Frank Schellace is a scientific educator, master beekeeper, and artist with a passion for connecting people to the natural world through bees. His dedication to pollinator health has led him to work with managed and wild bees across New York, California, and Alabama through his non-profit Traveling Hive, a project…
Frank Schellace is a scientific educator, master beekeeper, and artist with a passion for connecting people to the natural world through bees. His dedication to pollinator health has led him to work with managed and wild bees across New York, California, and Alabama through his non-profit Traveling Hive, a project encompassing art installations, large-scale community drawing, and participatory performance. You can also find him at the Auburn University Bee Center, co-managing over 300 honey bee colonies in support of field trials for research.
Celebrating 30 Years of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn
After Party Chair
Plant Kween
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
Event Contributors
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
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.
Please contact
[email protected]
with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
For more information about accessibility at the Garden, visit
bbg.org/access
.
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.
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is the Japanese practice of deeply experiencing nature through all the senses—sound, scent, touch, and stillness. Join this 60-minute guided experience to quiet your mind, reconnect with the present moment, and leave feeling restored. No experience necessary. Just show up and slow down.
Kotchegna Dance Company, founded by artistic director Vado Diomande, present Performance Traditions of the Ivory Coast, including selections from their repertoire of traditional Ivorian dance and drum in a high energy and interactive performance that is open to and fun for all ages and abilities.
The electro/acoustic Mac & Cheez Balkan PowerTrio get you moving with a performance of traditional and modern village and urban folk music from the southern Balkans.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
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.
Please contact
[email protected]
with any accessibility-related questions or requests.
For more information about accessibility at the Garden, visit
bbg.org/access
.
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.
Learn how gardening can be accessible through three interactive stations. Led by Kristie Cabrera, a disabled access worker and occupational therapist, this program invites participants to consider creative solutions to access barriers and offers an opportunity to try out different adaptive gardening tools.
AUM Dance Creations will be showcasing a dance medley of traditional folk and Bollywood styles, featuring high-energy music, vibrant colors, and graceful dance.
Haitian-American vocalist Pauline Jean bridges jazz with global traditions and the rich rhythms of the African Diaspora. Rooted in her Haitian heritage, Pauline’s work reflects themes of identity, memory, and cultural connection, with performances that are both intimate and expansive, inviting audiences into a deeply moving musical experience.
Founded and directed by Willie Quintana, Tambor y Caña is a traditional Afro-Venezuelan Music project with an experimental approach to dance, drums and other instruments.
Support
Major Supporter, Discovery Programs
Join us at Brooklyn Botanic Garden for programs designed for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers. Enjoy conversation, refreshments, short guided tours, and movement and art making activities facilitated by trained volunteers.
These programs are free, but space is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register, contact us at [email protected].
In warmer weather, Memory Programs are held outdoors and in the Children’s Garden; in cooler weather, they are held inside the Education Greenhouses and Steinhardt Conservatory.
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Photos by Joanne D'Auria.
This program begins with a gentle, guided breathing and nature-inspired movement activity. Participants are then invited to explore the Garden, engaging the senses of smell, sight, and touch, and will also have the opportunity to create a birdfeeder to take home. We will close with a calming tea ritual, offering a peaceful moment to relax, reflect, and connect with others.
This program is full; if you would like to be added to the waitlist or have additional accommodation requests or questions, please email [email protected].
Enhance your day in Brooklyn by visiting our neighbor, the Brooklyn Museum! Purchase a Museum & Garden ticket here at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and present your receipt for same-day admission to the Brooklyn Museum. Museum and Garden tickets purchased online subject to service fee of $2.06/adult ticket, $1.73/senior or student 20+ ticket, $1.47/student 12–19 ticket.
Museum & Garden visits must be made on the same date. The Museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Offer is not valid for special events.
The Brooklyn Museum’s admission is suggested. Tickets are not refundable.
There is no combination ticket for children under 12 years of age. Children under 12 enter for free.
Your Support Makes Great Things Possible!
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
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.
Support
Major Sponsor, Community Tickets
Enjoy garden-inspired stories alongside BBG volunteers at the Discovery Garden’s Woodland boardwalk. Drop in anytime to join—we welcome readers (and pre-readers) of all ages!
This drop-in story time is part of our Family Discovery Weekends program series 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.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden promotes urban greening through education, conservation, and creative partnerships. Working with block associations, community gardens, and other service groups, the Garden is building a vibrant network of people, places, and projects dedicated to making Brooklyn a greener place. Learn More ›
Don’t Miss!
Upcoming Workshops
These workshops are free, but preregistration is required.
Class Registration FAQ
Brooklyn Botanic Garden uses the Active platform to manage class registrations. You will be asked to create an account for yourself.
Street trees transform our urban landscapes and, in turn, street trees rely on community care to thrive. Healthy soil is at the root—full of microorganisms and other life that serve as friends to trees. Learn what makes healthy, living soil along with accessible strategies for improving your street tree bed’s soil structure, drainage, water-holding capacity, and organic matter content to best support the life of your street tree. Take home some compost and a tree bed companion plant 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.
