Floral Design Showcase: The Art of Ikenobo Ikebana
Pre-recorded lecture video (occurred October 6, 2022)
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 1–31, 2024
Onsite | Online
Join us for a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programs at NYBG! Take part in on-site tours, explore programs on the traditional Japanese floral art of Ikebana, and more.
NYBG is proud to be listed as a New York Climate Action partner for the Asia Society’s ongoing exhibition Coal + Ice. Learn more about their program here.
Explore Recent Events & Exhibitions
The Orchid Show: Natural Heritage
From 2022
Floral Fashion with Yu Cui
As one of our NYBG Cultivators, Yu “Fish” Cui donned a traditional Chinese hanfu for a photo shoot during The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion, celebrating the timeless beauty of her heritage in juxtaposition with the living sartorial designs of our 2024 exhibition.
Join Us for a Class or Tour
Mother's Day Ikebana Workshop
Ross Hall
May 11; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a unique bonding experience at our special parent-child Ikebana floral design workshop geared toward families. Led by esteemed Ikenobo School instructor Paula Tam and assistant Yiwei Zhang, this engaging session invites parents and children to dive into the art of Ikebana—the Japanese style of flower arranging.
Each duo will learn basic Ikebana practices and embrace Eastern aesthetics as they work together to create two beautiful arrangements, inspired by Mother’s Day, for participants to take home, including flowers, a kenzan (pin frog), containers, and packing materials for safe transport. No prior experience needed; just bring your creativity and enjoy the journey!
The cost includes all floral and hard good materials for two participants (one adult and one child). Child participant must be 6 years of age or older.
Trees of Asia Tour
May 19; 12:30 p.m.
May 26; 2:30 p.m.
Explore the Garden landscape and learn more about Japanese maples, Tanyosho pines, and other trees native to Asia with an NYBG Tour Guide, or explore through PlantTracker at your own pace.
Asian Ink Brushwork Painting Workshop
Watson Room 102
June 5; 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Receive an introduction to the basics of ink brushwork from the Asian ink art tradition. You’ll study tonal painting skills on a variety of paper surfaces and learn how to work with a large Asian calligraphy brush. This class will include an observational study of NYBG’s Rock Garden to view seasonal blooms and other botanical elements for inspiration. You’ll apply what you’ve learned and observed as you draw and paint various examples of nature. All materials provided.
Discover Botanical Science & History
Spotlight on Specimens
In recognition of AAPI month, we’re shining a spotlight on Steere Herbarium collections from Asia and the Pacific. These collections document biodiversity and support conservation efforts in some of most botanically and culturally diverse regions of the planet.
To share these data with the global community, NYBG is a partner in the NSF funded “All Asia” TCN, mobilizing specimen data from Siberia to Papua New Guinea, and Pakistan to French Polynesia. So far, we’ve shared 300,000 specimens, and increased the number of NYBG Asia-Pacific specimens with latitude and longitude coordinates by a quarter. We share these data with the countries and communities from where these plants originated to support resilient livelihoods, strengthen our institutional relationships across Asia and the Pacific, and help guide international conservation efforts across Asia and the Pacific.
History of the Mertz Library: Rose Li
Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Rose Li became an Associate Librarian in 1983, becoming the first Asian-American librarian in charge of Mertz Library’s Technical Services department. Supervising and training staff, Li also used her knowledge of the Asiatic and French languages to transcribe and create catalog records.
“Weather Magic” Practices in the Pacific Nation of Vanuatu
Together with a group of colleagues in the United States and in Vanuatu, NYBG Scientists recently published a study on how plants are used in “weather magic,” representing centuries-old rituals and other practices intended to understand and even influence the weather.
Isabella Iona Abbott: First Lady of Limu
Before Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott became the first Native Hawaiian woman to receive a doctorate in science, before the 150 journal articles and 8 books, before she was named the “First Lady of Limu,” she was a young girl collecting seaweed on the shores of Honolulu with her family.
Expand Your Garden with NYBG Shop
Cultivating Diversity—One Seed at a Time...
Explore NYBG Shop’s collection of seeds on offer to discover East Asian fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more that you can grow at home.
Lead image: Acer palmatum ‘Hupp’s Red Willow’—Japanese maple in the Steinhardt Maple Collection