Topics
Special Series
Plants & People
-
The Rich History of Black Flower Vendors in New York City
“Beauty is a very necessary thing, I think,” says horticulturist and author Abra Lee. “As tough as things were, people had their flowers.”
By Ellie Shechet -
My Chaos Garden
Writer Hannah Kingsley-Ma on losing control in her Brookyn backyard.
By Hannah Kingsley-Ma -
Vanilla Beans Ripen in the Tropical Pavilion
Of 110 vanilla orchid species, Vanilla planifolia is one of the few cultivated for its beans.
By BBG Staff -
Camille Dungy on Gardening as a Political Act
Poet Camille T. Dungy on her new book, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden.
By Ellie Shechet -
Trees of Little Caribbean: A Reading List
Interested in learning more about Caribbean trees, cuisine, and histories? Check out this reading list from Trees of Little Caribbean cocurator Meera Jagroop.
By Meera Jagroop -
Kamala Sankaram Asks What We Mean By “Nature”
We spoke with artist in residence Kamala Sankaram about learning to listen and the blurry line between nature and ourselves.
By BBG Staff -
Weed of the Month: Broadleaf Plantain
You'll see plenty of this weed all summer. The good news is that it can be used to soothe mosquito bites.
By Saara Nafici -
The Influential Black Herbalists Who Inspire Practitioners Today
The stories of Harriet Tubman, Doctor Caesar, and Emma Dupree remind us that herbal knowledge has always been part of the Black experience.
By Arvolyn Hill -
Shalene Jha on Community Gardens as Biodiversity Havens
We spoke with Dr. Shalene Jha, associate professor in the department of integrative biology at the University of Texas-Austin, about urban habitats, “bee bread,” and gardening toward a better future.
By Ellie Shechet -
A Closer Look at the Monkey Puzzle Tree
Araucaria araucana is “like a mother,” says researcher Karina Speziale. “They feed the community. Many, many animals and humans depend on it.”
By Ellie Shechet