Celebrate spring and enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms at this program for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Explore tactile representations of cherry blossoms and BBG’s bloom calendar; engage with a variety of natural objects by touch, sound, smell, and taste; and experience the Garden on a guided verbal description tour.
This drop-in program runs 2–5:30 p.m. and participants are welcome to join and leave whenever they’d like. Hourlong verbal description tours of the Fragrance Garden, Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, and Cherry Esplanade start at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
Registrants will receive the meeting location by email. This program is free and preregistration is required. Friends, family, sighted guides, and PCAs are welcome. Sighted volunteer guides are available to support visitors upon request.
Please email [email protected] if you’d like to attend or you have additional access requests.
Join Chenae Bullock, a member of the Shinnecock Nation, for a Native Flora Garden tour and talk based on ITEK, or Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge.
ITEK is a body of observations, oral and written knowledge, practices, and beliefs that promotes environmental sustainability and the responsible stewardship of natural resources through relationships between humans and environmental systems.
Free with Garden admission. No registration necessary.
Chenae Bullock is a citizen of the Shinnecock Nation and descendant of the Montaukett Tribe in Long Island, New York. She is the author of 50 Medicines: Indigenous Oral History and Perspective, on which the Ohkehteau (Plants of the Earth): A Shinnecock Oral History exhibit in the Native Flora Garden is based.
Bullock’s writing has appeared in Forbes, Rolling Stone, TedX, Tribal Business News, Bloomberg, Conde Nast Traveler, Indian Country Today, and Yahoo Finance. Following in the footsteps of her ancestors who were whalers and business leaders, the foundation of her work is based on the resurgence of the traditional canoe culture of the Northeast Algonquin communities.
Welcome the longest day of the year with a luminous sunrise performance. Metropolis Ensemble presents Recomposed by Mac Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons featuring violinist Francisco Fullana—a stunning reimagining of Vivaldi’s response to the natural world.
Sunset
Settle in to sunset with Metropolis Ensemble presenting Recomposed by Mac Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons for string orchestra and solo violin, featuring violinist Francisco Fullana paired with composer and multi-instrumentalist Emily Wells, who fuses voice, violin, and electronics into something raw and urgent. Three centuries, three artists—Vivaldi, Richter, Wells—each turning toward nature: fragile, cyclical, powerfully alive.
Tickets available in May.
Visitor Information
During the performances, you may sit on a blanket or stadium chair (no folding chairs, please). There will be a small section reserved for wheelchairs and people who require a seat. If you require an accessibility accommodation, please contact [email protected].
Admission before 10 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. is at 990 Washington Avenue only. To return for the evening performance, show your ticket for re-entry. Last entry at 8 p.m.
About the Artists
Metropolis Ensemble
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Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble has been a driving force in contemporary music since its founding in 2006 by conductor Andrew Cyr. Over two decades, the ensemble has commissioned more than 450 new works and performed at venues including BAM, the Hollywood Bowl, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, Celebrate Brooklyn, and Cosm's immersive domes in Los Angeles and Dallas.
The ensemble's recordings have earned a JUNO Award, two Grammy nominations, and recognition from the New York Times, NPR, and Gramophone. Recent highlights include a 2025 Grammy nomination for Timo Andres' The Blind Banister and a New York Times Best of 2025 citation for the opera In a Grove at the Prototype Festival.
The ensemble's multifaceted Biophony series with Brooklyn Botanic Garden (and NYC DOT) has brought free performances to over 30,000 audience members across New York City's five boroughs since 2021.
Emily Wells
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Forging a bridge between pop and chamber music, composer, producer, and video artist Emily Wells builds songs from deliberate strata of vocals, synths, drums, piano, other string, and wind instruments. Her evocative music (described as “visionary” by NPR) and performances (called “quietly transfixing” by the New York Times) impel listeners to be attuned.
Wells’s latest release, the ten-song album Regards to the End, explores the AIDS crisis, climate change, and her lived experience watching the world burn. A work of radical empathy, Regards to the End foregrounds the power of art, critique, and care to connect and perhaps redeem us.
Francisco Fullana
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Francisco Fullana, winner of the 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant, has been hailed as an "amazing talent" by Gustavo Dudamel. A native of Mallorca, he has performed as soloist with ensembles ranging from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to the baroque ensemble Apollo's Fire to Metropolis Ensemble.
His recordings have topped the Billboard Classical charts and earned Album of the Month honors from both Apple Music and BBC Music Magazine. A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Madrid and the Juilliard School, Francisco performs on the 1735 "Mary Portman" ex-Kreisler Guarneri del Gesù violin, on loan through the Stradivari Society of Chicago.
Max Richter
Max Richter is one of the most influential composers of his generation, fusing classical technique and electronic technology across genre-defining solo albums and countless scores for film, dance, and art.
