Brooklyn Botanic Garden Calendar of Events June 2008–August 2008

Children have many opportunities for summer fun and learning in BBG's Discovery Garden and Children's Garden (right, photo courtesy BBG).

I. Public Programs and Continuing Education Programs
II. Children's Garden Programs
III. Discovery Garden Programs

I. PUBLIC PROGRAMS

June Is Rose Month
June 1–29, 2008
What could be more romantic and sensuous than a single rose? How about tens of thousands of them? Delight the senses with a multitude of blooming roses during June Is Rose Month, a month-long celebration honoring the beauty and history of the rose at Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cranford Rose Garden. With more than 5,000 rosebushes of nearly 1,200 different kinds, the Cranford Rose Garden is home to one of the most diverse rose collections in the country. The collection includes All-America Rose selections, hybrid teas, climbers, ramblers, floribundas, grandifloras, and miniatures. Throughout the month, visitors can take self-guided tours of the rose garden or special tours led by garden guides on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. The Garden Shop and Gift Shop will feature "Everything Roses," a special collection of rose-themed merchandise for rose lovers of all ages. All activities free with Garden admission.

Jazz & Roses
Sunday, June 1 | Noon to 6 p.m.
From elegance and sophistication to whimsy and romance, roses are one of the most evocative of blooms. Celebrate our national flower in style with an afternoon of world-class, outdoor jazz concerts for the whole family in the Cherry Esplanade. This year's performers include The Gino Sitson 4, Marilyn Lerner, Frank London's Klezmer Brass with Maracatu New York, and Hasidic New Wave with Yakar Rhythms. Plus, enjoy a special noon tour of the Cranford Rose Garden with BBG rose expert Anne O'Neill, and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. tours of the garden by BBG garden guides. Free with Garden admission.

Gallery Exhibition: Alien Nature: Photographs by Rodrigo Pedrolli and Michael Murphree
Saturday, May 17–Sunday, June 15, 2008
Artistic partners Rodrigo Pedrolli and Michael Murphree take a surreal look at everyday common flora in their compelling and mysterious digital photographs. The artists take a fresh look at flowers and nature manipulated and transformed into largescale colorful photographs that are both dynamic and exotic. Free with Garden admission.

Greenest Block In Brooklyn Contest Deadline
Monday, June 2
For the 15th year, GreenBridge will sponsor the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest in cooperation with borough president Marty Markowitz. This program offers a fantastic opportunity for block and merchant's associations to participate in making Brooklyn beautiful while building community relations as neighbors work together. The contest includes both residential and commercial categories, as well as awards for street tree beds, storefronts, and windowboxes. For more information and applications, call 718-623-7250.

The Magic Hour: Photography at Dusk
Four Mondays: June 9 to 30 | 6-9 p.m.
The time just before and after sunset has been called the magic hour; the air turns still and nature can appear at its most impressive. This class will explore ways to use this light to the best effect in the beautiful setting of the Garden. Advanced techniques such as selective focus, long exposures and fill flash will be explored, with discussions on composition and technique. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.

Reflections in Collage: Works by Diane Miller
June 22–September 7, 2008
Artist's reception: Saturday, July 12, 2008 | 2:30–4:30 p.m.
In conjunction with the summer thematic trail "Reflections: Water in the Garden," the Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery presents an exhibit of striking collage work that echoes the movement and textures of BBG's water features. Diane Miller's unique collages are inspired by the rocks, trees, mists, clouds, and rain of the North Temperate Zone, and by Sung Dynasty ink paintings and Japanese landscape screens. The artist's original collage technique, which involves etching, monotype, collagraph, and silicone intaglio, integrated on her own handmade paper, offers a vision of unpolluted nature full of dramatic movement and the textures of the earth.

Make Compost With a Touch of Spanish
Wednesday, June 25 | 6–8 p.m.
This class addresses two audiences—English and Spanish speakers—and is translated in both languages simultaneously throughout the session. Learn about the basics of composting in a complete, practical, and interactive way. Participants receive handouts and literature to review at home. No charge, but registration is required; register with Karla Osorio-Pérez at 718-623-7368.

Brewing Compost Tea
Wednesday, July 9 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Compost tea not only inoculates plants against certain diseases, by introducing an abundance and diversity of microorganisms, but contains nutrients vital to plant health. Come learn more about how to make and apply this amazing brew, which can be used along with other organic gardening techniques, to your garden. No charge, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

Summer Thematic Trail: Reflections: Water in the Garden Saturday, July 12–Sunday, September 7
What do people have in common with plants? Both need water to survive! People also enjoy water in the garden as a source of inspiration and tranquility. Come to the Garden and feel the cooling effects of all of BBG's water features: ponds, the brook, waterfalls, bogs, fountains, pools, and even a water table! While exploring the brookside, discover interesting plants along the way. Watch for more information at bbg.org. Free with Garden admission.

The Urban Backyard Vintner: Winemaking in Brooklyn
Saturday, July 12 | 10 am–1 p.m.
It's not necessary to live in the Mediterranean to make good wine! This course will introduce students to the art of winemaking—using grapes easily procured or grown locally—and also provide a brief overview of wine culture in history. Specific topics include pertinent definitions and concepts for the budding oenophile and varietal characteristics of popular wines. Wines from both the classic wine grape, Vitis vinifera, and hybrid grape species will be reviewed. Then delve into the process of both white and red wine, pointing out expected challenges and common wine faults so that you can produce a vintage worthy of a connoisseur. The class culminates with a tasting of homemade wine to complement what we've learned! Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.

