an aerial view of a tree with bursting orange and green leaves

Fall Forest Weekends

November 2, 3, 9, & 10, 2024

11 a.m.–4 p.m. | At the Garden

Your Local Leafer HQ

The Thain Family Forest—New York City’s largest remaining tract of old-growth woodland—is your fall foliage headquarters! Leaf locally and explore the Forest’s 50 acres full of vibrant fall color–a front row seat to the best views of the season right at home.

Food and drink are available for purchase during your visit at the Pine Tree Café, Looking Glass, and Hudson Garden Grill. Pick up an apple cider or hot chocolate to keep you warm during your exploration of the Thain Family Forest and other living collections.

People gather around a yellow table outdoors to work with arts and crafts

Activity Hub

Throughout the weekend
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Main Entrance to the Thain Family Forest

Enjoy hands-on activities and demos with local experts and go behind the scenes with NYBG staff to learn more about the research, conservation, and care that goes into our mission to advocate for the plant world.

Seedling Giveaway and Meet & Greet with NYBG Forest Staff

Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10

Meet the crew that cares for the Thain Family Forest and pick up a sweetgum or sugar maple seedling to grow at home. Availability of seedlings is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meet the Scientists
Saturday & Sundays, November 2, 3, & 10

Learn about research and conservation work from NYBG Scientists:

Rob Naczi (November 2)
Aleca Borsuk (November 2)
Ken Karol (November 3)
Damon Little (November 3)
Fabian Michelangeli (November 10)
JianJun Jin (November 10)

Meet the LuEsther T. Mertz Library Staff
Saturdays, November 2 & 9

Enjoy a selection of fall themed collections and new acquisitions from the Mertz Library. While you are there, get (temporary) tattooed by a librarian as you learn more about the Mertz Library. Afterwards browse a selection of deaccessioned books to take home with you.

Leaf Peeping & Mounting Demonstrations with NYBG Herbarium Staff
Sundays, November 3 & 10

Join staff from the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium in viewing plants and fungi from our collection of 7.8 million specimens, collected by scientists over the last 300 years and around the world. Learn how these scientific specimens are created and mount one yourself to take home!

Tree Cookies & Leaf Rubbing Art with NYBG Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10

Explore the trees that live here in the Thain Family Forest and throughout the Bronx. Learn how the Lenni Lenape people used these plants to help sustain their lives and ecosystems. Get creative by making your own tree cookie necklace and make your own leaf rubbing art all while learning how we can protect the trees that protect us!

Make Your Own Flower Pot with NYBG Bronx Green Up
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10

Join Bronx Green-Up for a fun, hands-on workshop where you can create your very own upcycled flower pot! Learn about sustainable gardening practices and how to care for your plants in an urban environment. Participants will leave with their own potted plant, ready to nurture and grow.

During this activity, you will:

Make a small DIY Flower pot using recycled materials.
Take home a seedling!
Get tips on planting and caring for your plants in small spaces.
Explore different ways to connect with and volunteer at community gardens in the Bronx

Bronx Green-Up is the community outreach program of The New York Botanical Garden, focusing on supporting urban gardening and sustainable practices in the Bronx. The program often holds workshops and events to engage the community in greening efforts, improving public spaces, and promoting urban agriculture.

A cascading display of pink and white chrysanthemums in an ozukuri display.

Explore the Japanese tradition of Kiku

November 2–17

Don’t miss a spotlight on kiku displays in the Nolen Greenhouses, featuring Japanese chrysanthemums that have been expertly trained over the past 11 months into modern and ancient styles, offering color up close with these fall-favorite blooms. Seasonal chrysanthemums in warm, rich hues complement this must-see spectacle.

Learn More

A woman in a blue wrap dress and large shell earrings looks at the camera as she walks with a basket of foraged plants worn on her back

Foraged Flavors with Holistic Health Practitioner Journei Bimwala

Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Main Entrance to the Thain Family Forest

While the Thain Family Forest does not permit active foraging, holistic health practitioner Journei Bimwala presents an interactive display of pre-foraged fall bounty found in forests like ours. Sample a seasonal beverage and test your taste buds by identifying the foraged tasting notes within the drink.

A group of people explores the leaf-laden path of a fall forest

Meet Moskehtu Consulting

November 2, 9 & 10
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Learn about indigenous perspectives presented by representatives from Moskehtu Consulting, a Native American-owned cultural and heritage preservation firm led by Chenae Bullock.

Corn Husk Doll-Making Activity with Lauren Peters
November 2
Lauren is passionate about preserving the traditional practicing of gardening in her Tribal community. Join us In her engaging talk, she delves into the rich heritage of the Wampanoag people, specifically focusing on the traditional methods of growing corn. Lauren brings to life the deep connection between the Mashpee Wampanoag culture and the sacred corn crop.

Learn about Indigenous Perspectives with Chenae Bullock
November 9
Chenae will share her knowledge and experiences on the continued practices of environmental sustainability within tribal communities, particularly in the Shinnecock and Montauk cultures. Join her for an engaging discussion that explores the deep connection between Indigenous cultures and the preservation of our natural world.