His ambitious projects include the landmark nine-hour album Sleep, the reimagining of Vivaldi's violin concertos in Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, and his score for Wayne McGregor's ballet Woolf Works, alongside acclaimed records tackling human rights, migration, and the post-war world. His music has won him legions of fans worldwide and blazed a trail for a generation of musicians.
Cultivate a love of nature and a connection to plants in your kids by signing up for a Children’s Garden class at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Children aged 2 to 13 can plant their own crops and flowers and harvest them under the guidance of garden instructors.
See class descriptions, section schedules, and fees below. Be sure to note age requirements and other qualifications.
During Children’s Garden classes, children will plant, weed, water, harvest, and maintain their communal garden beds. Children will also participate in art projects, cooking, and nature explorations both inside the Children’s Garden and on the larger BBG grounds.
Children’s Garden beds contain a variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Participants will bring home harvest to share with family; availability of harvest varies depending on the growing season, weather, etc.
Children’s Garden Fellows teach programs, alongside teen counselors from our Garden Apprentice Program who are high school seniors and freshmen. Each group has one Fellow and 2–3 teen counselors. During summer, younger groups have an additional program assistant.
Age 4–5 groups have a maximum of 11 participants, and all other age groups have a maximum of 12 participants.
Children’s Garden participants of all ages will treat their peers, teen garden apprentices, and instructors with respect.
Children’s Garden participants will stay with their group leaders at all times.
Children’s Garden participants will follow directions, use tools and materials safely, use appropriate language, and maintain the personal space of others.
Please read and discuss these expectations with your child. If your child is unable to follow these participation requirements or if their behavior endangers others or prevents an instructor’s ability to lead their group, Children’s Garden staff will inform the parent in person or via phone or email. If a second incident occurs, parents may be asked to withdraw their child from the program. Refunds will not be given for behavior-related withdrawals.
By registering for the Children’s Garden program, I agree to the participation requirements above.
Participation Requirements
For Seeds classes, children must be 4 years old or turn 4 within a month after the program start date.
For Sprouts classes, children must be 6 years old or turn 6 within a month after the program start date.
For City Farmers classes, children must be 8 or 11 years old within a month after the program start date.
For Trees and Saplings, children must be 2 or 3 years old or turn 2 within a month after the program start date. Children must attend with one adult per child, no exceptions.
Children must be able to use the bathroom on their own to attend drop-off programs, unless attending with a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) or other approved caregiver. See below for information about additional support.
Program Guidelines & Protocols
Registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis in the order that payment is received; note that Children's Garden classes fill quickly.
Drop-Off/Pickup
Participants enrolled in classes that begin before 10 a.m. must use the 455 Flatbush Avenue entrance for drop-off. This gate opens 15 minutes prior to your program’s start time.
Participants enrolled in classes that begin while the Garden is open (afternoon programs, programs during early open hours) may enter at any gate. Please leave enough time to walk to the Children’s Garden entrance.
Participants must stop at the admission booth and tell a staff member they are here for a CG class (applies to Seeds, Sprouts, City Farmers, Trees & Saplings, and Garden Adventures classes). You will be given a ticket you can use to reenter the Garden for pick-up.
The Children’s Garden gates open right at the program start time. Adults should approach the gate for drop-off and enter the Children’s Garden for pickup at group tables.
Family Gardening Hours and special event participants must stop at the admission booth and scan their ticket.
Snacks
All lunches and snacks will be eaten picnic-style outdoors.
All snacks and lunches must be nut-free.
Safety Protocols
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals). Bring a water bottle, hat, sunblock, and insect repellent.
All activities are facilitated outdoors in various weather conditions; during severe weather, class may be moved to indoor spaces.
Hand-washing stations are located throughout the garden.
BBG staff do not administer medication of any kind. Staff can supervise campers as they self-administer medication that has been packed by caregivers. Staff can help administer EpiPens in an emergency.
If your child is showing signs of illness, they should not attend the program.
Weather Policy
Programs take place rain or shine, in various weather conditions.
Class may be moved indoors during long periods of heavy rain or heat.
We will notify you of any severe-weather cancellations as soon as possible.
Additional Support
Please inform us of any additional support your child needs to have a fun, successful experience in the garden. Our staffing is assigned based on the needs of the students enrolled in the program each season.
Let us know of any special needs, allergies, or health concerns in advance. For example: Does your child require one-to-one support or other accommodation in a school setting?
If your child will be attending with a SEIT or other adult caregiver, please let us know at least two weeks before the program start date.
We are happy to set up a virtual meeting or phone call before the program begins to discuss. Please contact the Children’s Garden staff at [email protected].
Class Withdrawal
There are no refunds for single-session family programs, exchanges are allowed in advance of the program date.
According to our cancellation policy, we are able to provide a refund (less a $25 administrative fee) if you cancel your enrollment at least ten business days before the start date of the class, no exceptions.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications must be submitted before class registration.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available for Children’s Garden participants, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Scholarship recipients will receive a voucher code to use for online registration.
Scholarships are need-based. Those who receive a full scholarship are required to pay a $50 commitment fee.
