–5 pieces of work
Resume
Written proposal including:
Performance ideas integrating the 2025 theme
Public engagement ideas; seminars, classes, etc.
Artist’s relation to or interest in botanic subject matter
Anticipated needs for residency supplies, equipment, space, and budget
Artist statement
Selection
Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff and previous artists in residence and selected on the following criteria:
Integration of the theme into the performance piece
The proposal reflects Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s mission and community and is appropriate for all ages.
Feasible for Brooklyn Botanic Garden; think about the impact on the grounds and flexibility of the performance in an outdoor environment.
Strength of the public engagement proposals; how do you propose to get to know BBG’s community and vice versa?
Relationship or interest in botanic subject matter
Applicant’s portfolio of work and examples of completed performances
The Performing Artist in Residency is on hiatus for 2026.
Learn to strategize quickly with the watercolor medium and embrace a more loose, impressionistic style. We will work from still life fruits and vegetables on smaller sheets of paper. Your instructor will demonstrate how to approach different textures, values, and color vibrancy without working in slow layers, as many times, that’s how we feel most comfortable. Still life objects will be provided, and students are encouraged to bring in their own still life inspiration as well. All levels are welcome!
Learn the different parts of a tree, how they function, and practical implications for tree care professionals. Jargon is often used poorly, both when biologists talk to arborists, and when arborists talk to clients. Learn how to make sense of these biological principles—for yourself and your clients—and how to apply them to your work. Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
This course is approved for the following ISA credits: Certified Arborist – 6.0, BCMA Science – 6.0.
Learn some of the mechanics behind floral design so you can advance your practice. Students will experiment with various materials including chicken wire, agrawool, and other ways of supporting unique and sculptural arrangements. Understanding of basic floral design is preferable.
Make beautiful arrangements that will last the whole season. Working with dried flowers creates wonderful, sustainable options for winter.
Explore the ivory, cream, parchment, and oyster shades of winter white with a seasonal floral display. Using a variety of winter blooms and textural elements, you’ll create a stunning centerpiece fit for the season. The instructor will offer step-by-step instruction—from palette selection and flower care to professional techniques for crafting a lush and unique floral arrangement.
Looking to make something really special for a loved one? Forget roses. Learn how other flowers have traditionally been used to communicate different emotions, along with basic floral design techniques. Then make a gorgeous arrangement to delight your beloved.
Get Tickets Become a Member Full Admission Information › Seasonal Hours March Tuesday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (last entry 5:30 p.m.) Closed Mondays April 1–May 10: Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Bloom Open early & late! Tuesday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. (except 4…
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden Fellowship program prepares aspiring environmental educators for positions in the field, both at BBG and beyond.
Join Onondaga farmer, seedkeeper, and educator Angela Ferguson, as she plants Three Sisters seeds in the Discovery Garden’s courtyard. The Three Sisters (corn, squash, and beans) have been planted together by Indigenous people in the Americas for thousands of years, with the understanding that each of these plants supports and reinforces the growth of the others.
Visitors can taste traditional Haudenosaunee foods and take part in hands-on learning opportunities about the Three Sisters crops and seed-saving practices.
This is a drop-in program for visitors of all ages, including children. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather. Check this page for updates.
Angela Ferguson, a member of the Onondaga Nation (Eel Clan), is supervisor of the Onondaga Nation Farm and a member of Braiding the Sacred, a grassroots network of Indigenous corn growers. She is known as a leader in the Indigenous food sovereignty movement. Read BBG’s interview with her in Garden Stories: Angela Ferguson of Onondaga Nation Farm on the Importance of Saving Seeds.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Enjoy magical access to the Garden’s famous Kanzan trees!
Find a spot on Cherry Esplanade to enjoy the cherry blossoms, lit up for maximum effect, and savor the spring vibe with family and friends. Stroll in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and along Cherry Walk, try your hand at origami and other Japanese crafts, view a curated display of bonsai, and enjoy live performances and specialty food and drinks. Bring a blanket and picnic under the cherry blossoms!
Tickets go on sale Monday, March 16, at 9 a.m. and sell out quickly. Special discounts for Garden members.
Practice the Japanese art of folding paper. For visitors of every skill level. Atrium
Bonsai Display
View a curated selection of bonsai specimens from the Garden’s famous collection. Atrium
Japanese Food & Drinks
Purchase treats from a special menu presented in collaboration with Japan Village and Saiko Sushi and picnic under the cherry blossoms. Outside food not permitted.
Hanami Nights Pop-Up Menu
Starters and Snacks
Sunomono | $5 (VG, AG)
sesame-marinated cucumbers
Mori Soba | $7 (VG)
chilled buckwheat noodles w/ soy & mirin
Onigiri | $7 (V)
roasted kombu or scallion-miso
Vegetable Gyoza | $7 (V)
4 pieces
Assorted Japanese Snacks | $3 to $6
Sushi by Saiko Sushi
Spicy Tuna Roll | $12 (AG)
Cucumber Avocado Roll | $12 (VG, AG)
Larger Items
Veggie Yakitori with Japanese Glaze | $12 (V, AG)
Chicken Katsu Sandwich | $16
cabbage, tonkatsu mayo, milk bread
Beverages
Joto Sake | $13
‘Graffiti’ One-Cup, 6 oz.
Junmai, 4 oz.
Nigori, 4 oz.
Prisma Red or White Wine | $12
Talea Beer | $9.75
Liquid Fables Canned Cocktails | $15
Water | $4.75
Hal’s New York Seltzer | $4.75
VG | VEGAN, V | VEGETARIAN, AG | AVOIDS GLUTEN
PERFORMANCES & SCHEDULE
Cherry Esplanade emcee: Saori Goda
Cherry Esplanade emcee Saori Goda is a performer and actress who has appeared on “Love Your Selfie,” My Daughter Yoshiko, and the Tonight Show.
Listen to the traditional Japanese instrument variation performed by Ken Hutchinson (Jiuta shamisen), Kirsten Carey (Tsugaru shamisen), and Rino Aise (Okinawa sanshin) as you stroll the Japanese Garden.
Japanese Dances from Kabuki to Contemporary by Sachiyo Ito Dance Company
7:30–8:15 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Sachiyo Ito and Company will perform kabuki dances from the 19th century and choreographed works by Sachiyo Ito based on the aesthetics, style, and techniques of Japanese classical dance.
The Hudson Valley Shakuhachi Choir
5:15, 6:15, 7:15 p.m. | Japanese Hill-and-Pond Viewing Pavilion
The Hudson Valley Shakuhachi Choir explores the resonant overtones and rich timbre of the Japanese bamboo flute through traditional and contemporary works.
Discover the beauty and versatility of traditional Japanese cotton cloths tenugui and turoshikia with a hands-on wrapping experience. Led by Ruri Kippenbrock of Wuhao New York Tenugui Art.
Discover the beauty and versatility of traditional Japanese cotton cloths tenugui and turoshikia with a hands-on wrapping experience. Led by Ruri Kippenbrock of Wuhao New York Tenugui Art.
This dance and drum performance captures the dynamic energy of frozen snow melting and the awakening of life in spring.
Partners
Sake Partner, Hanami Nights
March has us daydreaming about all things crisp and green—little leafy shoots, early peas, handfuls of fresh herbs—but in reality most spring produce has yet to reach the greenmarket. In the meantime, this hearty potato pizza offers a welcome change of pace from heavier winter fare while still utilizing readily available storage crops and dried herbs. Pair it with a citrus and fennel salad for a lovely late-winter brunch or light dinner.
Native to the Andes and first domesticated 7,000 years ago, Solanum tuberosum came to Italy in the sixteenth century via Spanish conquistadors but was initially regarded with suspicion—perhaps because the leaves and fruits of this nightshade plant are indeed toxic. (For this reason, when buying potatoes, avoid any that are sprouting or have green skin, as well as any that feel soft.) Fortunately for all of us, by the early nineteenth century Italians had made their peace with this reliable crop and integrated it into their regional cuisines.
Today, potato is a much-loved pizza topping, most famously in Rome, where vast rectangular pies are sold al taglio, each slice cut to order and priced by weight. While often garnished only with a bit of olive oil and herbs, this version adds cheese for a richer take; you can substitute Monterey Jack for the fontina if that’s what you have.
The potatoes you’ll find at market in winter and spring were harvested in the fall and then stored in cool, humid conditions to last until the next crop matures (properly stored potatoes can keep for up to seven or eight months). For this recipe, opt for waxy varieties such as ‘Banana’, ‘Amarosa’, ‘Soraya’, or ‘Yukon Gold’.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/_lightbox_tablet_regular/Potato_pizza_close_crop.jpeg"}Golden-fleshed ‘Soraya’ and pink ‘Amarosa’ potatoes add a layer of color to this otherwise minimalist pizza. Photo by Stephanie Fletcher.
Recipe: Potato and Red Onion Pizza with Fontina and Thyme
Makes 8 servings
Note: One pizza is likely enough for a meal, unless you are serving a crowd, so although the recipe below makes enough dough for two pizzas, the quantities for the toppings are for one pizza only. You can of course double them if desired, or make a second pizza with different toppings. Alternatively, freeze half of the dough for another time; thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then let it come to room temperature before topping and baking.
For the dough
3¾ cups (492 g) all-purpose flour
1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1½ cups (350 ml) room-temperature water
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the bowl
For the toppings
8–12 ounces waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold
3–4 ounces fontina cheese, grated (1–1½ cups)
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ teaspoon dried thyme, or to taste
A drizzle of olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Make the Dough
In a large bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Add the water and olive oil. Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together in a shaggy mass, then continue to mix and knead with your hands until the dough is relatively uniform, 3 to 5 minutes. The dough will be very soft and sticky—that’s okay! Wetting your hands can help prevent sticking. (You could also make this in a stand mixer, if you have one; use the dough hook attachment.)
Pour a little olive oil into a clean mixing bowl, then transfer the dough to the bowl and turn it a couple times to coat completely with oil. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, 60 to 90 minutes.
