New York Botanical Garden

February 15, 2024

Walk the runway at the New York Botanical Garden’s fashion-forward orchid show

The New York Botanical Garden's beloved orchid show returns this weekend, bringing the catwalk with it. Designed by artists Hillary Taymour, Olivia Cheng, and FLWR PSTL (a.k.a. Kristen Alpaugh), "The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion" is transforming the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a picture-perfect fashion show with stylish creations made with thousands of orchids and accessory plantings. Tickets are now on sale for the show, which opens on Saturday, February 17, and runs through April 21.
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June 15, 2023

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

With hundreds of parks and over 500 miles of waterfront, New York City is an excellent place for bird watching. The five boroughs serve as a temporary and permanent home to over 400 species of bird, thanks to both habitat diversity and location on the Atlantic Flyway, the route birds follow during migrations. From Pelham Bay Park in the northeast Bronx down to Great Kills Park on the South Shore of Staten Island, there is no shortage of birding activities in New York. We've rounded up the best places to find feathered friends throughout the city, most of which are accessible via public transportation. For guided bird-watching tours and walks, check out events from NYC Parks, NYC Audubon, and the Linnaean Society of New York.
Full list ahead
June 1, 2023

It’s rose season in NYC: Where to see the summer’s prettiest blossoms

It's rose season. Not only is June the perfect time to drink rosé wine, but it is also when roses are in full bloom in New York City. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden boast impressive collections, with both institutions offering guided tours and other events to celebrate the rose and its hundreds of varieties.
Stop and smell the roses
March 29, 2023

A new stinky corpse flower will soon bloom at the New York Botanical Garden

New York City's famed foul-smelling flower is preparing to bloom. The Amorphophallus titanum, known as the "corpse flower" for the rancid odor it emits, is expected to bloom in the "next week or so" at the New York Botanical Garden. The unique flower, the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom, takes years to form flower buds and has a bloom life cycle of just one or two days.
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February 15, 2023

NYBG’s 20th annual orchid show is inspired by ancient Chinese garden design

The New York Botanical Garden's treasured orchid show returns this month for its 20th year. Designed by guest artist Lily Kwong, The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage transforms the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with thousands of orchids and a fantastical landscape inspired by ancient Chinese garden design and artistic principles. Tickets are on sale now for the show, which opens Saturday, February 18, and runs through April 23.
See more here
December 6, 2022

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Since 1992, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has held its Holiday Train Show. The magical exhibit recreates 190 of New York City’s landmark buildings in miniature using plant materials like bark, leaves, and seeds. Twenty-five model trains zoom in and out of the cityscape over bridges and under tunnels, just like in the real-life city. The pieces of art are created by the team from Applied Imagination, which was founded by Paul Busse in 1991. The following year, he brought his creations to the NYBG. To learn more about this iconic holiday event, we spoke to Joanna Groarke, vice president for exhibitions and programming at NYBG.
Everything you need to know
September 26, 2022

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2022 in NYC

It's time to figure out your costume because Halloween is almost upon us. In New York City there is no shortage of fun events celebrating the spooky holiday, with plenty of opportunities to dress up, get candy, dine, and enjoy the season. Ahead, we found some of the city's best Halloween offerings this year, from the legendary Village Halloween Parade to more low-key pumpkin picking at Historic Richmond Town's Decker Farm on Staten Island.
See the full list ahead
April 8, 2022

10 fun things to do near Yankee Stadium

With the baseball season officially here, it's time to start planning a visit to the House that Ruth Built. But as New Yorkers know, the Bronx is more than just baseball. It's a borough full of art, culture, historic spots, green space, and diverse cuisine, all of which can be found around Yankee Stadium. Ahead of the home opener for the Bronx Bombers, 6sqft put together a list of places to visit near the ballpark, on game day or during the offseason, from the city's oldest surviving bridge and the site of the former Polo Grounds to Arthur Avenue's Italian restaurants and the legendary sports bars on River Avenue.
Before you play ball
March 22, 2022

Track the blooming buds and flowering trees of spring in NYC

A reward for getting through winter, the first blooms of spring have been spotted in New York City, ushering in a new season of warmer, longer days and outdoor activities. While cherry blossoms are a definite favorite, there are a variety of flowers and trees that bring new life and vibrancy to parks in every borough. The city's Parks Department last week released a "signs of spring" timeline to keep track of the season's flowering plants. Plus, the cherry blossom trackers from both the New York Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which follow the progress of trees from bud to blossom, are back for the season.
Find what's blooming near you
March 1, 2022