Learn About Local Tribal History with Shane Weeks
November 10
Join Shane Weeks for a captivating exploration of local tribal history with insights into the rich traditions of local tribes, highlighting their historical and contemporary uses of native plants.

Volunteer-Led Tree Planting

Registration Required: 1 – 3 p.m.
Sunday, November 3 Only
Meet at the Main Entrance to the Thain Family Forest

Join the NYBG Forest Staff and their conservation efforts to plant more native trees and fill in the canopy. Volunteers at this event will help plant young trees or shrubs in forested areas of the Garden. Participation is recommended for ages 10 and up. Group size is limited to 15 people, and will participation will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Instructions will be communicated via email prior to the event.

Please dress for the weather, wear comfortable footwear, and note that the Forest terrain can be rocky or uneven.

Registration is now closed.

A group of people enjoy a tour through a bright green forest

Mini Hike

Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10
11 a.m. – 4 p.m
Self-Guided

This mini loop of the lush Thain Family Forest is estimated to last about 5-10 minutes, depending on the mini hiker’s pace. Our staff will be waiting to award a stamp when you’ve completed your hike!

Tours & Walks

Throughout the weekend
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Meet at the Main Entrance to the Thain Family Forest

From the historic landscapes of NYBG to bird walks, herbarium tours, and more, explore the Garden’s collections and beyond with expert guides.

All tours meet at the Main Entrance to the Thain Family Forest, across from the Native Plant Garden. Comfortable footwear and appropriate weather attire is recommended.

Forestbathing with Treebath, Inc
Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3; 11 a.m.

Allow yourself to be fully present as you bathe your senses in the sights, smells, sounds, and sensations of the Thain Family Forest with forest bathing experiences, known as shinrin-yoku in Japan. In Japanese shinrin means forest, and yoku means bath.

Birding 101 with NYC Bird Alliance
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10; 11 a.m.

Join an expert bird guide from NYC Bird Alliance for a for a tour of NYBG’s diverse landscape to learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. NYC Bird Alliance is a grassroots community that works for the protection of wild birds and habitat in the five boroughs, improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pre-History of NYBG with Landscape Ecologist Dr. Eric Sanderson
Saturdays, November 2 & 9, 2024; 11:30 a.m.

What was here before the garden was here? Dr. Eric Sanderson, the best-selling author of Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City, will take us back in time to the Bronx’s landscape before Broncks, immediately prior to European Contact. We will discuss matters relating to geology, ecology, nature, and culture as we stroll the Garden grounds, and preview some themes that relate to the next 400 years of the remarkable landscape we call New York City.

Introduction to Tree Identification with NYBG Forest Staff
Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 9, & 10; 12:30 p.m.

Learn to identify common trees in the Thain Family Forest using (almost) all of our senses.

Kiku Tour
Saturdays, November 2 & 9; 1 p.m.
Meet at the Nolen Greenhouses

See the culmination of meticulously trained kiku displays in the Sullivan Bourke Display House of the Nolen Greenhouses, featuring Japanese chrysanthemums that have been expertly trained over the past 11 months into modern and ancient styles.

Herbarium Tour

Sundays, November 3 & 10; 1 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool

Get a behind the scenes look at the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, a collection of 7.8 million preserved plant and fungi specimens. View historical specimens collected by luminaries such as Charles Darwin, learn how the collection is used for scientific research and see how we create our Virtual Herbarium in the Digital Imaging Lab.

Expert Naturalist Tour with Gabriel Willow
Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10, 2024; 1:30 p.m.

Join naturalist and expert bird guide, Gabriel Willow, for a guided tour of the wildlife and feathered friends that call the Thain Family Forest their home.

The State of the Forest with NYBG Forest Staff
Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10; 2:30 p.m.

Join John Zeiger, Manager of the NYBG Thain Family Forest, for a walking tour and discussion of the ecological threats in our region. Learn more about climate change, tree diseases, invasive species, and NYBG’s conservation and research efforts.

Plant ID Bingo with Journei Bimwala
Saturdays & Sundays, November 2, 3, 9, & 10; 3:30 p.m.

On this 45-minute guided walk with Journei Bimwala, test your knowledge with a Plant Identification Bingo card!

Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge Tour (ITEK) with Chenae Bullock
Saturday, November 9, 3 p.m.

Chenae will shed light on the traditional wisdom and innovative approaches employed by the Shinnecock people to ensure the balance and harmony of their surroundings. Discover how age-old practices, such as land stewardship, sustainable agriculture, and resource conservation, are still actively embraced by tribal communities today. Immerse yourself in this enlightening conversation and gain a renewed appreciation for the ongoing efforts to protect and nurture our environment.

Local Tribal History Tour with Shane Weeks
Sunday, November 10, 3 p.m.
Attendees will learn about the cultural practices that have been passed down through generations, deepening their understanding of the vital connection between nature and indigenous heritage. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the stories and wisdom of the local tribes!

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