Top and Bake the Pizza
While the dough is rising, put the potatoes in a saucepan or small pot and add enough water to cover by about 1 inch. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and boil gently until the potatoes can be pierced with a sharp knife but still offer a little resistance, about 5 minutes for small potatoes (longer for larger potatoes). Transfer the potatoes to a plate or cutting board to cool.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, slice them as thinly as you can.
About half an hour before you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 475°F. Have ready an ungreased baking sheet.
Divide the dough in half. Plop one half into a resealable freezer bag and freeze it for later use. Stretch the remaining dough into a large rectangle on your baking sheet. The soft dough may feel a little unwieldy but should be easy enough to lift, stretch, and press evenly into place with your fingers. If the dough shrinks back while you are trying to stretch it, let it rest for about 5 minutes and then try again.
Spread the cheese evenly over the dough. Arrange the potato slices on top, overlapping slightly, and then the onion. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with the thyme and a generous amount of salt and pepper.
Bake until the edges of the crust are golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Choose the category that best describes your question:
Member Tips for Peak-Season Visits
Spring is our busiest season at BBG. Reserve tickets in advance to speed admission. At the entrance, look for the Have a Ticket line reserved for ticketholders. Please have your member card and ticket out and ready to scan.
Take advantage of extended hours during bloom season. From April 1 through May 10, 2026, we open at 8 a.m. To avoid crowds, visit midweek or before 10 a.m. on weekends.
Membership cards, guest passes, and parking passes (Dual level and above) are digital! Please download your cards and passes prior to visiting the Garden. For more details, see Digital Membership Cards below. If you opted for print materials and have not received them, please email [email protected] and we will assist you.
Do you have a question about your BBG membership? Check out the rest of our FAQ. When visiting the Garden, you can also stop by the membership care desk in the Steinberg Visitor Center.
Garden Rules and Etiquette
While visiting this museum of plants, please follow the Garden’s rules, including:
Please don’t touch plants, pick flowers, climb trees, or walk in plant beds.
Athletics and recreational equipment such as scooters, balls, etc. are not allowed in the Garden.
No outside food and beverages; please consume items purchased onsite only in designated areas. (Bottled water, baby bottles, and pocket snacks for individuals with dietary restrictions are allowed.)
Outside food and blankets are not allowed at BBG outside of programmed Members’ Picnic Nights.
Visiting the Garden
Do I need to reserve tickets in advance to enter the Garden as a member?
Advance reservations are strongly encouraged but not required. All visitors, including members, must have a ticket scanned to enter the Garden. If you do not have reserved tickets, you will need to wait in line and request member tickets at the admission booth. Advance tickets guarantee and expedite entry.
To reserve free member tickets, visit the ticketing page and, when prompted, use the primary email address on your membership to sign in. Your primary email address is provided in member communications; if you aren’t sure what it is, you can look up your membership. If you do not have an email address, you can book tickets by calling ShowClix Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 866-220-4001 and providing your membership ID number.
Upon entrance, members are required to show their membership card or membership email confirmation along with their tickets.
If you reserve a ticket that you cannot use, please return it so that another visitor might use it. You can return your ticket easily using the Cancel My Tickets button on your receipt email. If you want to cancel a partial order, have not received a receipt, or have other issues with your tickets, please contact Showclix at their Ticket Buyer’s Support site.
Do I need to reserve tickets to use my guest pass(es)?
You do not have to reserve a ticket to use your guest pass, but we recommend it. You can reserve a Member Guest with Pass ticket while reserving your member tickets. A member must be present when using the guest pass ticket. If you do reserve a Member Guest with Pass ticket, you must present a green guest pass or a digital guest pass along with the ticket at the entry gate. If you do not have a guest pass, you will be charged for the ticket.
I haven’t received my membership materials. How long will it take to get them?
It can take 24–48 hours for your digital membership materials to become available (longer if you purchased online over the weekend). If you haven’t received an email with information regarding your digital membership card, please visit the Digital Membership Card FAQ page for instructions on how to access your membership cards, guest passes, and parking passes (dual level and above).
If you opted to receive paper materials, your membership packet will arrive two to three weeks after your purchase date.
If you have not received your membership card before your visit, please use the confirmation email that includes your membership information at the bottom. This will serve as your membership card until you receive your new or updated cards in the mail. The admissions booth staff can also look up your membership status if needed.
The confirmation email does not include guest or parking privileges. You must wait for the passes to arrive in the mail.
Digital Member Cards
Members can access their digital membership card through the eMembership Card application.
In the app, search for Brooklyn Botanic Garden and tap Find My Membership Cards. The card is available under the primary member’s last name and membership number. Following a renewal, you will need to go to Find My Membership Cards again to update your expiration date.
Enter your email and zip code to see if there is an active membership associated with your email.
Look Up Primary Email Using Member ID from Membership Card
Enter your member number and zip code and we’ll display your account’s primary email address and expiration date. If we don’t have an email address on file for your membership, you’ll be asked to provide one.
Look Up Member ID using Primary Email
Enter your primary email and zip code and we’ll display your member number.
I’m considering membership…
What does BBG membership include?
Free general admission to the Garden, including special members-only hours
Free admission for children ages 17 and under
Exclusive discounts and offers for Lightscape and other ticketed events
10% discount on BBG dining and retail
Discounts on adult and children’s classes
Subscription to BBG’s Plants & Gardens members’ newsletter and members’ News
Use of the Gardener’s Help Line
Privileges at botanic gardens across the country
Additional benefits are offered at higher levels of membership. Visit Membership for more information.
Which membership level is right for me?
Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a range of membership options designed to meet the needs of most visitors. Visit Membership to see the various levels and rates, and contact us at [email protected] or 718-623-7210 with questions regarding the best membership level for you.
Do you offer any discounts on membership?
Yes, we offer a $10 senior discount (for adults 65 and older) on the Individual and Dual levels of membership.
Do I need to add a second name on membership applications for the Dual level and above?
No need to specify a second name at the Dual level and above. If a second name is not specified, both membership cards will be printed in your name.
Can my caregiver bring my children to the Garden and use my card?
At the Friends & Family level and higher, you can pass on one of your two membership cards to a caregiver to bring your children to the Garden. At these levels of membership, it doesn’t matter if the caregiver’s name is not listed on the membership card.
What is a Signature Plant?
Each spring a special selection of plants is offered to members at the Garden Circle level and above. BBG’s Horticulture staff chooses them for their beauty and ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions, so you’re sure to find something perfect for your garden. Eligible members receive one or two Signature Plants, available for pickup in spring.
How do I become a member?
Memberships are available for purchase online, by mail, or in person at the Garden entrances. We recommend purchasing online to receive your confirmation email and visit the Garden in a timely manner.
I just became a BBG member…
My email isn’t working to access tickets. When will my membership be active?
The membership database and ticketing system are separate, so Membership staff needs to process the membership before your information can be uploaded to reserve tickets. It may take 3–4 days for your membership to become active. Please use the membership lookup tool to check your membership status. You can still visit the Garden by presenting your confirmation email at the ticket booth.
How long does it take to receive my membership card?
It can take 24–48 hours for your digital membership card to be available (longer if it is purchased online over the weekend). Instructions on how to download digital membership materials can be found on the Digital Membership Card FAQ page.
If you opted to receive paper materials, your membership packet will arrive two to three weeks after your purchase date. If it’s been more than four weeks since your order and you haven’t received your membership packet, please contact us at [email protected] and include your current address to expedite a replacement card.
When will I receive my guest passes?
Once your digital membership card is available, you will be able to access your guest passes on the smartphone app. If you opted to receive paper materials, passes and other materials will arrive about two to three weeks from your membership purchase with your membership card. Please note: If you reserve a Member Guest with Pass ticket, the paper green guest pass or a digital guest pass must be presented along with the ticket.
Can I change the name(s) on my membership after purchase?
Your membership is valid for one year from the month you purchased it. You can always look up your membership info, or email [email protected] or call 718-623-7210 to inquire about your expiration date.
I chose to receive my membership materials via mail and I never received them. What do I do?
Please contact us at [email protected] and include your current address to receive a replacement membership package. Please note that replacement packages will take two to three weeks to arrive.
I’d like to manage my membership…
How can I upgrade my membership?
Memberships may be upgraded at any time by paying the difference between the current level and the higher level. Level upgrades do not change the expiration date. Members who wish to upgrade within two months of expiration may also choose to simply renew at the higher level. Please email [email protected] or call 718-623-7210 to complete a membership upgrade.
How do I replace a lost or stolen membership card?
Email [email protected], and we will be happy to replace your membership card.
I misplaced my membership card and have tickets to visit today. Will I still be allowed entry?
Yes, just stop by one of our admission booths. Our admission team can look up your information on our database and confirm your membership status.
I have a question about my benefits…
How many guests can I bring to the Garden?
Each membership level offers free general admission (including for members-only hours) for the following:
Individual: 1 Adult
Dual: 2 Adults
Friends & Family: 2 members plus 2 guests (4 adults)
Contributor: 2 members plus 2 guests (4 adults)
Supporter: 2 members plus 4 guests (6 adults)
Patron: 2 members plus 6 guests (8 adults)
President’s Circle: 2 members plus unlimited guests
When can I use my guest passes?
Member guest passes can be used for public hours and members-only events. You are not required to reserve a ticket to use the guest pass; however, if you do reserve a Member Guest with Pass ticket, a paper green guest pass or a digital guest pass must be presented at the entry gate along with the ticket. If a guest pass is not present, you will be charged for the ticket. If you are receiving paper materials, you will need to wait to use the guest pass until you receive your membership packet. Guest passes are valid for your full membership year.
When can I use my parking passes?
Parking passes may be used during public hours and members’ hours for the parking lot located at 990 Washington Avenue. For free parking, you must scan the barcode on the digital parking pass when entering and exiting or present the physical parking pass with your membership card upon exiting the lot. Parking passes are not replaceable if lost or stolen. If you requested paper materials, you will need to wait to use the parking pass until you receive your membership packet. Parking passes are valid for your full membership year.