The New York Botanical Garden’s colorful orchid show returns for 19th year

After it was cut short due to the pandemic, the New York Botanical Garden's famed orchid exhibition is returning for its 19th year. Created by lifestyle icon and floral designer Jeff Leatham, The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham's Kaleidoscope transforms the garden's historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a colorful experience reminiscent of a kaleidoscope. The orchid show is open through May 1.
See more here
November 18, 2021

30th annual holiday train show returns to NYBG with more than 190 replicas of NYC landmarks

One of New York City's most popular holiday events will open fully this season after an abbreviated event last year. The New York Botanical Garden's 30th annual Holiday Train Show returns on Saturday, November 20 with 25 G-scale model trains and trolleys riding around more than 190 replicas of iconic city landmarks. Celebrating its 30th year, the train show features a showcase of the garden's LuEsther T. Mertz Library Building and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
Get the details
October 18, 2021

The best 2021 Halloween happenings and spooky spectacles in NYC

New York City really shows its creative side for Halloween, and after a year of laying low, everyone's ready for some trick-or-treat action. The epic Village Halloween Parade is back on, parks and pumpkin patches are putting their fall bounty on display, and our favorite gathering, shopping, and dining spots are stocking up on candy and planning fun events. For the best ideas, browse our list of Halloween haunts and happenings from family-friendly to wicked and wild.
See the full list, this way
April 8, 2021

See inside the New York Botanical Garden’s blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition

This Saturday, April 10, the New York Botanical Garden's hotly-anticipated exhibit KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature will open to the public and remain on view through October 31, 2021. The blockbuster show dedicated to legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama was originally planned to open in May 2020, but of course, was postponed due to the pandemic. Among the works on view are Kusama's famous polka-dot pumpkins, her larger-than-life flowers, and the famous Narcissus Garden, composed of 1,400 stainless steel spheres floating on water.
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March 22, 2021

Where to find New York City’s secret waterfalls

New York state is home to many spectacular waterfalls that are worthy of any bucket list, but if you know where to look, there are a surprising number of waterfalls to discover right here in the concrete jungle of New York City. They're not all "secrets," but they do tend to exist well off the beaten path, tucked into the more remote parts of Central Park or in small Midtown plazas. Once you've found one, you'll likely have a new favorite spot perfect for escaping the city's unrelenting noise—if only for a short while.
Drown out the city at one of these 6 spots
February 2, 2021

New York Botanical Garden announces new dates for Yayoi Kusama exhibition

The New York Botanical Garden was scheduled to hold a blockbuster exhibition dedicated to Yayoi Kusama last spring, but sadly had to postpone the event when the pandemic hit. But they've now announced new 2021 dates for KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature--the show will run from Saturday, April 10 to Sunday, October 31, 2021 with tickets going on sale to the general public on March 16. The exhibition will immerse us in the Japanese artist’s visionary world through a career-spanning survey, the debut of four new works, and a variety of complementary horticultural installations created by the Garden’s team.
More details
October 14, 2020

The best ways to celebrate Halloween 2020 in NYC

Although it's already been a scary year, there are still ways to have some old-school spooky fun in New York City this Halloween. Sadly, popular events like the Village Halloween Parade and the Tompkins Square Dog Halloween Parade have been canceled and traditional trick-or-treating has been deemed a high-risk activity because of the coronavirus pandemic. But there are a number of fall-friendly, socially distanced events still taking place across the city, like a Día de Los Muertos celebration at Green-Wood Cemetery, virtual ghost story readings from the Merchant's House Museum (considered Manhattan's most haunted house), and eerie hayrides and pumpkin picking at the Queens County Farm Museum.
Get the spooky scoop
September 15, 2020

New York Botanical Garden’s landmarked glass conservatory reopens after $18M restoration

The palm dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden reopened on Monday after an $18 million restoration project. Constructed by Lord & Burnham from 1899 to 1902, the stunning glass greenhouse features 11 galleries with plants from around the world, including the garden's Palms of the World gallery. The Haupt Conservancy, which has been closed since March 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic, will reopen to the public at limited capacity on September 22.
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September 14, 2020