Scholarships are granted for a program season (spring, summer, fall) and may not be available for more than one season per participant, depending on the number of scholarship applicants.
Consistent attendance is required for scholarship recipients; lack of attendance may affect eligibility for future seasons.
Scholarship application review periods for 2026 start January 2 (spring); January 19 (summer); and June 1 (fall).
For any questions about scholarships, please contact [email protected].
Brooklyn Botanic Garden uses the Active platform to manage class registrations. You will be asked to create an account for yourself and family members.
You may view your registration records or update your profile settings in Active. Please note: Active offers a paid membership program; you are not required to participate. Member prices for classes are for BBG members and do not extend to Active passport members.
SPRING & FALL FAMILY PROGRAMS
For children with an adult
Family Gardening Hours
For children of all ages plus an adult
Single session in April, June, or July
This is a one-time program 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 soil, and more! Participants are welcome to register for multiple classes, but activities will repeat. Programs take place rain or shine!
One adult-child pair must register to participate together. Up to three children or adults may be added.
Dates, Fees & Policy for Family Gardening Hours
Dates
Weekend Dates: Saturday, April 11; Saturday, June 6 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Spring Break: Wednesday, April 8–Friday, April 10 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Out-of-School Days: Friday, June 5; Wednesday, July 1; Thursday, July 2 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
$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 event date.
Children should wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toe shoes (no sandals).
Class registration includes Garden admission before or after the program; see bbg.org/visit to confirm hours. Show your ticket at any entrance to enter.
For 2- and 3-year-olds with an adult
7 weekly sessions beginning in April or September Spring registration has closed. Fall registration opens on Monday, June 29, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Learn about the wonders of gardening with your two- or three-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.
Dates, Fees & Policy for Trees & Saplings
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.
Spring Classes
7 Fridays: April 3–May 29, 2026 (no class April 10, May 22) | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: April 4–May 30, 2026 (no class April 10, May 23) | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
7 Wednesdays: April 1–May 20, 2026 (no class April 8) | 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
7 Wednesday: April 1–May 20, 2026 (no class April 8) | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
7 Thursdays: April 2–May 21, 2026 (no class April 9) | 9:30–10:30 a.m.
7 Thursdays: April 2–May 21, 2026 (no class April 9) | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Fall Classes
7 Wednesdays: September 9–October 21, 2026 | 9:30–10:30 a.m.
7 Wednesdays: September 9–October 21, 2026 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
7 Thursdays: September 10–October 22, 2026 | 9:30–10:30 a.m.
7 Thursdays: September 10–October 22, 2026 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
7 Fridays: September 4–October 16, 2026 | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: September 5–October 17, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
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).
Fall registration opens on Monday, June 29, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Seeds
For 4- and 5-year-olds
7 weekly sessions beginning in April or September
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.
Dates, Fees & Policy for Seeds
This is a drop-off program.
Spring Classes
7 Fridays: April 3–May 29, 2026 (no class April 10, May 22) | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: April 4–May 30, 2026 (no class April 11, May 23) | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Fall Classes
7 Fridays: September 4–October 16, 2026 |4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: September 5–October 17, 2026 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
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.
Spring registration has closed. To inquire about potential openings, please contact [email protected]
Sprouts
For 6- and 7-year-olds
7 weekly sessions beginning in April or September
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.
Dates, Fees & Policy for Sprouts
This is a drop-off program.
Spring Classes
7 Fridays: April 3–May 29, 2026 (no class April 10, May 22) | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: April 4–May 30, 2026 (no class April 11, May 23) | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Fall Classes
7 Fridays: September 4–October 16, 2026 |4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: September 5–October 17, 2026 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
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.
Spring registration has closed. To inquire about potential openings, please contact [email protected]
City Farmers
For 8- through 13-year-olds
7 weekly sessions beginning in April or September
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.
Dates, Fees & Policy for City Farmers
This is a drop-off program.
Spring Classes
7 Fridays: April 3–May 29, 2026 (no class April 10, May 22) | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: April 4–May 30, 2026 (no class April 11, May 23) | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Fall Classes
7 Fridays: September 4–October 16, 2026 | 4–5:30 p.m.
7 Saturdays: September 5–October 17, 2026 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Cost
Friday Classes: $262 nonmember/$236 member
Saturday Classes: $330 nonmember/$304 member
Spring registration has closed. To inquire about potential openings, please contact [email protected]
SUMMER DROP-OFF PROGRAMS
Garden Adventures
For children 4 through 13
Wednesday–Friday for two weeks in July or August
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.
Dates, Fees & Policy for Garden Adventures program
This is a drop-off program.
Dates
Session 1: July 8–17, 2026 | Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Get a crash course in vegetable gardening! In this class you will learn the basics of how to grow vegetables including how to do a site assessment, amend your soil, plan what to grow, choose seeds, grow seedlings, plant, transplant, water, weed, use organic pest control, and harvest. You can also take home seedlings to get started or to add to your garden.
