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A Brief History of the Osborne Garden
The semiformal Osborne Garden is the first space visitors pass through upon entering Brooklyn Botanic Garden via the Eastern Parkway entrance. This Italianate garden features an emerald lawn framed by wisteria-draped pergolas.
By BBG Staff -
Eat Local: How to Shop for and Prepare Persimmons
Persimmons are in season now. Learn how to tell when they're ripe, and try this recipe for honey-roasted spiced persimmons on toast.
By Sarah Owens -
Botanical Illustrator Maud Purdy Featured by Google Cultural Institute
The artist's striking botanical illustrations can now be seen as part of the Google Cultural Institute's digital collection, along with a photo gallery and virtual tour of BBG.
By BBG Staff -
Grow Aquatic Houseplants in a Mini-Aquascape (with Shrimp)
An aquascape is a small aquatic ecosystem in a glass container—like a terrarium but water-based instead of soil-based. These instructions are for a simple version with plants, algae, and small shrimp.
By Michelle Inciarrano -
Pondlife: What Lives in the Water Here?
Biologist Sally Warring took samples from the pools on Lily Pool Terrace and Water Garden pond and filmed the fascinating microbial worlds that exist in them both.
By Sally Warring -
Eat Local: Sweet Potato versus Yam—a Primer with a Pie Recipe
Sweet potatoes and yams aren't even in the same plant family, and they have important culinary differences, too. Only sweet potatoes can be used in this delicious pie recipe.
By Sarah Owens -
Urban Gardening Around the World
From rooftop beehives in Seoul to indoor hydroponic vegetables in Singapore to green roofs in Paris to Brooklyn Botanic Garden's own 100-year-old Children's Garden, urban gardening and farming is taking a wide range of forms around the world.
By Sara Epstein -
Mending the World within Our Reach
Participants say just entering the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest caused them to spend more time outdoors socializing with the neighbors. Many also feel inspired to take more action, from mentoring youth to influencing city policy.
By Nina Browne and Michelle Gluck -
Groundcovers for Tree Beds
Short-growing and creeping plants protect soil, hold moisture, and suppress weeds. Plant them in your tree beds to act as living mulch.
By Maureen O’Brien -
Compost Can Help Gardens Hold More Water
Adding compost to your garden beds can help your soil absorb and retain water. This allows you to water less often and also mitigates run-off that leads to water pollution.
By Aaron Lee
