Topics
Special Series
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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 -
Search for Plants from Peter Rabbit at the Garden
Have fun in the Garden with a Beatrix Potter–inspired scavenger hunt!
By Alvina Lai -
Weed of the Month: White Snakeroot
This weed looks harmless, but it was once a secret scourge that probably killed Abraham Lincoln's mother.
By Saara Nafici -
Eat Local: Wild Rocket and Lettuce Soup
Wild rocket is a mustard-family cousin of arugula that grows like a weed. It has pretty flowers and peppery leaves, both of which can be used in this tasty soup.
By Sarah Owens -
Birds of Brooklyn: White-Throated Sparrow
This delightful little brown bird flies south from Canada and arrives in New York City in mid-October. You'll see it helping itself to the seeds it finds in parks, gardens, and backyard feeders all winter.
By Joe Giunta -
Asters: Stars of the Show in Fall
These hardy, sun-loving natives provide cool contrast to autumn foliage.
By Stephanie Cohen