It’s a short walk from the stoop to the kitchen table. Grow your own delicious produce this season by learning practical tips for successful vegetable gardening in containers. The class will cover basic garden care as well as how to choose the right containers and plant cultivars for your site.
As part of the North American Japanese Garden Association’s annual Gardens for Peace project, which brings communities together in Japanese gardens to promote peace, BBG presents free public programming in and around the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden.
Free with Garden admission. Tickets available in August.
Event Partner
Shop a curated and dazzling selection of plants for your home and garden. This year, shoppers can find native trees and shrubs fit for Brooklyn yards, unusual orchids, diverse tropicals and succulents, indoor and outdoor bulbs including uncommon varietals, and much more. Pot up your new purchase at Terrain while you check out pumpkins and new fall arrivals!
Brighten your home, stoop, and garden while supporting BBG—all proceeds benefit the Garden’s operations and programs. The Fall Plant Sale is presented by the BBG Auxiliary.
Garden admission is free for Fall Plant Sale shoppers. Purchased plant materials are not permitted in other areas of the Garden, so plan to exit through 990 Washington Avenue. Garden members get 10% off all purchases.
Tickets available in September.
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Make the most of your visit to Lightscape with dinner at Lightscape Lodge at Yellow Magnolia Café, decked out for the season with elegant winter accents. Reservations are encouraged and Lightscape tickets are required to dine.
The Garden is a space where we urban dwellers can reconnect to the earth and our own capacity for renewal. Join this class to practice walking meditation and loving kindness for oneself, others, and the more-than-human world. Species cycle through the Garden and with keen eyes, listening ears, and an open heart we can be in harmony with all that breathes.
Come celebrate the end of the growing season with a Seed Exchange in the Discovery Garden! Fall is a great time to learn how to save seed for spring. Watch a seed-saving demonstration—with tomatoes and more!—and get tips on caring for and storing seed over the winter. Gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions.
We’ll have a selection of fall-friendly seeds to share, whether you are growing in a street tree bed, garden bed, community garden, or sunny windowsill in your apartment.
Bring seeds to share! Bringing seeds is not required, but if you do, make sure they are labeled and no more than two years old to ensure maximum germination success.
We’ll provide envelopes, small bags, and labels for the seeds you take home.
This is a drop-in program for gardeners of all ages, including families with children, teenagers, and adults. We can’t guarantee what kind or how many seeds will be available. 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
Learn to observe a tree’s health and the drivers of decline. Students will learn the fundamental principles of disease, types of disease, and the impacts of injury and abiotic factors on tree health. The class will cover the steps that are taken to diagnose disease and how to identify environmental factors that contribute to decline. Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
This class is designed for practicing arborists. Students should have a basic understanding of tree anatomy and physiology before taking this class.
Learning to recognize and name herbaceous plants in the landscape is an important skill for gardeners and naturalists alike. Students will learn the basics of plant anatomy and taxonomy to be able to identify herbaceous plants. This class will include a walk on the BBG grounds using a variety of tools to identify plants.
Trees host a diverse array of fungi, not all of which are beneficial. This course will provide students with tools for identifying fungal problems that pose a serious risk to tree health and structural integrity. Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
This class is designed for practicing arborists. Students should have a basic understanding of tree anatomy and physiology before taking this class.
This course is approved for the following ISA credits: Certified Arborist – 4.0, BCMA Science – 4.0.
Let’s take climate change seriously without taking ourselves seriously, shall we? A crew of stand-up comics will help us explore the absurdities of the climate crisis, laugh through our anxieties together, and reinvigorate our resolve to be part of the solutions, with sets from Brad Einstein, Eeland Stribling, Perrin Ireland, and Hila the Earth.
After the show, we’ll complete the catharsis by dancing to music from DJ Mamoudou and celebrating the paperback launch of Dr. Johnson’s book What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures.
Optional/encouraged: Come dressed as your favorite climate solution! Maybe you’ll meet your new climate bestie on the dancefloor.
Ticket includes entry, (1) complimentary drink, and small bites. First 250 people to arrive will receive a copy of What If We Get It Right?
Note: Attendees will exit the Garden via 1000 Washington Avenue.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She is cofounder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities, and is the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College. Ayana authored the New York Times bestseller What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, work that is carried on with her newsletter and podcast of the same name.
Previously, she coedited the bestselling anthology All We Can Save, cocreated and cohosted the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet, and coauthored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions.
Join Onondaga farmer, seedkeeper, and educator Angela Ferguson, and help plant 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.
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!
ACTIVITIES
Origami with Sato Yamamoto and Jason Clay Lewis
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.
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
Toast to BBG’s Greenest Block participants with fresh mocktails that incorporate herbs you can easily grow on your stoop, balcony, or windowsill. Learn how to craft mocktails using fresh herbs, seasonal fruits, and leafy greens. The instructor will cover flavor pairing and balancing sweetness, acidity, and freshness, using herbs for aromatic depth, incorporating greens such as cucumber and spinach, and creating natural syrups and house-made infusions. Presentation and garnishing techniques will make drinks as beautiful as they are delicious.
