CHIHULY Opening Weekend Celebration: Earth Day and Research & Conservation Open House

DIY Craft – Streamers

11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn
Kids and families can make their own colorful streamers and join the Earth Day processions at 1 and 3 p.m. Materials available while supplies last.

Live Music & Lawn Games

12–5 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn

Moonshine Falls
A band that bridges the gap between traditional bluegrass and the New Blue movement, Moonshine Falls create a harmonious sound that is steeped in tradition without drowning in it.

Flame Work Demonstrations
12–4 p.m.
Conservatory Plaza and Visitor Center
Artists from UrbanGlass—a contemporary glass center in Brooklyn—demonstrate the fascinating art of melting and manipulating hot glass using a torch and flame.

Earth Day Procession

1 & 3 p.m.
Starts at the Native Plant Garden
Join this participatory parade throughout the Garden! Featured artists include:

FogoAzul, an all-women Brazilian drumline, leads the parade.

The Brooklyn Jumbies stilt walkers perform parts of Ocean(s) Blue, charting mankind’s relationship with the ocean and the urgent need for collective transformation.

A giant inflatable 10’ Earth Ball will be carried by the NYBG Explainers, a team of volunteer teen educators from the Children’s Adventure Garden.

Alice Farley Dance adds a note of surrealist street theater with her bold and beautiful star horn dancers.

Lucrecia Novoa’s Giant Monarch Butterfly Puppets join in to add even more color and life to the procession.

“Grass and Glass” Information and Demonstration Booths

11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Conservatory Lawn
Learn about NYBG’s programs and facilities to explore, understand, document, and conserve Earth’s plant and fungal diversity. Hands-on demonstrations at Conservatory Plaza allow visitors to learn what it is to work in the field. Visitors are also welcome to attend behind-the-scenes tours led by NYBG scientist of the Steere Herbarium and the Pfizer Lab.

Research & Conservation Information Booth

See critical components of a scientist’s tool kit used on expeditions around the world. See stand-out examples of specimens collected in the field. Learn about some of the plants, such as grasses, that contain silica – the essence of glass.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Plant Research Laboratory

11 a.m. & 2 p.m. 
Meet in the lobby of the Plant Research Laboratory
Walk through the Garden’s state-of-the-art laboratory and meet some of the scientists who lead teams studying DNA and genomes in order to understand plants, fungi, and algae at their most essential levels.

Film Screenings: Look Who’s Minding Our Planet

12 p.m.
Ross Hall
Filmmaker Sara Lukinson explores the visionary partnership between philanthropist Lewis Cullman and The New York Botanical Garden, which has resulted in a world-class plant research program.

Tours of What in the World is a Herbarium?

10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Herbarium Open House, 12–3 p.m.
Ross Gallery
After viewing the exhibit, come to the Herbarium to see how plant specimens are prepared and digitized and learn how they are used in research and conservation. You will see a wide variety of herbarium specimens, ranging from truffles to peanuts to palms. Herbarium staff will be on hand to provide interpretation and answer questions.

Space on tours is limited; first-come, first-served.