Where can I find more information about members-only events and discounts?
What privileges do I have at other botanic gardens?
Your current membership card entitles you to special admission privileges and discounts at nearly 300 gardens throughout North America and the Cayman Islands through the American Horticultural Society. For a full listing of participating gardens and their reciprocal admission programs, please visit ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap.
I have a question about ticketed events...
I just joined or renewed as a member—can I purchase tickets right away?
Memberships purchased online will not have active ticket privileges for 2–3 days. Once your membership has been activated, you will receive a confirmation email and will be able to purchase tickets.
Can I use my guest pass to bring a guest with me to ticketed events?
No; guest passes offer complimentary admission for your guests during our regular hours and cannot be used for ticketed events.
Can I use my parking pass during ticketed events?
Yes; parking passes may be used in our parking lot during ticketed events.
If my plans change, can I get a refund for my ticket?
We do not offer refunds for our ticketed events.
Can I exchange my ticket for a different day/time?
For events occurring over multiple days, you can contact our ticketing platform, ShowClix, in advance of your visit at 866-220-4001 or by email at their Ticket Buyer’s Support site ($10 exchange fee per order). Customer support is available 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (Sundays by chat only); after hours you may leave a message or submit a contact form.
I am a member of another botanical garden. Can I get free or discounted tickets?
No; we do not offer free admission to ticketed events and any discounts are only offered to members of BBG.
Can I get free or discounted tickets as a patron of a library with a BBG membership?
No; only direct members of BBG are eligible to receive discounted tickets.
I want to give a membership as a gift…
How can I give a gift membership?
You may purchase a gift membership online.
Do you send membership materials directly to the gift recipient?
Yes, all membership materials are sent directly to the gift recipient at the email or mailing address provided. This will be the first notice they receive about the gift.
Can you accommodate special delivery requests?
Unfortunately, no. Due to the number of gift memberships processed, we are unable to offer any special requests.
Do you have a flexible start date on gift memberships?
Unfortunately, no. The gift membership is valid for one year from the month it is purchased.
Have another question?
If we haven’t answered your question, email us at [email protected] or call Membership at 718-623-7210.
Members of the Garden Circle and President’s Circle are invited to join us for a tour of the Elizabeth Scholtz Woodland Garden! Opened in 2020, this open-air walled garden was designed as a source of inspiration to urban gardeners, showcasing plants that flourish in shady, relatively dry conditions. On this tour, BBG gardener Ivan Gilbert will walk us through this whimsical space and highlight the smaller trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that shape these grounds.
This event is one hour long and will take place outdoors. Please wear comfortable shoes. Space is limited; registration is limited to two guests. Be sure to RSVP below to save your spot. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Interested in joining the Garden Circle? Become a member at the Contributor level or higher to attend this and other exclusive events throughout the year!
Street trees do so much to improve our environment but often receive little care. Learn best practices to spruce up your tree beds while improving the health and resilience of your block’s trees. We’ll also discuss how street tree care can be a great way to motivate your neighbors to participate in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. Take home a plant to try in your street tree bed!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected]at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG's community greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Ever wondered what it takes to make your block greener? Recruit a few neighbors and head on over to BBG where our staff, joined by some winning Greenest Block in Brooklyn gardeners, will encourage you to see your block’s potential with fresh eyes. We’ll focus on common challenges, best practices for street tree care, and choosing the right plant for the right place. Tips for increasing participation on your block will also be discussed. Meet fellow streetscape gardeners and share stories of challenges and successes. Take home some plants to try!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s community greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Ever wondered what it takes to make your block greener? Recruit a few neighbors and head on over to BBG where our staff, joined by some winning Greenest Block in Brooklyn gardeners, will encourage you to see your block’s potential with fresh eyes. We’ll focus on common challenges, best practices for street tree care, and choosing the right plant for the right place. Tips for increasing participation on your block will also be discussed. Meet fellow streetscape gardeners and share stories of challenges and successes. Take home some plants to try!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s community greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
march 12: The first Amorphophallus konjac, Alvin, opened on Saturday, March 7. Simon is starting to unfurl and Theodore will bloom last. Gardener Chris Sprindis describes the aroma as, “distinctly dead mammal, with an undertone of musty basement.”
Amorphophallus konjac (devil’s-tongue), also known as voodoo-lily, is poised to put on a stinky show at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The plant is a cousin of corpse flowers A. titanum (titan arum) and A. gigas—and you’ll be able to see (and smell) the familial resemblance. Though A. konjac won’t reach the size or intensity of aroma of those corpse flowers, it does produce a tall, foul-scented inflorescence (flower head) that is devilishly attractive.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Voodoo-Lily-Measuring_JW_lightbox.jpg"}Propagation gardener Patrick Austin measures
Amorphophallus konjac (devil's-tongue) at 45 inches from the top of the soil to the top of the plant in the Greenhouse Workhouses. Photo by Jeremy Weine.
BBG is now exhibiting three devil’s-tongue plants at varying stages of flowering. The plants, acquired by the Garden after last year’s A. gigas bloom, were named Alvin, Simon, and Theodore by BBG propagation gardener Patrick Austin. One is expected to unfurl its inflorescence in the coming days and the other two will open in the coming weeks. The odorous blooms last only a few days; afterward, an enormous, palm-like leaf will start to emerge on each plant.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Voodoo-Lily-Closeup_JW_lightbox.jpg"}Amorphophallus konjac (devil's-tongue) is poised to unfurl its inflorescence in the coming days. Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia, A. konjac is cultivated for food—its underground tuber is high in starch and fiber and is processed into konjac flour used to make shirataki noodles.
Please remember that you may not touch the plants.
BBG’s Real-Life Training Program for Community Volunteers
Learn + Grow + Connect + Serve
The Brooklyn Urban Gardener (BUG) certificate program is an annual multiple-session course that covers the basics in urban gardening and community greening. It connects the educational resources of Brooklyn Botanic Garden to the greening efforts of Brooklyn’s communities.
Upon completing all coursework, graduates are certified as Brooklyn Botanic Garden BUG volunteers. Certified BUGs then continue to support greening projects at schools, senior centers, block associations, community gardens, and other organizations.
BUG students can expect an experiential, train-the-trainer program. Using a hands-on, participatory education model, the course includes instruction in sustainable horticultural practices suited to the urban environment, street tree stewardship, community engagement practices, effective teaching methods, and an overview of the greening resources available in Brooklyn. The training is free.
A select number of applicants are chosen to participate in a group interview. From those, the class of 15 students is chosen and announced in July. Previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply. Classes begin in mid–September and run into November.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] or call 718-623-7250.
FAQ
Who are BUGs?
BUGs are Brooklyn Urban Gardeners—Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) volunteers who have completed a demanding certification process that prepares them to assist and lead community greening projects throughout Brooklyn. BUGs love people, plants, the planet, teaching, and gardening. Above all, they are community-minded: willing, able, and eager to be of service in making Brooklyn a greener place.
What is BBG looking for in a BUG?
The BUG program enrolls an intergenerational, multicultural mix of adults from diverse economic and educational backgrounds. BUGs are adult residents of Brooklyn and devoted lifelong learners, with varying levels of gardening expertise, who know that plants can bring people together. The best candidates have experience with civic engagement and volunteerism and feel a sense of commitment to serve the borough we call home.
Who manages the BUG program?
BUG is facilitated and managed by the community greening staff in the Education department of Brooklyn Botanic Garden. BBG community greening programs promote the greening of the urban environment and reach over 50,000 Brooklyn residents a year through free educational workshops, conservation initiatives, and creative partnerships. Besides BUG, community greening programs include Making Brooklyn Bloom, the Community Garden Alliance, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, and the Street Tree Stewardship Initiative.
When does BUG training take place?
The BUG certificate program is a multisession course, held once annually during fall and winter. Classes are held on weekend afternoons (1–5 p.m.) and Thursday evenings (6–9 p.m.). Sessions take place from mid-September through November. Personal portfolio and study group activities extend into November when BUGs graduate.
Is there tuition or a fee?
The BUG program is completely free. This training is designed for people who intend to volunteer on an ongoing basis throughout Brooklyn on greening projects referred by Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or of their own devising. We ask that BUGs serve at least 20 hours per year after graduation to maintain BUG certification.
What is the time commitment for being a BUG?
It’s significant. Students are expected to attend every session of class (25 hours), do required reading and homework each week, attend study group meetings, and create a portfolio of their work in time for a graduation event held in November.
After graduating, BUGs are regularly informed of community greening projects seeking volunteer support. To maintain certification, BUGs are expected to continue to volunteer at least 20 hours per year.
Where are BUG classes held?
Classes are held in BBG’s classrooms and on the Garden’s grounds.
What subjects are covered in BUG classes?
BUG covers a lot of ground in a short time! Topics include asset-based community building, site assessment, growing more in less space, gardening with native plants, and more.
Who teaches BUG?
BUG workshops are led by a dedicated staff of BBG educators. Highly qualified guest instructors also bring wisdom from their specific areas of expertise. BUG’s facilitators believe that everyone learns, and everyone teaches. The BUG program’s approach honors the rich experience that each student brings with them and incorporates small-group learning, hands-on work, role playing, and of course, the invaluable challenges of collaborating with fellow BUG students.
I’m already a community greening volunteer. What can I gain from a BUG certificate?
Experienced greening volunteers can be great candidates for BUG; you are able to teach your fellow students while deepening your own understanding of and commitment to community greening. You’ll create a portfolio, do group work, increase your confidence as a greening teacher, and network with fellow students and instructors, all while becoming part of a remarkable community of BBG volunteers.
What is the BUG portfolio?
Each student builds upon a series of homework assignments to explore and document their progress. Most importantly, students create a site-assessment and gardening plan for a community or private garden site of their choosing. Students also include in their BUG portfolio a workshop outline of their own design on a greening-related topic of their choice as well as an action plan based on their vision of themselves as a BUG volunteer.
Does working on any community greening project count toward my annual 20 service hours?