In this workshop, students will create handmade botanical cyanotype prints using the grounds of BBG as our studio. Learn the basics of cyanotype printing including chemistry mixing, canvas preparation, and plein air printing. We will also cover printing techniques such as double exposures and high contrast. Students will leave with one-of-a-kind prints.
This three-part series provides all the concepts and tools for amateur floral designers (and those considering a career in flowers) to make beautiful arrangements for home and special events. Based on Eastern and Western floral design techniques, this class gives students the opportunity to experiment with making more complex arrangements. While working with a range of materials, flowers, and containers, you will learn how to evaluate your own designs and work efficiently.
Bring that beautiful but odd vase that you got as a gift and work with the instructor to figure out how to make a beautiful floral arrangement that complements your container. You bring the vase, the instructor brings the flowers...together you’ll make a fine duet.
Come for a creative, hands-on experience where participants learn to design and construct personalized floral headpieces using seasonal fresh and dried blooms. These sessions cover floral selection, structural mechanics and ribboning.
Wildflowers embody summertime! Whimsical, vibrant, and playful, wildflowers evoke feelings of freedom and lightheartedness. These textural beauties are at the same time unruly and refined, elegant and free-spirited. Using a variety of blooms and textural elements, you’ll create a stunning flower arrangement 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.
Bring your mom to this workshop as a Mother’s Day gift, or surprise her with a beautiful homemade arrangement of spring blooms.
Kaya Abe Magee holds a Master’s degree in the art of Japanese flower arrangement from the Ichiyo-style ikebana xchool. She continued her study at the McQueens Flower School in London to explore her own expression of flower arrangement. She freelanced with Laura Clare Design, in New Jersey creating arrangements weddings and events for five years while donating her time to teach ikebana to children from low-income families and seniors at nursing homes In Japan. She helps maintain gardens in Saint Francois Xavier in Paris and outside London. Kaya learned biodynamic methods at the Pfeiffer Center, and in 2021, she purchased 20 acres of land in Jeffersonville, New York, where she started a biodynamic farm.
Discover the serene beauty of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Rooted in mindfulness, balance, and harmony with nature, Ikebana goes beyond decoration—it is a contemplative practice that honors life, space, and simplicity. In this guided, hands-on workshop, participants will explore minimalist design principles, intentional movement, and the relationship between form and emptiness. Working with seasonal flowers and natural elements, participants will be invited to slow down, observe deeply, and create with presence rather than perfection. Suitable for beginners and those interested in floral design, Japanese culture, or meditative practices. Participants will leave with flowers and branches to continue practicing at home.
Shakespeare was a great lover of flowers and plants and often included them in his verse. Take a walk in the Shakespeare Garden to learn about the plants that were a huge part of Elizabethan life, and the scents people used to perfume their bodies and home. Students will receive a sampling of scented millinery flowers to create their own nosegay and create a quarter-ounce vial of perfume to take home.
In this sensory workshop, we will examine the art of natural perfumery. Students will gain a basic understanding of the sense of smell, the history of perfume, the advent of synthetic ingredients, and the return to naturals. Perfume ingredients and formulation will be explored and each participant will leave with two bottles of their own bespoke perfume. All materials will be provided, just bring a pen to take notes with.
Roses are one of the most beautiful and praised flowers. They’ve been valued for centuries in many cultures and have been cultivated and hybridized worldwide. Learn about the beauty, history, and legacy of the adored and exalted rose. Each variety has a unique scent; we’ll discuss the different notes found in them and learn to pick out the subtle differences. A walk in the Cranford Rose Garden will provide myriad examples as we compare them side by side. After our walk, you will have an opportunity to create a rose perfume at our very own Perfume Bar. Each attendee will leave with a quarter-ounce vial of perfume and a fragrant bouquet of paper roses.
If you’re new to tree identification or need a refresher, this class is for you. You’ll learn the fundamental concepts used in dendrology while being introduced to the Garden’s most common trees. The instructor will share some relevant botanical terminology, but will largely apply a jargon-free approach. Participants will leave class feeling more confident in their ability to identify regional trees, and with recommendations for resources and strategies to improve their own independent self-study. Awareness of trees is one of the best portals into creating a closer relationship with land and nature! Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
Learn how to find and identify birds at the height of spring migration! Each class will consist of 30–45 minutes of classroom instruction followed by field birding on the Garden grounds, and one field trip to another Brooklyn greenspace on Saturday, May 16.
All beekeeping is local, and urban beekeeping is unique. Space, floral accessibility, native bees, and neighbors all factor into best management practices of honey bees. Learn bee biology, tools and techniques for hive care, and problem-solving and pest management. This class will provide a lecture as well as live observation of bees at work.
