Lots of stuff going on this fall at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden:

“Brooklyn Botanic Garden Calendar of Events:
September 2008 to November 2008

1. PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Reflections in Collage: Works by Diane Miller
through September 7
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.

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.

Constructing Cold Frames for Winter Harvest
Tuesday, September 9 | 6–8 p.m.
Learn the basic carpentry skills needed to construct a cold frame out of low-cost materials! In addition to a hands-on building demonstration, this workshop will cover other season-extension techniques like row covers and cloches. Fall crops such as lettuces and greens will be discussed as well as the crops harvested throughout the winter such as spinach and mâché. This class will spend time outdoors, so dress appropriately. No charge, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.more->

Gallery Exhibit: Portraits of a Garden IV
Saturday, September 13–Sunday, November 9
Gallery talks with curator Patricia Jonas and artists: September 27 & October 18
The fourth biennial exhibition of all new work by Florilegium Society artists features more than 40 paintings and drawings of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s living collections. From signature spring blooming magnolias, Kanzan cherries, and tree peonies to the cola tree, camellias, and green ixia that bloom in the conservatories in winter, Florilegium Society artists have captured the essence of these plants and many more through the seasons in the Garden. Free with Garden admission.

Wild Edibles
Saturday, September 27 | 10 a.m.–1 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! In this class, students will be guided through the history of wild-food gathering in the eastern U.S. and a plethora of edible wild plants in Prospect Park! Fee and registration required; call 718-623-7220.

Chile Pepper Fiesta
Saturday, September 27 | Noon-6 p.m.
Join in New York’s hottest fall tradition…an afternoon of musical and dance performances, food, and fun from chile-loving regions around the world, where the grooves are smokin’, the chile peppers are scorchin’, and the dancers are callin’ for water! Be a part of music history with a rare public performance by Pete Seeger, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, Guy Davis together in a Special Family Concert. Brooklyn’s young steel drum champs, the Sesame Flyers Steel Pan Orchestra, get the party sizzling amid a whirl of feathered dancers and fast and furious Caribbean rhythms. The Sauce Boss brings it to a boil with his famous gumbo spiced with foot-stomping Florida swamp blues and blistering slide guitar. Bombay songstress Falu blends her own “indie Hindi” sounds into a spicy masala of classical Indian music and alt rock. Throughout the afternoon, MCs Robbins & Ringold fire up audiences with flame eating, fire juggling, and other daring deeds. Plus, enjoy Indian chutney making, piquant pickle classes, and other spicy cooking demonstrations and tastings, chile pepper tattoos, red hot kids’ activities, and a visit with renowned garden expert the Chile Goddess. Visitors can also pick up organically grown plants and chile-inspired gifts and tingle taste buds with spicy food and cold beer. Free with Garden admission.

Ghouls & Gourds
Sunday, October 26 | Noon–5:30 p.m.
Let the “wild rumpus” start! Bring costumes, instruments, and silly attitudes and prepare to be charmed by one of New York City’s wackiest Halloween extravaganzas. Enjoy performances by renowned groups like Bash the Trash and John Carlin and the Kid’s Music Underground. Kids can also meet local children’s book authors and illustrators, join junk-instrument-making workshops, create masks, and much more. The afternoon culminates with a Halloween costume parade led by drummers from the Brazilian percussion corps Maracatu NY. Visiting ghouls and goblins can march to the beat of hundreds of zany percussion instruments, carry an assortment of larger than-life puppets, or just show off their
own costumes for all to see! Free with Garden admission.

Street Tree Bed Gardening
Thursday, September 25 | 6–8 p.m.
Street trees do so much to improve the environment, but they often receive little care. In this class, learn the benefits of street trees, how to improve the health of a street tree by caring for the bed, get tips on tree-bed gardening and more in-depth information on street-tree care. Bring your street-tree care questions and find out more about the city’s efforts to increase and protect the urban forest canopy. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

GALLERY TALKS: Portraits of a Garden IV
Saturday, September 27 | 2:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 18 | 2:00 p.m.
Join Patricia Jonas, curator of the exhibition Portraits of a Garden IV and participating artists for a discussion of the art of florilegium, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Florilegium Society, and the works in the current exhibition.

Citizen Pruner Certification
4 Mondays: October 6, 20, 27; November 3 | 6–8 p.m.
Outdoor Lab: Saturday, November 1 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
It’s time to take care of those trees on your block! Completion of this course certifies NYC
citizens to care for and prune young street trees. Learn to identify street tree species and
the many factors that cause diseases. Also learn how to help trees survive a harsh urban
environment. You will receive an instruction manual and information about tools at the
first session. Taught in collaboration with Trees New York. For more information call 212-227-1887.

Mulch, Leaves and Cover Crops
Tuesday, October 7 | 6–8 p.m.
The key to beautiful, healthy plants is the soil in which they grow. In this workshop, learn the basics of soil structure, organic fertilizers, soil amendment secrets, the underworld critters that abound, and the importance of organic matter and composting for healthy soil. As a fall focus, we will discuss what to do with leaves, the benefits of mulching, and which cover crops will protect and improve your garden’s soil. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

Rainwater Harvesting
Thursday, October 16 | 6–8 p.m.
Learn the benefits of reducing dependence on NYC water and minimizing storm water flows into sewers by collecting rainwater for use in gardens. It’s easy to use roofs from nearby buildings and garden sheds to harvest rainwater. Come learn about the different types of rainwater harvesting systems being used throughout NYC community gardens from simple pickle barrels to large tanks, and get tips on how to build your own. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