Yes. After graduation, you may count any and all volunteer community greening work toward the 20 hours needed to maintain BUG certification. We urge BUG graduates to report their volunteer greening efforts to BBG annually.
Does everyone who applies get accepted to the program?
No. Fifteen students are accepted each year. We receive many more applications than there are spots available. Applications are reviewed in June. Once the number of prospective students has been narrowed down, group interviews are held in July to select the next class of 15 BUGs.
If I’m not accepted this year, can I reapply next year?
Yes! The admission process is strongly influenced by geographical location of applicants, so try, try again.
How can I learn more about whether the BUG program is right for me?
One way is to attend the next Making Brooklyn Bloom conference, held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden each March. Lots of BUG graduates are on hand to help answer questions.
More questions? Contact Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Community Greening staff at [email protected] or 718-623-7250.
Support
Brooklyn Botanic Garden gratefully acknowledges support for this program from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the NYC Council.
Important: The parking lot is closed Friday, March 13–Sunday, March 15 for the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon on Sunday; use public transportation. The Osborne Garden and Eastern Parkway entrance are closed; use other entrances.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn
Gala Chairs
Adam & Sylvana Durrett
Jennifer & Steven Eisenstadt
John Shaheen & Carl Dietz
5:30 p.m. | Strolling Cocktails
Plant Family Collection Lawn
Join us for an enchanted evening in the Garden, celebrating the 30th anniversary of BBG’s iconic Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. The Spring Gala offers a moment to mark this remarkable milestone and the collective actions that make Brooklyn a more verdant, resilient and livable place.
Proceeds from the Spring Gala support the Garden’s future by sustaining the care of BBG’s collections, enriching programs, and deepening community engagement. Tickets range from $750 to $5,000; tables for ten start at $15,000.
The evening’s menu will be designed and prepared by Union Square Events. Each course will feature fresh, seasonal ingredients that are sustainably grown and harvested.
Festive botanical attire encouraged. Tickets held at the door. Complimentary parking provided for cocktails and dinner guests.
For more information, contact Brooklyn Botanic Garden at [email protected].
Spring Gala 2026 Tables and Tickets
Event Contributors
As the Spring Gala winds down, join us for the After Party—a high-energy celebration, complete with great music and peak spring vibes. Dance the night away surrounded by blooms and fellow garden lovers at Brooklyn’s most vibrant celebration of the season.
Tickets include special access and two hours of open bar with signature cocktails, beer, wine, desserts, photo opportunities, activities, and more. Proceeds from the After Party provide essential support for the Garden’s programs and plant collections.
Advance ticket purchase required; space is limited.
Strictly 21+; valid ID required | Advance ticket purchase required
All tickets will be held at the door.
Dress to impress! Festive floral attire encouraged.
After Party Tickets
Explore the Bonsai Museum and conservatories through an engaging scavenger hunt, identifying the natural and unique features you notice. We’ll gather as a group to enjoy refreshments and share about our experience before creating our own terrarium using wide-mouth jars and bowls—a small ecosystem to take home and enjoy.
The program is free, but space is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register, contact us at [email protected].
Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Notice/Know/Kin: A Human/Tree Biography. This mixed-media art exhibit invites us inside the artist’s life and inside wood to reflect on our living relationships with trees and the Earth.
Artist Nina Browne, a woodworker turned urban naturalist, will begin the program with an exploration of the tree cuttings and natural materials in her pieces, followed by an art-making workshop led by Browne and Virginia Shou, a New York–based interdisciplinary designer and urban gardener.
Preregistration is required, and space is limited. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to attend or have questions about accessibility accommodations for this program. You can also find general information about accessibility at the Garden at bbg.org/access.
This program is designed for the d/Deaf community. Some portions are without voice interpretation.
Come celebrate spring with a seed exchange in the Discovery Garden!
We have a selection of seeds to share, whether you are growing for a street tree bed, your own garden plot, a community garden, or a sunny window in your apartment!
You can bring seeds, too! If you have seeds to share, please make sure they are labeled and are no more than two years old to ensure maximum success for all gardeners.
We’ll provide envelopes and small bags to take seeds home.
Gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions.
This is a drop-in program for gardeners of all ages, including families with children, teenagers, and adults. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Celebrate the Year of the Horse in BBG’s Steinhardt Conservatory! Explore the pavilions to find plants associated with Lunar New Year, including citrus, bamboo, pine, and much more.
Can you find these plants of the Lunar New Year?
Nymphaea × daubenyana (Daubeny’s Water-Lily)
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View Location of Daubeny’s Water-Lily
Emerging from muddy waters, water-lilies are clean and unsullied, making them a symbol of purity and enlightenment. Daubeny’s water-lily was the first widely recognized hybrid water-lily.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Water-Lily-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
× Vandachostylis Crownfox Red Gem grex (Hybrid Orchid)
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View Location of Hybrid Orchid
Representing academic success and upright morals, the orchid was Confucius’s favorite flower. This orchid produces deep red flowers with a unique and distinctive texture.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Orchid-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Citrus × microcarpa (Calamondin)
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View Location of Calamondin
The Chinese name for calamondin translates to “four seasons of fortune” and the plant represents wealth and prosperity. A hybrid of kumquat and mandarin orange, calamondin fruit has a sweet peel and sour flesh.
Find this calamondin in the Conservatory Entry House.
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Bambusa vulgaris ‘Vittata’ (Bamboo ‘Vittata’)
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View Location of Bamboo ‘Vittata’
Flexible yet unbreakable, bamboo symbolizes strength, humility, and adaptability. This cultivar is known for the irregular green stripes running longitudinally along its hollow stems.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Bamboo-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Pinus parviflora (Japanese White Pine)
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View Location of Japanese White Pine
The pine thrives in rocky soil, featuring a strong trunk and gnarled branches. It represents integrity, resilience, and longevity. This species’ needle-like leaves grow in distinctive bundles of five.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Pine-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Prunus mume ‘Kobai’ (Japanese Apricot)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Japanese-Apricot_MS.jpg"}Photo by Michael Stewart.
View Location of Japanese Apricot
This tree can be found in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, and is primarily grown for ornamental purposes. The pink flowers bloom in mid to late winter and are followed by green to yellow fruit.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Apricot-Location_JW.jpg"}Photo by Jeremy Weine.
Citrus japonica (Round Kumquat)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Round-kumquat_Citrus-japonica_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
View Location of Kumquat
The gold-orange hue of kumquat fruit represents wealth and prosperity. Kumquat plants are hardier and more tolerant of cold weather than many of their relatives in the Citrus genus.
Find this round kumquat in the Warm Temperate Pavilion.
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Kumquat-location_Rige.jpg"}Photo by Romi Ige.
Osmanthus fragrans (Fragrant Olive)
{embed="includes/_inline_image" file="/img/uploads/lightbox/Fragrant-Olive_MS.jpg"}Photo by Michael Stewart.
View Location of Fragrant Olive
The Chinese name for this tree resembles the Chinese word for nobility. It is believed that planting olive trees in front of your house can attract prestige and honor. The lovely, enveloping fragrance of this unassuming shrub helps make the Warm Temperate Pavilion a winter highlight at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Find this fragrant olive in the Warm Temperate Pavilion.
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We hope you enjoyed your visit and we wish you a happy Lunar New Year!
Gina Ingoglia is the author of more than 80 books for children. She is a graduate of Dickinson College and holds an MA in publishing from New York University. She graduated a George H. Cook Scholar in landscape architecture from Rutgers University and has a private practice in residential landscape and garden design; she is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). In 1996, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in humanities from Dickinson College.
Ingoglia is vice president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society, and her botanical art has been exhibited with the Society in the United States and abroad. From 1987 to 1995 she wrote and illustrated the "Budding Gardener" column for Brooklyn Botanic Garden's publication, Plants & Gardens News. She lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York, with her husband, Earl Weiner. They have a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.
In 2009, the Garden Writers Association awarded Ingoglia their Gold Award for Best Illustration for The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups.
Created by Brooklyn Botanic Garden's expert educators, this gorgeously illustrated book teaches children how to observe environments as a naturalist does and leads them on 24 adventures that reveal the complex ecosystems of plants and animals in the woods, at the beach, and in a city park. Dozens of fun projects include keeping a journal, conducting field experiments, and looking for the signs of the seasons. Detailed, scientifically based drawings help young naturalists identify hundreds of North American plants and animals while the explore nature with all five senses.
A naturalist is a scientist who studies nature. Start looking at the world
through a naturalist’s eyes, and you will be amazed at what you learn.
A naturalist studies living things by observing
them and then tries to discover how they relate
to each other and their environment. In earlier
times, before there were many professional
scientists, most of what was known about life
on earth was discovered by naturalists. Today,
being a naturalist takes many different forms.
Field biologists, environmental educators, and
scientific illustrators are all modern naturalists.
You can be one too! The chapters in this book
will get you started. So will these tips.
Be quiet and still sometimes. Slow down and
use your senses to listen, look, smell, and feel
what’s around you.
Find a sit spot. Choose a place outside that you
can return to over and over again and observe.
Notice how it changes throughout the day and
throughout the year. Do you hear the same
birds in the morning and in the afternoon?
What flowers are blooming in April? In June?
Make comparisons. You are sure to see
differences as you explore. How does the forest
change as you hike higher up a mountain? How
is one tree’s bark different from another’s? How
do bumble bees look different from honey bees
and sweat bees?
Ask questions. When you observe closely,
you are sure to notice a lot of cool or unusual
things: Birds with knife-shaped bills, flowers
that look like bells, trees that smell like root
beer. Why would that plant or animal have that
trait? Does that shape, color, or smell help it in
some way? Does it help it make or find food?
Reproduce? Ward off predators?
Keep a journal. Buy a sturdy composition book
or journal to record what you observe. On
the next page—and throughout this book—
you will see examples of the kinds of details
you can record in your journal. Use some
of the scientific words you’ll see in boldface
throughout this book. They are defined in the glossary.
See Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Living in a Community, by Brian Johnson
Chapter 2: Plants Are Essential for Life, by Barbara Kurland
Chapter 3: Nature's Garden, by Monika Hannemann
Chapter 4; Plants Need Animals!, by Tracey Patterson
Chapter 5: Nature Recycles, by Patricia Hulse
Glossary of Plant and Gardening Terms
Taking Our Children Outside, by Marilyn Smith and Sharon Myrie
Download blank pages to use with activities described in the book.
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a tasting provided by local Prospect Heights restaurant Nin Hao. We’ll also be potting up plants that are believed to bring good luck to take home!
This free drop-in program is part of our February Break Discovery Days programming for families with children of all ages. Garden admission is pay-what-you-wish on Winter Weekdays through February 28.
Explore the Conservatory pavilions to find plants associated with Lunar New Year, including citrus, bamboo, pine, and much more. Read More ›
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
As snow blankets BBG’s outdoor collections, a world of wonder flourishes in the Steinhardt Conservatory below. During your next visit, try to spot one of these unusual fruits in the Tropical Pavilion. No snacking, please!
Synsepalum dulcificum
Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit), an evergreen shrub, has a remarkable ability: Its small, red berries make sour food taste sweet. Native to the tropical regions of West Africa, Synsepalum dulcificum has been used for centuries to make foods and drinks more palatable.
The chemical cause for the effect was unknown until 1968 when researchers identified and isolated the cause for the plant’s unique property—a glycoprotein they aptly called “miraculin.”
Miraculin works by binding itself to—but not activating—sweet-sensing taste receptors in the tongue. When subjected to sustenance with pH values between approximately 3.0 and 6.0, the miraculin causes these receptors to activate. Thus, eating miracle fruit doesn’t eliminate other food and drinks’ sourness. Rather, it layers sweetness atop the acidity.
Vanilla planifolia
The source of the world’s favorite ice cream flavor is a vining orchid fruiting this winter at BBG. When cultivated outside of its pollinators’ native range, the flowers of Vanilla planifolia (vanilla)—each of which blooms for one day only—must be pollinated by hand to bear fruit.
At BBG, this means Tropical Pavilion gardener Kate Murphy carefully and precisely connects “the flower’s male bit to the female bit”—but the bits are delicate and the maneuver requires precision and dexterity. The method was established in 1841 by Edmond Albius—an enslaved 12-year-old boy on the Island of Réunion—and is employed to pollinate virtually all the world’s vanilla today.
After pollination, the flower drops off and green pods emerge that turn yellow and elongate until they resemble skinny bananas. The pods hold thousands of tiny black seeds and take eight to ten months to fully mature. Once harvested, it takes another few months of curing to develop vanilla’s characteristic flavor.
Averrhoa carambola
Averrhoa carambola (carambola), commonly called star fruit, is also currently bearing fruit in the Tropical Pavilion, just in time for Lunar New Year. The small, evergreen tree is a member of the Oxalidaceae, or wood-sorrels family, and has been cultivated in tropical Southeast Asia for centuries, though it is now extinct in the wild.
Carambola bears fruit the size of small pears, with mature trees producing more than 250 pounds per year in optimal conditions. Typically, each fruit features five prominent ridges, so slices of the fruit resemble five-pointed stars. Tasting sweet and sour, carambolas have low calorie content and are high in fiber and vitamin C.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with a special pairing for sharing in the Coffeehouse at Yellow Magnolia Café.
Enjoy a flight of three pours of wine, three cheeses, and two chocolate truffles for $34; additional wine flights $18.
A limited number of café tables are available to reserve in advance. Walk-ins are always welcome and will be accommodated as space allows. Separate Garden admission tickets are required.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden! Hands-on stations throughout this area encourage families, school groups, and camp groups to explore nature alongside our teenage Garden Apprentices.
This is a drop-in program for children of all ages. For school and camp groups, we request a ratio of no more than 10 children per adult. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Become a Discovery Docent at Brooklyn Botanic Garden!
Are you a nature lover who enjoys engaging with children? Join us!
Discovery Docents are adult volunteers who facilitate hands-on nature and science activities throughout the Discovery Garden, a one-acre, hands-on garden for kids and families at BBG. Docents interact with learners of all ages.
Discovery Docents engage with visitors at an activity station. Photo by Blanca Begert.
No prior experience is necessary—all that’s needed is an interest in nature, a willingness to grow and learn, and a friendly team attitude.
Docents are asked to commit to one three-hour shift at the same time each week for an entire season. Each shift includes helping with setup and cleanup, as well as a brief “docent lesson” that deepens our team’s knowledge of plants and BBG.
Participation is contingent upon a brief interview and background check.
Pull up for an evening of good vibes, cocktails, and self-guided tours as we celebrate Caribbean culture, music, and plants in the Steinhardt Conservatory.
Enjoy DJ sets by Danglez and Ayanna Heaven, and cocktails curated by I AM caribBEING’s Shelley Worrell and Yellow Magnolia Café.
Celebrate the spring blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden with casual, pop-up music and dance performances, morning programming for kids and families in the Discovery Garden, and Garden tours.
Jimmy Thomas, Vice President, Visitor Services & Public Safety
Learn how to design rodent resistant composting sites for homes, apartment buildings, and community gardens. Let Compost Power’s expert rat mitigation rubrics and tools guide you in mitigating existing rodent problems and determining when and how to leverage city-agency, nonprofit, or private pest control contractor support. While assessing a compost system at BBG’s Children’s Garden, get inspired to create a rodent reduction plan for your composting project. Part of this class will be held outdoors.
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
This program is a one-time class for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Join educators at activity stations throughout the Children’s Garden. Plant seeds, water vegetables and flowers, create nature crafts, taste fresh produce, dig in the soil, and more. Participants are welcome to register for multiple classes, but activities may repeat. Programs take place rain or shine!
One child-adult pair must register to participate together. Up to three children or adults may be added.
$20/$16 (member) for each additional adult or child in the group (up to 3 additional, 5 total)
Cost includes Garden admission.
Participation Requirements
One adult-child pair must register; may add up to 3 adults or children.
There are no refunds. Exchanges are subject to availability and must be made prior to the event date.
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
Class registration includes Garden access; see bbg.org/visit to confirm hours. Show your ticket at any entrance to enter.
BBG’s Library provides reference services to home gardeners, staff, and the professional horticultural community. It is a convenient access point from which to learn more about all of the Library’s collections and the Garden’s plant collections. The Library is located on the second floor of the historic McKim, Mead & White Administration Building (enter at 1000 Washington Avenue). Members may borrow one or two books for a period of up to two weeks.
LINNAEUS, the Garden’s online catalog, allows visitors to search and tag the Garden’s entire collection of books and serials.
Tuesday–Friday: 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Please email [email protected] ahead of your visit.
Gardener’s Help Line
Library staff can answer your gardening and horticulture questions. Contact [email protected]. Please include your phone number in your email query for a more timely response from our staff. You may also leave a voicemail message at 718-623-7270 and a member of our Library staff will return your call.
To expedite answers, the Help Line staff suggests the following:
Keep your question as straightforward as possible.
Identify your question category: pests and diseases, culture and propagation, plant identification, etc.
Identify the class of plant: tree, shrub, perennial, annual, etc.
Describe the problem. If you’re concerned about an insect, for example, note the appearance of the pest and where you have seen it (on leaves, stems, in the soil), as well as the damage it is doing.
Rare Book Room & Special Collections
Charles Stuart Gager, the first director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, was a man of extraordinary vision, a distinguished botanist, and a bibliophile. For Gager, assembling a great botanical library to support the historical and scientific study of plants was an integral part of building a great botanical garden. Through special endowments and generous gifts, Gager and those who followed built a collection of significant botanical and horticultural works that has few rivals.
Special collections consist of archives of notable individuals, institutional records of the Garden, historical and botanical photography, and original botanical artwork. The photographic and art collections consist, in part, of work produced by staff, commissioned by the Garden, or donated by artists or their estate in support of the Garden’s mission.
Rare Book Collection
The non-circulating rare book collection, comprising some 1500 volumes from the 15th century through the 20th century, is particularly strong in:
Early European herbals, including those by Brunfels, Dodoens, Fuchs, and Mattioli.
The great color-plate books, including those by Blackwell, Miller, Loudon, Hooker, and Redouté.
Landmark works by Linnaeus, including correspondence, Hortus Cliffortianus, and Species Plantarum.
New World floras by early travelers in the Americas, like Bartram, Catesby, and Michaux.
Bibliographic records for most of this collection are available through LINNAEUS, the Library's online catalog.
Other Notable Collections
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Historic Image Collection consists of glass plate negatives, lantern slides, film-based negatives, and works on paper created during the first half of the 20th century that document all aspects of the Garden and its programs.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society documents the Garden's living collections in watercolor, pen and ink, and other media.
A significant portion of the library’s science, rare book, and special collections is maintained off-site in storage with limited access.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators and teenage Garden apprentices.
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden. Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s courtyard, meadow, woodland, and marsh encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators.
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Calling all nature explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Calling all explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures above 90 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Wednesday evenings from May 27 through September 2 are for members only! Savor the Garden during the twilight hours and enjoy your favorite summer blossoms on these special nights when the Garden grounds, shop, and Canteen stay open exclusively for members.
Guest passes are accepted, so bring a friend! You may also purchase $10 guest tickets (limit 4 per person, exclusively for Members’ Evenings).
See below for details on seven special picnic nights. Outside food and beverages and blankets are not permitted at other times.
Not a Garden member yet? Join today to attend this and other exclusive member events throughout the year.
Picnic Nights: On these special nights, blankets and outside food and drink are permitted in select locations. Outside food and beverages and blankets are not permitted on other Members’ Summer Evenings or during public hours.
Garden members enjoy perks including discounts and special members-only hours. Members have exclusive access to the Garden every Wednesday evening in summer (May–August), and on autumn weekend mornings (September–October).
Members get more—BBG membership offers you exclusive discounts at the Garden!