Mushrooms are everywhere, even in New York City. This class will explore the roles of the frequently misunderstood fungal kingdom, crucial to every habitat on Earth. We will cover the ecology, evolution, and cultural history of mushrooms. Learn basic taxonomy and identification of our local edible and poisonous fungi. Each class will include a foray on BBG grounds to meet your fungal neighbors in person and get practice finding and identifying fungi in the field.
In this class, students will learn insect identification skills and work in small groups to set up light traps in the Garden. We will take a walk around the grounds to search for nighttime pollinators in action and finally return to identify the insect visitors our traps attracted (insects will not be harmed or stuck in the traps, we use simple UV light and sheet tents). This class is open to students 12+ if they are accompanied by an adult.
In this lecture and discussion, the instructor will offer a brief history of medicinal plants. Topics covered will include herbals, with a look at books detailing the healing properties of plants, from the Ebers Papyrus and Materia Medica to the present; plant-based treatments in the modern pharmacopoeia; and a concluding discussion of Western and complementary and alternative medicines.
Tai chi and qigong exercises improve balance, increase blood circulation, relax your mind and body, and increase your internal energy. The instructor will demonstrate movements. Please come prepared in clothing that allows for movement.
Tai chi and qigong exercises improve balance, increase blood circulation, relax your mind and body, and increase your internal energy. The instructor will demonstrate movements. Please come prepared in clothing that allows for movement.
This lecture explores the art and science of container gardening, with a special focus on keeping plants healthy and thriving in limited spaces. We’ll cover practical guidelines for identifying and root-pruning root-bound container plants to encourage stronger growth, better nutrient uptake, and longer plant life. The class also highlights how to select pollinator-friendly plants, such as nectar-rich flowers and native species that support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. This class is structured for gardeners of all experience levels.
Learn to successfully design your garden. This class will guide you from the concept phase to installing, maintaining, and harvesting flowers, herbs, or vegetables. We will integrate containers, irrigation, maintenance, and perennial and annual plant choices. Class will break for 30-minute lunch.
Learn how to have a successful summer vegetable garden for containers and what vegetables and herbs work for your home and how to care, maintain, and harvest them. In this 3-hour lecture, we will spend an hour in the BBG vegetable garden reviewing ideas and options.
As the Garden is in the midst of its summer awakening, we can be present to the mysteries and beauty of the natural world, strengthening our ability to listen to ourselves and each another. We will practice the basics of walking meditation as a solo practice and then with a partner—walking together while sharing and listening from the heart. A simple prompt will be offered. No experience necessary.
Practice walking meditation and experience the natural world through the eyes of the artist, following color, form, movement, and design in the beauty of the Garden. Connected to the flowers, trees, birds, earth, and sky, we can feel a sense of interbeing with all things. Come with curiosity and be ready to be delighted. Bring a small note pad for jotting down observations or sketching.
Learn how to incorporate more native plants into our urban environment to build habitat for birds, insects, and other animals. We’ll explore reasons to choose native plants while introducing trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers that will thrive in different urban spaces. Whether you’re caring for a rooftop, backyard, public space, or street planting, there is a native plant to choose!
An archival skill developed by ancient Egyptians is still used today to preserve the earth’s botanical world. Creating herbariums is a traditional practice of preserving the world’s pressed plants. In this workshop New York Botanical Garden educator and herbalist Arvolyn Hill shows how to press flowers for museum quality specimens or create for art. During this two-part workshop, Arvolyn will teach proper ways to press plants and the art of plant preservation.
Learn about the history of a wide variety of rose types and classifications and how to select the best roses for your garden. In the second session the class will tour the Cranford Rose Garden and learn practical tips on how to successfully grow and care for roses sustainably.
Carnivorous plants are some of the most fascinating and dynamic photosynthetic organisms on earth, and you don’t need a greenhouse to grow them! New York is home to more than 20 native and naturalized carnivorous plants that can grow right here in our climate. Learn cultivation techniques and relevant ecology for these species and pot up your own New York carnivore to take home.
Learn to paint in the Chinese style using a bamboo brush, ink, and rice paper. Get step-by-step instruction in this ancient art form, and develop your own style. Look to the lovely environment of the Garden for creative inspiration.
Celebrate the season by painting en plein air in the Garden when weather permits, using soft pastels—an opaque medium with the saturated color of oil paint. This class is taught studio-style, with one-to-one instruction, and each session ends with a group critique to share work and discuss ideas and goals. On rainy days we will work from still-life setups with subjects from the BBG Education Greenhouses and other elements in the classroom. Some class pastels will be provided to bolster each student’s palette. Some prior art experience with any medium or subject is recommended.
If you’ve ever wanted to accurately draw plants and flowers, this is a great starting point. Through direct observation and various drawing exercises you’ll learn to portray a subject of your choice in graphite on paper. Students will look at the structure and form of their chosen subjects and complete a detailed botanical drawing. Beginner to intermediate welcome.
Learn how to make a beautiful accordion sketchbook and fill it with nature drawings and notes. Add color and decorative details to complete your delightful garden sketchbook.
