The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is a New York City treasure. No hyperbole–just ask anyone who has spent 10 minutes in this verdant acre. The Howell Family Garden has been the backyard garden for generations of New Yorkers. In the mornings it plays host to hundreds of schoolkids on a daily basis, and in the afternoons it is open to everyone. Just drop in, slow down, and enjoy. Pick a pea. Pull a weed. Plant a seed. It’s a bucolic oasis!

So I wanted to let you know about two opportunities available in July that will allow you to more fully enjoy the Family Garden in the height of summer.

read more »

The New York Botanical Garden is stunningly beautiful right now. With verdant green vistas, intimate gardens, and primordial forests, there’s no better place to enjoy nature in the city over this three-day weekend than at the Garden. Take a hike in the Forest, stop to smell the roses in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, experience the sublime beauty of the waterlilies and lotuses in the Conservatory Courtyard pools, search for migrating birds, and get a few tips to take home and put into practice in your own garden. Soothe your storm-frazzled nerves by relaxing along the babbling Bronx River, bask in the sun on one of the Garden’s many benches around the grounds or in the beautiful Perennial Garden, join harvest activities in the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, and take a tour of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The three-day weekend is full of beauty and fun for the whole family.

The Waterlily and Lotus Pools in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 12

Head below the jump for detailed information on this weekend’s activities at the Garden.

The Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden is a New York City treasure. It’s an amazing one-and-a-half acre site where children and families can learn about plants and the natural world through hands-on gardening. Each afternoon children–with help from their parents, volunteers, and staff–are encouraged to dig, weed, compost, plant, tend, and harvest in garden plots. These ongoing gardening activities are complemented by a changing roster of programs that encourage children to explore seasonal garden-related themes.

This month’s theme is Sweet and Stinky! Aromatic alliums such as onions and garlic, and herbs such as basil and oregano love the summer heat. Follow the “sweet and stinky” smells to the Family Garden to discover these culinary champions. Savor the scents and tickle your taste buds at our cooking demonstrations or try these delicious recipes at home!

Get the recipes below!

Smurfs Week NYC at NYBG
Tuesday, July 26 – Sunday, July 31

Celebrate the release of the new movie, The Smurfs ®, with Smurfy fun for kids all week. Embark on a Smurf-errific scavenger hunt exploring the gardens to find things Smurfs love, like mushrooms and berries. Plus, have fun spotting their wildlife friends like frogs, turtles, and birds. Thursday, July 28 ONLY!! Meet Papa Smurf and Smurfette from 1:30-4 p.m. in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden!

See where else in New York City the Smurfs will be popping up!

Just in time for Spring Break, the best of Broadway is making its way uptown to The New York Botanical Garden on Tuesday, April 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.!

In honor of The Orchid Show: On Broadway, members of Broadway’s most popular shows have created unique interactive programming exclusively for the Garden!

Look for these participants and activities at the locations below in the Adventure Garden:

- Broadway Green Alliance – At the Entrance
Bring your plastic bags to help the Broadway Green Alliance keep plastic bags out of neighborhood trees (and out of landfills) and bring attention to this issue.

- Million Dollar Quartet – At the Stumps
Play Million Dollar Quartet’s version of pin the tail-on-the-donkey, “Pin the guitar on Elvis.”

- Billy Elliot – In the Plaza
The Ballet Girls from the cast of Billy Elliot conduct a ballet dance clinic where you can learn a portion of the number “Shine” from the production.

- Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Near the Waterfall
Priscilla Queen of the Desert will be doing diva-liscious flower and plant face painting.

- Catch Me If You Can – In Sun Central
Fly into the Catch Me if You Can booth to learn how to make the perfect origami airplane.

- RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles – On Lifecycle Lane
Test your luck in the RAIN Strawberry Fields Memory game for the chance to win tickets to the show and other great
prizes

- The Addams Family – In Sun Central
It’s spooky good fun with The Addams Family’s eyeball toss.

- Baby It’s You – At the Stumps
Play “name that tune” to be entered into a drawing to win tickets to the show.

- Davenport Theatrical/Be A Broadway Star Board Game – Near Plant Part Paradise
Try your hand at this brand new board game.

- Lombardi – In Sun Central
Play the Football Toss to win great prizes.

- Wonderland!, Sister Act, and Memphis – Near the Waterfall
Enjoy coloring, friendship games and temporary tattoos.

- Broadway Partners – Near Boulders
Learn more about these exciting shows:

- Jersey Boys
- How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
- Wicked
- Born Yesterday
- La Cage Aux Folles
- Chicago
- Mamma Mia