Enjoy an exclusive 10% member discount (unless otherwise noted) at BBG dining and Terrain at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Reciprocal Privileges
As a benefit of membership, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is pleased to offer reciprocal privileges (free or discounted admission and other discounts) at horticultural institutions affiliated with the American Horticultural Society (AHS). Just show your current BBG membership card to receive free admission. For a complete list of participating institutions, visit the AHS Garden Network page.
Please check hours and other details with participating institutions in advance of visiting.
Contact Us
For more information on membership levels and benefits, including educational and corporate membership and discounts for senior citizens, call Membership at 718-623-7210 or email [email protected].
Not yet a member? Join today to receive a year of free admission and more!
Show your membership card to bypass the admission lines at BBG's Halloween festival. Event Details ›
For 6- and 7-year-olds. Sprouts work together to care for their garden plots! Sprouts practice seasonal horticulture skills such as planting, watering, weeding, organic pest control, and more. Participants harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262 nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Participation Requirements
For Sprouts, children must be at least 6 years old, or turn 6 within a month of the program’s start date.
For 2- and 3-year-olds with an adult. Learn about the wonders of gardening with your 2- or 3-year-old during this active hands-on program offered during spring and fall. Our youngest gardeners work with their adult partner to tend to their garden plots, sing songs, taste new foods, and create nature crafts.
This is not a drop-off program. Consistent weekly attendance of one adult per child is required. No additional adults or children including infants or older siblings, please.
Cost
60-minute sections: $262 nonmember/$236 member
90-minute sections: $367 nonmember/$341 member
Participation Requirements
One hour and 1.5-hour programs are offered. We recommend the 1.5-hour class for 3-year-olds or returning families.
The class is for one adult-child pair only; no siblings or additional adults please.
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
For 4 and 5-year-olds. Seeds work together to care for their garden plots! Seeds practice real gardening skills such as planting, watering, weeding, spreading compost, and more. Participants harvest and taste fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, listen to garden stories, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262/nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Participation Requirements
For Seeds, children must be 4 years old or turn 4 within a month after the program start date.
Seeds participants must be comfortable using the bathroom on their own. Child-size toilets are located inside the Children’s Garden House.
For 8- through 13-year-olds. City Farmers work together to care for their garden plots! City Farmers practice seasonal horticulture skills such as planting, trellis building, weed identification, organic pest control, seed saving, and more. Participants harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262 nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Discover plants from faraway places and different climates around the world on this tour of the Steinhardt Conservatory.
Included with Garden admission; no registration necessary; no groups. Schedule a group tour.
Please note tours can be canceled due to inclement weather. Check this page for updates.
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Hours
Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Thank you for supporting our fifth annual Lightscape Family Benefit. We were thrilled to share the night with nearly 500 guests and, thanks to your generosity, raise over $93,000 to strengthen and sustain the Garden’s youth education programs. See photos from the evening. If you didn’t make it to Lightscape Family Benefit, you can still contribute to BBG by making a gift here.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden invites you to an exclusive Lightscape experience at the Family Benefit Evening—a festive fundraiser that’s fun for kids and families alike. Enjoy a buffet of delicious food and treats, lively entertainment including balloon artists, magicians, stilt walkers, face painting, and more, and a stroll along BBG’s breathtaking illuminated trails. Adults can also unwind with drinks from the open bar as everyone enjoys this magical night amid the dazzling lights. Festive attire encouraged!
Now in its fifth year, this annual benefit offers a magical evening for families while supporting the Garden’s youth education programs—and 2025 is sure to be the best year yet!
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Photos by Will Ragozzino, Liz Ligon, and Sean Sime.
Family Benefit tickets include:
Exclusive access to the Lightscape experience—enjoy spectacular lights and colors as you meander through the outdoor trail without the crowds
Complimentary hot cocoa and cider (spiked for adults!) along the route, as well as special performances and family photo opportunities
Light fare, an open bar, and family fun activities for kids and adults indoors in BBG’s Palm House, including face painting
A BBG gift bag with take-home garden activity
Complimentary parking (self-park)
The estimated nondeductible portion of each Lightscape Family Benefit ticket is $50 per adult and $35 per child. For more information about tickets, donations, and sponsorships or to purchase tickets or donate by phone, call Special Events at 718-623-7356 or email [email protected].
Package & Ticket Levels
Tickets range from $75 to $150, with packages starting at $500. To be a part of the Lightscape Family Benefit Host Committee, join us at the Friend, Contributor, or Supporter level.
Supporter ($5,000)
Premier Host Committee listing on event materials
12 tickets (adult or child/teen)
Complimentary yearlong Contributor membership
Contributor ($2,500)
Host Committee listing on event materials
8 tickets (adult or child/teen)
Complimentary yearlong Friends & Family membership
Admissions and membership revenue helps Brooklyn Botanic Garden care for its 52 acres of grounds and conservatories and provide the environmental education programs, breathtaking botanical displays, exciting public events, and community greening efforts that have made the Garden a world-class living museum for all to enjoy. Thank you for supporting this with your visit!
Free Admission Opportunities
Admission is free:
BBG members receive free general admission year-round.
Children under 12 are always free.
Community Tickets: A portion of each day’s tickets are available free of charge to those who need them.
Free admission during public hours is also offered to the individuals and groups listed below. Check full details at the link below before planning your visit.
Academic members and participants in the following programs, with valid ID:
Students, employees of Medgar Evers
Students, employees, alum of Pratt
Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment students and families, employees
Cool Culture cardholders and their families
Garden Apprentice Program teens and families
Project Green Reach classrooms, students and families (with pass)
Urban Advantage teachers, classrooms, students and families (with voucher)
Visitors with the following affiliations, with valid ID:
Individual members of the following museum and garden associations: AHS, APGA, Museums Council of New York City
Members of gardens that participate in the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program
Employees of current corporate members
Brooklyn Botanic Garden volunteers
With preregistration:
Public library patrons with a Culture Pass reservation (with pass)
Registered, self-guided school and camp groups
Registered, self-guided groups from nonprofit senior centers, shelters, rehabilitation centers, and other 501(c)(3) organizations serving people with disabilities
Participants in accessibility programs, including monthly Memory Tours
Community Greening & NYC Compost Project workshop participants
This spring, bring your school group (of any age!) on a self-guided visit to the Discovery Garden. Our volunteer Discovery Docents will lead hands-on activity stations throughout this area of the Garden. Be sure to explore our meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats, too!
This is a free, self-guided program for school groups of all ages. For each time slot, there is a maximum class size of 30 students. We request a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 10 students, and we will divide classes into smaller groups upon arrival.
School groups must register in advance for Discovery Garden access at these times.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page and your inbox for updates. Questions? Email [email protected].
This registration includes a ticket for school group Garden admission any time after 10 a.m. and Discovery Garden admission at the selected entry time. Maximum group size is 30 students plus teachers and chaperones.
Over a dozen different kinds of flowers grace the grounds of the late-winter garden at BBG. Celebrate the transition from winter to spring by admiring these petite, colorful, and sturdy blooms undeterred by the frost.
Join Lynne Spevack, L.C.S.W. for this hour-long, narrated nature walk designed to chase away the winter blues. This walk is held in light rain or snow; dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Included with Garden; no registration necessary; no groups, please. Schedule a group tour.
Please note tours can be canceled due to inclement weather. Check bbg.org for updates.
Beyond our celebrated butterflies, there is a world of interconnected predators and prey in every Brooklyn garden. Join us to understand the lives and life cycles of many of the helpful insects that keep pest insects in check: from ladybugs and parasitic wasps to lacewings, firefly larvae, and beyond. And learn how to attract them to your garden!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Soil is our foundation as gardeners and healthy soil is alive. The best urban gardening soils have healthy soil structure, drainage, fertility, filtering, and water-holding capacity. With the right ecological soil stewardship techniques, you can build your soil’s organic matter and foster thriving soil biology. Whether you garden in raised beds, containers, or directly in-ground, you will learn to better connect with the ground you grow on!
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Infused oils hold profound kitchen medicine yet are a simple entry into the practice of herbalism. Learn about different base oils along with methods for herbal infusion, extraction, and use—from marinades to emulsions—packing flavor, aroma, and nutrients in every drop. From a buffet of herbs and spices, formulate your very own infused oil for your kitchen and community.
ASL interpreter available upon request; contact [email protected] at least 2 weeks prior to the class date.
Free with registration. For more information about BBG’s Community Greening programs, visit bbg.org/community.
Celebrate Brooklyn’s West Indian community with a Tuesday Night Fête at the Garden featuring live DJs. Dance along to Caribbean beats while enjoying a curated cocktail and special food menu, plus take a free tour of tropical & Caribbean plants. Bring your flag and get ready to jump into the annual West Indian American Day parade!
Celebrate the fall season surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s most fabulous foliage. Enjoy live music, hands-on activities for families, and more. Come dressed in your best flannel—or a costume for an afternoon parade!
Check back for details soon.
Experience a collaborative soundscape exploring the connections between Brooklyn Botanic Garden and its community.
Bring a mat or towel, find a spot on the grass of Cherry Esplanade, lie back, and soak up the multisensory experience.
Ages 14 and up. Pop-up bar; no outside food, drink, or chairs permitted. Wheelchairs are welcome and accessible seating is available for people with limited mobility. Please contact [email protected] with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
Check back for details soon.
Celebrate summer at the Garden with live jazz on Thursday evenings. Bring a blanket to stretch out and enjoy the music, presented in partnership with local arts organizations. Performances start at 7. Each night also features a tour or other Garden activity. Pop-up bar; no outside food, drink, or chairs permitted.
Wheelchairs are welcome and accessible seating is available for people with limited mobility. Please contact [email protected] with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
Signature Plants are a benefit of membership at the Contributor level and above. Plants are hand-selected by BBG’s Horticulture staff for their beauty and ability to thrive in a wide range of hardiness zones and light, soil, and moisture conditions, so you’re sure to find something perfect for your garden or home.
2026 Signature Plant Pickup Events
Eligible members are invited to select their 2026 Signature Plant on one of two pickup dates:
Sunday, May 10, 2026 | 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Savor a spring day in the Garden with coffee and morning treats.