Explore the varied techniques of painting with the unique, beautiful medium of watercolor. Experiment with color mixing, washes and glazing, creating delightful portraits of flowers and plants.
Summer landscapes have a range of green shades. There are the warm greens of mature leaves, cool dark greens in the shadows, vivid greens of water-lily pads—endless variations of green. The ability to mix lots of green from only a few paints will give you flexibility in your artwork. The instructor will briefly discuss color theory and how to enhance a color by choosing the colors around it, taking into account pigment properties like transparency and granulation. Students will then paint a summer landscape, working from photos.
Paint beautiful, spacious, landscape watercolors using soft colors and shapes in the distance and crisp vivid colors in the detailed foregrounds. The instructor will teach atmospheric perspective, strategic use of warm and cool colors, selective use of detail and overlapping shapes and ways to create the illusion of depth. In-class demonstration will help students develop techniques such as washes, glazing colors, and brushwork for details. Class will take place outside in the Garden, weather permitting.
This class offers an in-depth examination of cultural management practices to support plant health and biodiversity in urban gardens. Learn how to identify major insect orders and plant pathogens, and how to apply Integrated Pest Management strategies to effectively address pest and disease problems. Through scouting walks on BBG grounds, students will have the opportunity to practice identifying signs and symptoms of plant pests and diseases.
Woody plants—including shade trees, ornamental trees, and evergreen and deciduous shrubs—form the backbone of a well-planned landscape design. This course will help you master the identification and uses of many woody plants found in urban landscapes.
Herbaceous plants accentuate other features in the landscape, and when used effectively, they can provide almost year-round interest. Learn identification methods and landscape uses of perennials and annuals commonly used in the urban landscape, including native plants. The class will identify and view plant characteristics during sessions on BBG grounds.
An in-class exam will be administered during the last session. Attendance is mandatory.
Kevin Pace is a Brooklyn-based horticulture professional with over seven years’ experience working in greenspaces in New York City and the tri-state area. He is currently an arborist at the Trust for Governors Island and has worked seasonally at the Battery Park City Authority. Pace holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Connecticut, a Certificate in Horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden, and an ISA Arborist Certification, and has expertise in garden design, establishment, and maintenance; Invasive Plate Management; and Arboriculture.
Healthy soil is the foundation for a healthy garden ecosystem and abundant crops. In this course, learn about soil’s contents and physical and chemical properties, soil fertility management, and soil cultivation techniques. Gain an understanding of soil improvement practices—including composting, cover cropping, soil testing, and mulching. The instructor will share videos and activities for hands-on learning and facilitate group discussion to share experiences and grow our knowledge and understanding of soil.
Zoom: 6 Thursdays: May 7, 14, 21, 28; June 4, 11 | 6–8:30 p.m. At BBG: 1 Saturday, May 30 | 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
A strong foundation in botany is essential to understanding how to maintain a healthy landscape. This course includes discussions on plant anatomy, plant life cycles and reproduction, taxonomy, and plant physiology. This course requires no previous knowledge of botany and is recommended as a first course in the Certificate in Horticulture program.
Better understand the practical tools and techniques for plant care, pruning, transplanting, and other essential tasks. Learn about the maintenance of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, container plantings, and turfgrass. Become a more well-versed horticulturist through problem-solving, hands-on activities, and garden explorations. Each class session focuses on a different maintenance topic.
As you learn to grow and care for landscape plants, it’s essential to know how to increase your stock. In this class, you are introduced to a variety of plant propagation techniques using both seed and vegetative material. After a lecture and demonstration, each method is practiced in a hands-on lab session in our Education Greenhouse.
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.
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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 Leap 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 Leap 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.
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, Leap, 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 23: The first blossom opened on Saturday, March 7, followed by the second on Monday, March 16, and the third on Wednesday, March 18. 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.
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.
Get Tickets Member Tickets Become a Member Full Admission Information › 150 Eastern Parkway 455 Flatbush Avenue 990 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 Directions & Parking › Seasonal Hours April 1–May 10: Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Bloom Open early &…
Show locations on Garden map Visitors to the Garden can enjoy light bites, grab and go items, and full-service dining at various locations, opening soon for the summer season. Lightscape Lodge Make the most of your visit to Lightscape with dinner at Lightscape Lodge at Yellow Magnolia Café,…
Kaya Abe Magee holds a Master’s degree in the art of Japanese flower arrangement from the Ichiyo-style ikebana xchool. She continued her study at the McQueens Flower School in London to explore her own expression of flower arrangement. She freelanced with Laura Clare Design, in New Jersey creating arrangements weddings…
Kevin Pace is a Brooklyn-based horticulture professional with over seven years’ experience working in greenspaces in New York City and the tri-state area. He is currently an arborist at the Trust for Governors Island and has worked seasonally at the Battery Park City Authority. Pace holds a B.S. in Biological…
to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum for 150 Eastern Parkway and 990 Washington Avenue entrances
to Franklin Avenue (no elevator) for 990 Washington Avenue and 150 Eastern Parkway entrances
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