Intermediate Flower Arranging—Special Evening Section
5 Wednesdays: August 6 to September 3 | 6–9 p.m.
Students can learn more advanced arrangement styles and complicated design mechanics with a wide variety of fresh flowers. This class allows you to be more expressive in developing designs. Master techniques for parallel designs, vase arrangements, and working without floral foam, among other topics. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.

Feasting for Free in Brooklyn!
Saturday, August 23 | 2–5 p.m.
No need to travel far or seek out so-called "exotic" cultures; there's a long and rich tradition of gathering wild plants for food right here in Brooklyn! Students will learn the history of wild food gathering in the eastern U.S. and how to find edible wild plants in Prospect Park. From fresh dandelion greens to savory wild garlic to juicy blackberries, there's plenty to eat right within arm's reach. Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.

II. CHILDREN'S GARDEN

Join BBG for a fun-filled 94th summer in Miss Shaw's garden! Your kids don't like vegetables? Maybe they should grow their own! In addition to gardening, children investigate science, explore nature, create crafts, and cook food harvested from the garden. All Children's Garden classes are designed with a low child-to-teacher ratio to help ensure quality programming. Register now to save a space in our popular Spring programs. The Independence Community Foundation Scholarship Fund for the Children's Garden provides limited scholarships for all age groups based on need. For information, call the Registration Office at 718-623-7220.

Summer Science Adventures: Environmental Explorations
11 days: July 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25 | 1–3 p.m.
What is it like to be a plant in a dry desert, a tropical rainforest, underwater, or right there in Brooklyn? Through observations, experiments, and other creative projects, this course explores what it takes to survive in these environments, and about the amazing ways that plants are able to live in so many different places. Students discover Earth's natural cycles that connect all living organisms to the environment. These inquiries will not only open kids' eyes to understanding today's environmental issues, but will help them understand how to can become advocates for our environment right here in the own community. Section A: entering 2nd–4th grade, Section B: entering 5th–7th grade. Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.

Summer Science Adventures: Plant Connections
12 days: July 29, 31; August 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22 | 1:15–3:15 p.m.
From the beginning of civilization, humans have relied on plants not only for survival, but also as inspiration to make beautiful art. Come explore the many ways that humans have worked with plants both in the past and today, all over the world. From art activities to herb explorations, from poetry to kitchen creations, kids can discover the fabulous and varied ways we can interact with plants in our own lives. Section A: entering 2nd–4th grade, Section B: entering 5th–7th grade. Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.

KinderGarden: Trees and Saplings
For three- and four-year-olds with caregiver
Caregivers and children learn about BBG while developing a love of plants, gardens, and the outdoors. Children listen to gardening stories, participate in fun planting activities, and, weather permitting, go on sensory tours of different parts of the Garden! Wednesdays in July and August; fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.

KinderGarden: Buds
For four-, five-, and six-year-olds
SESSION 1: July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24 | 1–2:30 p.m.
SESSION 2: July 29, 31; AUGUST 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 | 1–2:30 p.m.
The afternoon Buds begin their lesson indoors with a fun planting activity, then go down to the Children's Garden to harvest. This format provides young children with a fun-filled and cool summer afternoon in the Garden. Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.

City Farmers
For students entering second through seventh grades
SESSION 1: July 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
SESSION 2: July 29, 31; August 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
The City Farmers program is an opportunity for kids to grow food and flowers from seed for their family table while meeting new friends, acquiring new skills, and having a good time in the garden. Summer gardeners dig, plant, weed, cultivate, and harvest a variety of crops. City Farmers work in pairs within small age-based groups led by an instructor. Nature activities, science projects, storytelling, and crafts are often part of the day's program. Children get to see—growing right out of the ground—radishes, carrots, lettuce, scallions, squash, eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and much more. It's a great place to learn about gardening and nature! Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.

III. DISCOVERY GARDEN

BBG's outdoor adventure garden is designed especially for young children to explore plant life from a kid's perspective. Children may visit sense-ational plants and colorful flowers, follow butterflies and birds in a wildlife meadow, pump water down a bamboo waterfall to a stream, hide under a tree, hike a nature trail, and meet a giant green spider. The Discovery Garden includes safe areas designed for toddlers to experience plant life firsthand and have fun, and free drop-in workshops for families to enjoy. Visit often!

Wonderful Water Plants!
Sunday, July 13 and Sunday, August 10 | Drop-in time: 2–4 p.m.
Drop by the Discovery Garden to explore the many types of floating water plants that live in our water table! Look up close with magnifiers and use your senses to learn how these plants grow—indoors and out! Kids may pour their own water garden to take home. Discovery Garden; inclement weather: Steinhardt Conservatory, lower level.

Storytelling Saturdays!
Saturdays in June, July, and August | Drop-in time: 2–4 p.m.
Lend an ear on Saturday afternoons in the Discovery Garden to read and listen to garden stories out loud! Hear tales of garden adventures, animal journeys, and nature explorations throughout the seasons. Have a story to share about a garden? Bring it along for show and tell! Stories will be repeated throughout the workshop, and props and activities will supplement seasonal story themes. Discovery Garden Toddler Lawn; canceled in case of inclement weather.

Discovery Tuesdays!
Tuesdays in May, June, July, and August | Drop-in time: 2–4 p.m.
Tuesday is Discovery Day for young children interested in exploring plants up close! These 15-minute, drop-in plant workshops allow children and families to be plant detectives and discover new parts of the Discovery Garden. Hands-on activities are educational and creative; they include nature explorations, plantings, and garden arts for kids to take home. Discovery Garden; canceled in case of inclement weather.