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 6–8:30 p.m.
Enjoy wine and light snacks during a spring evening.
Please check back for updates.
Learn and play together in the Discovery Garden! Hands-on stations encourage families to explore nature alongside our volunteer educators and teenage Garden apprentices. Be sure to explore our meadow, woodland, and marsh habitats, too!
This is a drop-in program for families with children of all ages. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Calling all explorers up to 4 years old (and their caregivers)! Pot up a plant, create a craft, read a story, and use your senses to explore nature at special Discovery Garden activity stations designed for early learners.
This is a drop-in program for children ages 4 & under and their caregivers. Included with Garden admission.
All programs are outdoors and will be canceled in inclement weather, which includes rain and temperatures below 50 degrees. Check this page for updates.
Related Event
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
This midwinter break, families and kids can enjoy a special indoor edition of Discovery Programs in BBG’s Steinhardt Conservatory. This week’s program themes are:
Dates & Themes
Conservatory Quest (all ages)
Monday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 18
Travel from the desert to the rainforest (and beyond) in the blink of an eye! Use all five of your senses to investigate plants from these habitats.
First Discoveries (ages 4 & under)
Friday, February 20
Calling all toddlers and their caregivers! Enjoy a special indoor edition of First Discoveries, complete with crafts, stories, and other activities designed for our youngest nature explorers.
A One-Day Symposium, Trade Show, & Career Fair for Horticulture Professionals
Plant-O-Rama is Metro Hort Group’s largest annual event for professionals in horticulture attracting nearly 1,000 gardeners, designers, arborists, and educators working in public parks, botanical gardens, and private gardens and landscapes in the New York City tri-state region.
Individual tickets are required for access to morning or afternoon featured speakers and panel discussion. Admission to trade show, career fair, guided walks, and closing party is free. See full speaker list, schedule, and other details at metrohort.org.
Special notice: BBG’s parking lot is closed this weekend and street parking is extremely limited. Please use public transportation or make arrangements to be dropped off. Enter at 990 Washington Avenue or 455 Flatbush Avenue; the Eastern Parkway entrance is closed.
Hello, Brooklyn! Neighbors in Nature
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual spring conference Making Brooklyn Bloom is offered free to community gardeners and the broader public with exhibits, workshops, networking opportunities, and speakers focusing on sustainable horticulture.
This year’s conference theme, “Hello Brooklyn! Neighbors in Nature,” highlights BBG’s community greening programs, particularly the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. Participate in workshops, enjoy tours and talks, and network with NYC greening organizations at a conference that has brought Brooklyn nature-lovers together for over 40 years.
Conference tickets are required for all attendees. This free ticket provides admission to the Garden and conference.
Registration opens March 2 for morning sessions—including workshops, talks, and tours—and the keynote address and is online only. Limited spots; no on-site registration. Registration details will be emailed to ticketholders. Afternoon sessions do not require registration and are first come, first served on event day.
ASL available at all Auditorium talks; reserved seating areas for ASL users and those with limited mobility at front of Auditorium. If you need further assistance or require any other accommodations to participate fully,
please reach out to us by February 28 at
[email protected] or 718-623-7250.
Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address
Radical Joy and Resistance
Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
In the Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address, Kofi Thomas—community gardener, public speaker, and comedian—explores the lessons that nature can teach us about resilience, interdependence, and harmony within community. “I believe we can fight for the land and for each other with a smile... as long as we look to nature for the lessons that teach us how to care for one another,” says Thomas. “In fact, without the principles embodied in our gardens, there would be no community.”
Schedule
10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Open Activities and Tabling
Palm House
Connect with dozens of NYC greening groups.
Pick up a free veggie start courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden while they last.
Learn about BBG’s Brooklyn Urban Gardener certificate program.
Enter your block in BBG’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest.
Rotunda
Pick up free veggie seeds.
Visit the Ask a Gardener table for answers to your horticultural questions.
Browse the Library’s Community Greening exhibit.
Check out displays from NYC greening groups.
Conservatory, Lower Level
Pot up your own houseplant, while supplies last, at the Propagation Station.
Explore the tree-inspired art exhibit “Notice/Know/Kin”
(plus catch a gallery talk with exhibit artist and BBG community field manager Nina Browne at 3 p.m.).
Visitor Center
Botanical Beading: Stringing Job’s Tears
Make a piece of jewelry strung with Job’s tears seeds. While materials last.
Beading Sonic Strands
Join the 2026 Heidi Nitze Art × Environment Fellows Olalekan Jeyifous and AD—WO in beading natural and found materials for a public art installation at BBG. While materials last.
Painting with Native Plants
Create a painting using ink from chàkinkwèm (Lenape for pokeweed) berries and other native plants, with Native Roots Farm Foundation.
11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; limited space available.
Note: Registration is now closed for morning workshops and tours. Walk-up space is available for the Auditorium talk.
12–1 p.m.
Lunch
Snacks and lunches are available for purchase in the Palm House.
Bring-Your-Lunch Breakout Sessions
Classrooms
Join a conversation about Composting, Community Gardening, School Gardening, or Street Tree Stewardship.
Bring-Your-Lunch Zones
Conservatory, lower level
Look for signage for areas to sit, eat your lunch, and chat with fellow attendees.
1:30–2:45 p.m.
Keynote
Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address: “Radical Joy and Resistance” (online pre-registration required; opens March 2) Auditorium
Presented by Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
Note: Advance registration for the keynote address is full. There will be a standby line at the event.
Leave us your feedback and get a token of our thanks!
Sessions: Talks, Workshops & Tours
Workshops & tours repeat at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
There are different auditorium talks in the morning and the afternoon. See descriptions below.
Registration is now closed for morning workshops and tours. Walk-up space is available for the Auditorium talk.
Afternoon sessions are first come, first served on event day; no registration.
Auditorium Talks
ASL interpretation will be available for all talks. Reserved seating areas for wheelchair and ASL users at front of Auditorium.
Our Insect Neighbors
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Dr. Laura Melissa Guzman, Department of Entomology, Cornell University
Ever wondered who’s buzzing around the block? Are they friend or foe? Many insects are in decline, but cities can be safe havens for these ecologically important species. How can we support insect biodiversity? Learn some common insect IDs and find out how to engage with citizen science to support our most underappreciated and overlooked Brooklynites. Online pre-registration required; opens March 2.
Keynote: Radical Joy and Resistance
1:30–2:45 p.m.
Kofi Thomas, Community Builder, Good Life Garden & The People’s Garden
In the Wilbur A. Levin Keynote Address, Thomas explores the lessons that nature can teach us about resilience, interdependence, and harmony within community. Learn about the importance of reflecting on what nature has to offer us when we consider how to care for one another, and our ourselves. Online pre-registration required; opens March 2.
Bananas of the World
3–4 p.m.
Anthony Basil Rodriguez, Ethnobotanist
Bananas are deeply intertwined with human history, yet preserving the biodiversity of this iconic plant faces vast challenges. Come on a photographic journey through an ethnobotanist’s fieldwork around the globe. At the intersection of art and botany, delve into the scientific and cultural significance of this food staple, exploring bananas’ role in local traditions, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
Workshops
Each workshop runs twice, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. & 3–4 p.m. Morning workshops require online pre-registration; opens March 2.
Beginning With a Seed
Greenhouse 2 Joanne D’Auria, HortAbility
A great workshop for beginning gardeners! Seeds hold such potential, yet what is a seed? Learn the basics of seed types, life cycles, and how seed-starting compares to other ways to propagate. Start some seeds for your garden or windowsill.
Blooming with Meaning: Flower Stories of the African Diaspora
Lily Pool Room Maya Marie S., Deep Routes
Flowers have been connecting communities and neighbors together for centuries, epecially the people of the African diaspora. Join us as we share some of these diasporic stories, explore Black florists’ contributions to New York’s flower scene, and learn the origins of a selection of beloved flowers. Take home a flower start and seeds.
Community Gardens: Telling Our Stories
Room 123 Hiroko Neely, The Amazing Garden
Whether for posterity or for strengthening future membership, capturing the histories of Brooklyn’s community garden movement is vital work. Hear from a local independent filmmaker and community gardener who is documenting the history of Red Hook’s Amazing Garden’s history through interviews and stories shared by its founders and longtime gardeners, helping preserve their legacy for generations of neighbors to come.
Interspecies Gardening in Brooklyn
Magnolia Room Rona Taylor, Brooklyn Urban Gardener
How can urban gardeners think more holistically about the plants, pollinators, soil microbes, and other wildlife that share our garden spaces? How can we successfully navigate city bureaucracy and funding sources to make these holistic projects come to life. Hear from a local community activist seeking to do just that in a Brooklyn park and playground space.
Seed Saving
Greenhouse 3 Scott Thomas, Wyckoff House Museum
Saving seeds and their stories is essential to preserving our past and safeguarding our future. Explore the science and practice of collecting and storing many kinds of seed. Take home some seeds to try.
Street Tree Habitats
Room 236 Kara Lesondak & Debra Sweet, Crown Heights Keepers
We know that street tree beds can be the most challenging urban spaces in which to garden. Can we actually transform them into havens for locally evolved plants and pollinators? Yes, we can! Learn how from the reigning 2025 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest residential champions.
Vermicomposting at Home
Room 125 Jean Lewis-Laldee, Brooklyn Urban Garden
Compost happens—even in a tiny Brooklyn apartment! Learn how to harness the power of red worms to convert your kitchen scraps into black gold, no matter where you live.
Special Tours
Join an indoor or outdoor tour with BBG volunteers and staff. Each tour repeats at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Morning tours require online pre-registration; opens March 2.
Gardening in Shade Tour: Lessons from the Woodland Garden
Outdoors; meet at the Visitor Center staircase Ivan Gilbert, BBG
Every urban gardener has a challenging spot of dry shade, often under a tree. Woodland ecosystems have much to teach us. Tour BBG’s shady Elizabeth Scholtz Woodland Garden—led by the gardener himself —for some planting inspiration this season. Weather permitting.
