This month has so far been pleasantly mild, but there is no denying that it can be difficult to step away from the air-conditioning at this time of year. Fear not, for the Garden is the perfect place to enjoy summer without enduring the oppressive heat! Don’t spend the summer cooped up indoors when long, sunny days and brilliant nature are waiting for you just outside.
Without the warming effects of asphalt and concrete, and with plenty of tall, shady trees across the grounds, you will find that much of the Garden is as pleasant as can be, even in the eight of summer. Join Kristin Schleiter, Associate Vice President for Outdoor gardens and Senior Curator at The New York Botanical Garden, on a tour of NYBG’s shaded areas that are perfect for a midday stroll.
The Thain Family Forest is especially temperate during the hotter months, thanks to the natural protection of its dense canopy. Trees want that sunlight more than you do, and they will gladly provide some cover. Of course, visitors to the Garden should still take care to wear comfortable footwear, dress appropriately for the weather, and—most importantly—stay hydrated.
We have another gorgeous weekend in store, and the Garden promises to be especially lovely. The Native Plant Garden, with its thriving meadow especially beautiful these days, will host tours on Saturday and Sunday. Children will enjoy such popular programs as Dig! Plant! Grow! and Mario Batali’s Kitchen Gardens.
For those families who want to take advantage of the weather and spend a very special evening together, Sunday is the next of our Family Dinners with Mario Batali’s Chefs. Come spend Sunday evening enjoying a cooking demonstration by two chefs from Eataly as they use fresh produce from the Family Garden to prepare a three-course menu. Kids will learn about nutrition and enjoy hands-on activities. A few tickets are still available!
Read on for the full list of NYBG programs this weekend.
Wednesdays mean free grounds-only admission to the Garden, and of course the return of the NYBG Greenmarket. This week our specialty vendors are offering okra, purple basil, red amaranth, eggplants, cantaloupe, potatoes, and more! Just in time too, because we have really been working up an appetite reading the special menus that have been announced for our series of Family Dinners with Mario Batali’s Chefs. These visiting luminaries of Italian cuisine are using the freshly grown produce of the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden to prepare some garden-to-table recipes that sound absolutely delicious.
Tickets are still available for those who would like to enjoy one of these special evenings of cooking demonstrations and activities for the whole family! For us amateur cooks, we have chosen a simple recipe that still makes the most of the Greenmarket’s bounty. Gazpacho, that Spanish staple of summer, can be a speedy and refreshing treat that would taste outstanding with the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers available today! Read on for the recipe.
There is no better place for guests to enjoy this special three-course, family-style menu than in the green seclusion of the Garden grounds on a cool summer evening. However, these Family Dinners are about more than just good food—though there will be plenty of that. Kids begin the evening with hands-on craft and gardening activities, followed by a cooking demonstration so families can see the custom menu come to life before tucking in to a delicious meal together. This MasterCard® Priceless event goes to support the Edible Academy initiative, so treat the family to a wonderful evening while contributing towards the Garden’s educational programming for children.
Tickets are sure to sell out, so book now. Read on for the full details about this Sunday’s special menu, and to get more information about the Edible Academy.