NY Botanical Garden and Douglaston reach deal on ground leases at Bronx affordable housing project

Plans to bring hundreds of new affordable apartments for seniors and low-income families in the Bronx are moving forward. The New York Botanical Garden and Douglaston Development this week closed on two separate 99-year ground leases at 2856 Webster Avenue and 410 Bedford Park Boulevard, which will hold a two-building, 100 percent affordable development. Located just a block from the Botanical Garden, the project includes a new 12,000-square-foot Cherry Valley Marketplace store on the ground floor. The existing Cherry Valley grocery store, located at the site of the project, will remain open throughout construction.
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February 12, 2020

Step into a ‘Kaleidoscope’ of color at this year’s New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show

The New York Botanical Garden's popular orchid show will return for its 18th season this Saturday with a special exhibit from "floral designer to the stars" Jeff Leatham. The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope employs the artist's love of color, transforming various galleries with thousands of orchids and their own color schemes. Highlights of the very-Instagrammable show include a kaleidoscopic tunnel of lights, a 10-foot tall mirrored orchid sculpture set above a water fountain, and a series of yellow and orange orchid arches.
Take a tour of this year's show!
February 12, 2020

450-unit affordable housing development planned for New York Botanical Garden property

A two-building development with 450 affordable housing units will be constructed on property owned by the New York Botanical Garden, developers announced Tuesday. Douglaston Development has entered a 99-year lease with NYBG for a lot on Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard, located about a block from the 250-acre garden.
More this way
November 26, 2019

Take a tour of the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, now with a new Central Park section

The New York Botanical Garden's 28th annual Holiday Train Show is back for the season, and this year it has an entirely new Central Park section, featuring iconic spots like Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and the Bow Bridge--all made entirely from natural materials including bark, seeds, berries acorns, and cinnamon sticks. 6sqft took a special tour of the exhibit, which features a total of 175 New York landmarks, and went behind-the-scenes with Laura Busse Dolan, President and CEO of Applied Imagination, the design firm that works all year long to make this whimsical show a reality. From the exhibit's 2,000 plants to its 25,000 pounds of cedar bark and 200 boxes of moss, Laura fills us in on all the fun and little-known facts about the Holiday Train Show.
Take a tour
November 5, 2019

Best of the Bronx: What to do and see in the northernmost borough now

You're probably familiar with the big attractions in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. But the borough has a lot more going on, from historic and cultural treats and treasures to new breweries and restaurants and acres of beaches, parks, trails, and gardens. Read on for a collection of destinations in the city's northernmost, greenest, and most diverse borough that are worth the trip, wherever you’re coming from.
More to do in the Bronx, this way
July 9, 2019

Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkins are coming to the New York Botanical Garden

Over the next year, celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama will have a big moment in New York City. In addition to the forthcoming exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery this fall—which will include some of the artist’s insanely popular Infinity Rooms—the New York Botanical Garden has just revealed that its blockbuster 2020 exhibition will be dedicated to Kusama. The exclusive show will include a range of works, old and new, that shed light on the artist’s lifelong engagement with nature, including everything from her famous polka-dot pumpkins to her signature Infinity Rooms.
More information
June 5, 2019

New York Botanical Garden’s largest exhibit to date will honor Brazilian designer Roberto Burle Marx

Brazilian modernist artist, landscape architect, and plant conservationist Roberto Burle Marx will be the subject of the latest exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden, opening on June 8. Brazilian Modern: The Living Art of Roberto Burle Marx will not only be NYBG's biggest exhibition ever, but it will also be the first to bring Burle Marx's horticultural visions to life in an immersive way. Alongside a gallery of his paintings, drawings, and textiles, visitors will also be able to walk through lush gardens inspired by his designs.
All the details
April 2, 2019

The 10 best spots for plant classes in NYC

Even if you've never managed to keep a succulent alive for more than a month, there's no denying that apartment greenery is having a moment. Luckily, New York is full of plant shops and other great spots offering classes and workshops to locals looking to shore up their green thumbs and maybe not kill a plant the second it crosses their threshold. Ahead, we've rounded up the 10 best, from terrarium and flower-crown making to botanical mixology to the principles of hydroponics.
Check out the list