Lichen Tour of BBG
Outdoors; meet at the Lily Pool Terrace staircase Isabella Array, BBG
When did you first notice a lichen—the living things that grow on the surface of trees and stones? Take a journey to understand and identify the lichens around us and gain a deeper appreciation for these marvelous lifeforms.
Weather permitting.
Our Changing Climate Tour of the Conservatory
Indoors; Steinhardt Conservatory, upper level BBG Garden Guide
From green algae to plants, our photosynthesizing neighbors have adapted to climates all over the world for billions of years. Taking inspiration from the planet’s biodiversity, visit the Trail of Plant Evolution, Aquatic House, and Tropical Pavilion. Explore the carbon cycle and learn the importance of conserving tropical forests and wetlands.
This tour is 40 minutes.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden gratefully acknowledges support for this program from the Family of Wilbur A. Levin, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS Assembly, the NYS Senate, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Department of Sanitation, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and the NYC Council.
Leadership Support, Community Greening Programs
Major Sponsor, Making Brooklyn Bloom
All positions have been filled for 2026. Please check back in December for information about the 2027 fellowship.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Children’s Garden Education Fellowship program prepares aspiring environmental educators for positions in the field, both at BBG and beyond.
Education Fellows spend the growing season in BBG’s Children’s Garden, teaching young people to grow, harvest, and cook their own food, care for the environment, and explore the natural world.
Fellows teach age-appropriate gardening lessons to a group of up to 12 children with the assistance of two to three teen apprentices from our Garden Apprentice Program. Fellows are responsible for caring for their garden beds and designing hands-on garden-based lessons for children ages 4 through 13. Fellows also teach up to eight family programs, guiding children and their families at hands-on stations in the Children’s Garden. Early Childhood Fellows co-teach an additional class for children 2–3 alongside their adult caregiver.
The comprehensive paid training program covers food gardening, seasonal themes, best practices for outdoor education, and horticulture skills. Training topics include garden bed maintenance, child development and behavioral differences, universal design for learning, mentorship training, botany, and more.
There are some holidays and days between seasons with no scheduled shifts. Please see the 2026 application for the complete schedule.
Qualifications
We look for candidates who have some experience with either children or gardening and who hope to pursue a career in horticulture or informal science education. Candidates must be comfortable working outdoors and performing manual labor in various weather conditions.
Please email us at [email protected] with any questions about the program or application process.
Program alumni have pursued careers as school garden teachers, environmental education coordinators, horticulturists, and more at institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, Edible Schoolyard NYC, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Wave Hill, and STEM From Dance.
“I learned some great skills around education, behavioral management, and teamwork that I will hold to. I think this fellowship also made me a much stronger gardener and fueled my interest in the environment by giving me a strong network of peers who are equally excited by the study of ecology and agriculture.”
“I loved seeing kids be excited about gardening and nature! It was so fun and sweet to share my joy about gardening with them and to see how excited they were about it too. I also appreciated the combination of structure and abundant existing lesson plans and activities we could choose from, combined with lots of freedom to try new things.”
“I loved the kids I worked with and the age-group, the gardening, my wonderful colleagues, and overall, I felt super supported and appreciated as an employee.”
For children 4 through 13. During this 6-session program, groups work together to care for their garden plots! Participants practice horticulture skills such as planting, watering, weeding, compost exploration, and more. Groups harvest, taste, and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs, create nature art, and go on nature explorations alongside a garden instructor and teen apprentices.
This is a drop-off program.
Age Groups
Ages 4–5
Ages 6–7
Ages 8–10
Ages 11–13
Cost
$445 nonmember/$419 member
Transform sidewalks, medians, tree pits, and curb strips into thriving green spaces! In this two-part class, students will learn the basics of how to design and care for urban streetscape plantings. Learn practical techniques for working with limited soil, choosing resilient native and pollinator-friendly plants, managing water sustainably, and navigating city regulations. Perfect for anyone interested in urban greening, landscape design, or community beautification. Some prior gardening experience is beneficial.
150 Eastern Parkway (temporarily closed)
455 Flatbush Avenue
990 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Public Transportation
Subway
to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum for 150 Eastern Parkway and 990 Washington Avenue entrances
to Prospect Park for 455 Flatbush Avenue entrance (no B train on weekends)
to Franklin Avenue (no elevator) for 990 Washington Avenue and 150 Eastern Parkway entrances
Bus
Nearest bus services:
B16 to Ocean Avenue
B41 to Empire Boulevard
B43 to Washington Avenue
B45 to Washington Avenue
B48 to Eastern Parkway
10-minute walk from a Garden entrance:
B16 to Lincoln Road
B41 or B69 to Brooklyn Public Library
B49 to Eastern Parkway
B65 to Classon Avenue
LIRR
LIRR to Flatbush Avenue/Atlantic Avenue Station. Connect with 2, 3, 4, or 5 train or B41 bus.
Parking
Pay-on-Entry Days: Parking is $27, payable on entry, on all First Saturdays. .
Attended parking (for a fee) is available at 900 Washington Avenue.
The parking lot is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no overnight parking; monthly parking by arrangement.
Time
Rate (off-peak days)
Up to 1 hour
$10
Up to 2 hours
$12
Up to 3 hours
$14
Up to 4 hours
$16
Up to 5 hours
$18
Maximum to closing
$24
Up to 24 hours
$35
Lost ticket (pays per day)
$35
Special event rates apply on busy days.
School buses (only when space permits): $25 for maximum to closing; $50 for up to 24 hours; $50 per day for lost ticket.
Regular buses: $90 for maximum to closing; $120 for up to 24 hours; $120 per day for lost ticket.
Drawing from Latin American and Caribbean traditions such as cumbia, bolero, son jarocho, Julia Rocha led community workshops and created a bilingual music performance connecting the human-plant relationship and exploring our responsibilities as land stewards.
In 2024, Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosted Patrick Costello as artist in residence. During his residency, Costello led a family-friendly hand-puppet workshop, conducted a community chorus in the Garden, and created an immersive and participatory processional performance called The Holes are Alive: A Garden Tour focused on plants and pollinators.
From June through September 2023, Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosted Kamala Sankaram as artist in residence. Drawing inspiration from trees in our collection, tree care and caretakers, and the symbolism of trees as places of gathering, shelter, and culture, Sankaram created two new pieces inspired by the Garden’s 2023 theme, Power of Trees.
During his summer 2022 residency, Jean-René Delsoin's study of BBG’s gardens, plants, trees, and wildlife along with Haitian culture, traditions, and heritage informed a work created and presented in collaboration with NYC-based dance and drum practitioners.
Residency Support
During the residency, the artist spends time creating work in and inspired by the Garden. They host public classes, seminars, or activities, then showcase their final work in the fall.
Residency Support
Access to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden library and archives
Research meetings with gardeners and staff
Access to the Garden, including outside of public hours by arrangement
Access to BBG’s events and programs
A shared desk area and Wi-Fi
Artist stipend of $8,000 plus additional funds for production & performer support
Selection Criteria
Eligibility
Discipline: Artists interested in the live performance world including (but not limited to) choreographers, dancers, musicians, playwrights, and theater makers.
Artist must be a resident of New York City. This residency does not provide housing or transportation.
Artist must respect the plant life and abide by Garden rules. A residency contract will be executed.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an equal opportunity organization and encourages all eligible applicants to apply.
Application Components
Portfolio of 3–5 pieces of work
Resume
Written proposal including:
Performance ideas integrating the 2025 theme
Public engagement ideas; seminars, classes, etc.
Artist’s relation to or interest in botanic subject matter
Anticipated needs for residency supplies, equipment, space, and budget
Artist statement
Selection
Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff and previous artists in residence and selected on the following criteria:
Integration of the theme into the performance piece
The proposal reflects Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s mission and community and is appropriate for all ages.
Feasible for Brooklyn Botanic Garden; think about the impact on the grounds and flexibility of the performance in an outdoor environment.
Strength of the public engagement proposals; how do you propose to get to know BBG’s community and vice versa?
Relationship or interest in botanic subject matter
Applicant’s portfolio of work and examples of completed performances
The Performing Artist in Residency is on hiatus for 2026.
Learn to strategize quickly with the watercolor medium and embrace a more loose, impressionistic style. We will work from still life fruits and vegetables on smaller sheets of paper. Your instructor will demonstrate how to approach different textures, values, and color vibrancy without working in slow layers, as many times, that’s how we feel most comfortable. Still life objects will be provided, and students are encouraged to bring in their own still life inspiration as well. All levels are welcome!
Learn the different parts of a tree, how they function, and practical implications for tree care professionals. Jargon is often used poorly, both when biologists talk to arborists, and when arborists talk to clients. Learn how to make sense of these biological principles—for yourself and your clients—and how to apply them to your work. Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
This course is approved for the following ISA credits: Certified Arborist – 6.0, BCMA Science – 6.0.
Learn some of the mechanics behind floral design so you can advance your practice. Students will experiment with various materials including chicken wire, agrawool, and other ways of supporting unique and sculptural arrangements. Understanding of basic floral design is preferable.
Make beautiful arrangements that will last the whole season. Working with dried flowers creates wonderful, sustainable options for winter.
Explore the ivory, cream, parchment, and oyster shades of winter white with a seasonal floral display. Using a variety of winter blooms and textural elements, you’ll create a stunning centerpiece fit for the season. The instructor will offer step-by-step instruction—from palette selection and flower care to professional techniques for crafting a lush and unique floral arrangement.
Looking to make something really special for a loved one? Forget roses. Learn how other flowers have traditionally been used to communicate different emotions, along with basic floral design techniques. Then make a gorgeous arrangement to delight your beloved.
Entrances 150 Eastern Parkway (temporarily closed) 455 Flatbush Avenue 990 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 Public Transportation Subway to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum for 150 Eastern Parkway and 990 Washington Avenue entrances to Prospect Park for 455 Flatbush Avenue entrance (no B train…
to Franklin Avenue (no elevator) for 990 Washington Avenue and 150 Eastern Parkway entrances