Starting a Children’s Garden Program
Tuesday, October 21 | 6–8 p.m.
Ever wanted to begin a new children’s garden in a school, block association, or neighborhood organization? This workshop will provide tips for adult leaders who want to organize a children’s gardening program. for how to plan it, and what tools and plant materials are needed. Participants will receive a free activity booklet and get a chance to visit our children’s education greenhouse for hands-on activities. Free, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

Special Theme Tour: Chase Away the Winter Blues
Sunday, November 2 & December 7 | 1 p.m.
As many as half of the people living in the middle and extreme latitudes experience a dip in their moods during the winter months. Exposure to daylight, even on a cloudy day, can help restore energy, alertness, and contentment. Join Lynne Spevack, L.C.S.W., a licensed psychotherapist and veteran Brooklyn Botanic Garden tour guide, for this hour-long free outdoor narrated wintertime walk designed to chase away the winter blues. Learn how to maintain a sunny outlook through dark, cold winter days, and discover the plants and animals that enliven the garden landscape even in the “dead” of winter. Free with garden admission. Tour is held rain, snow, or shine.

Healing with Horticulture
Thursday, November 6 | 6–8 p.m.
Why is gardening therapeutic? There is an increasing interest within the health and
human service fields about what most gardeners know intuitively: Time spent planting, potting, pruning, observing, or harvesting is restorative. This class is for institutions and individuals interested in starting a therapeutic horticulture program or wanting to learn about the profession of horticultural therapy. Research and theories about the benefits of contact with the natural world will be reviewed and therapeutic horticulture activities will be demonstrated. No charge, but registration is required; call 718-623-7220.

II. CHILDREN’S GARDEN

Fall is a great time to garden: Gourds are growing, flowers are showing, and there is still time for seed sowing! Kids reap the rewards of bountiful harvests from the summer in addition to planting cool season crops and bulbs for next spring’s spectacular show of color. Where
else are children actually encouraged to put their hands in the dirt, touch an earthworm, or spend a morning looking at butterflies? Learn firsthand from our best instructors: the plants and animals of the Children’s Garden! 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.

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! Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.
Section A: 4 Wednesdays: September 17, 24; October 1, 8 | 10–11:30 a.m.
Section B: 4 Saturdays: September 27; October 4, 18, 25 | 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

KinderGarden: Seeds
For four-, five-, and six-year-olds
BBG’s youngest gardeners work side by side and learn basic gardening skills, both indoors and out! Structured play, ga.m.es, and arts and crafts are used to teach the basics of gardening. Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.
5 Saturdays: September 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25 | Noon–1:30 p.m.

KinderGarden: Seedlings
For Kindergarteners and first graders
Seedlings work in pairs to learn more advanced gardening skills. Each pair spends time planting and maintaining their own plots, growing cool-season crops from seeds or transplants. Children listen to garden-related stories and participate in structured play, ga.m.es, and arts and crafts activities to learn the fundamentals of gardening Fee and registration, call 718-623-7220.
Section A: 5 Fridays: September 19, 26; October 3, 17, 24 | 4–5:30 p.m.
Section B: 5 Saturdays: September 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25 | 10–11:30 a.m.

City Farmers
For students entering second through seventh grades
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.
Section A: 5 Fridays: September 19, 26; October 3, 17, 24 | 4–5:30 p.m.
Section B: 5 Saturdays: September 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

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 us often!

Sense-ational Seeds
Sunday, September 14 | Drop in between 2–4 p.m.
Roll up your sleeves and join the fun while we sort seeds, plant seeds, and create
seed arts and crafts to take home. Discovery Garden; free with Garden admission.

Leaf Out in November!
Sunday, November 9 | Drop-in time: 2–4 p.m.
Jump into a pile of leafy activities this month with leaf pressings, leaf art, and leaf hunts. How do leaves change color in the fall? Why do some leaves fall and some stay forever green? Learn why and how through hands-on experiments, ga.m.es, and crafts. Discovery Garden Toddler Lawn; free with Garden admission.

Wonderful Winter Greens!
Sunday, December 7 | Drop in between 2-4 p.m.
Come enjoy an afternoon of creative winter crafts using winter’s bounty of natural objects. Create seasonal displays or winter wall hangings using plant materials collected from the great outdoors. Free with Garden admission.
Discovery Tuesdays!
Tuesdays in September and October | 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.

Worms on Weekends
Saturdays beginning September 6 | Drop in between 2–4 p.m.
Kids examine garden creatures big and small in the garden’s worm bin. Plus, they can learn about how worms live underground and why they are so important in the garden. Discovery Garden; canceled in case of inclement weather.

Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is an independent nonprofit institution committed to education, research, and the display of horticulture. BBG serves communities in New York City and internationally through its world-class gardens, extensive research collections, and numerous educational and community programs. Situated on 52 acres in the heart of Brooklyn, the Garden is home to over 10,000 types of plants and hosts more than 700,000 visitors annually. Brooklyn Botanic Garden was rated Brooklyn’s number one tourist attraction in Zagat’s recently released 2008 Best of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. The Garden is closed on Mondays; open holiday Mondays, except Labor Day. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens (65 and older) and students with ID. Children under 12, all school groups, and Garden members are admitted free at all times. Seniors are admitted free all day Friday, and the Garden is free to the public all day on Tuesdays and until noon on Saturdays (except Saturdays of major Public Programs such as Sakura Matsuri). Visitor entrances are at Flatbush Avenue, at the parking lot gate at 900 Washington Avenue, and at Eastern Parkway. By subway, take the 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway or the B (weekdays) or Q train to Prospect Park, the 4 train to Franklin Avenue, or the Franklin shuttle to Botanic Garden. By bus, use the B16, B41, B43, B45, B48, or B71. Parking is available at 900 Washington Avenue for a fee. For more information call 718-623-7200. Additional information is also offered online at bbg.org.”