Today’s Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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Illustration of large yellow corn in the left corner with tall corn stalks, purple eggplant hanging next to the corn stalks over green grass and colorful representation of three rows of crops. A swirlly painted picnic table is next to the crops with three people, two are seated, one looking at a phone and one is standing walking toward them. Behind them is a large glass Conservatory dome and the sky is rendered in bright blue and darker blue strips that all point down toward the dome. On the right side are a pumpkin, bright red tomatoess hanging from a vine, and a white flower with a purple inside with green flowers and leaves along the side. The illustration is signed by Andre Trenier, 2022.

Around the Table: Stories of the Foods We Love

Saturday, June 4, 2022 – Sunday, September 11, 2022

10 a.m.–6 p.m.

A Celebration of the Art and Science of Edible Plants

Food is at the center of many of life’s most important events. When we gather together for a meal, the dishes we share often tell a story—and we share a bit of ourselves. Explore the rich cultural history of what we eat throughout this multifaceted, engaging exhibition that examines the art and science of foodways and food traditions, many dating back thousands of years. From global dietary staples such as rice, beans, squash, and corn to the regional spice and flavor provided by peppers, greens, and tomatoes, plants are at the base of all culinary customs. Discover the diversity and beauty of plants that are grown for cuisine around the world. Across NYBG’s 250-acre landscape, uncover the botanical origins of the foods you think you know; gain a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impacts of food choices throughout history; and gather at artist-designed tables that explore the significance of the featured plants, bringing to life inspiring stories of community and survival.

Fresh vegetables grown from a garden

Conservatory Cornucopia

Explore the diversity and beauty of hundreds of varieties of plants that are grown for food all over the world through a living exhibition in and around the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. From an undulating field of grains to edible plants such as bananas and dates, dig into the background of where food comes from and the origins of agricultural techniques and food traditions.

Garden-Wide Exploration

An aerial shot of Garden beds

Trace the roots of American cuisine to the plants of the African Diaspora in the African American Garden: Remembrance & Resilience. Curated by Dr. Jessica B. Harris, America’s leading scholar on the foods of the African Diaspora, this sequence of garden beds spotlights plants central to African American life and survival in the United States.

Handmade paper composed of cotton, abaca and linen pulp; embedded with velvet, artificial leaves, and discarded food nettings; finished with sequined and velvet ribbons; gouache and googly eyes.

Examine the social and cultural impacts of the American food system through works by contemporary mixed-media artist Lina Puerta, who celebrates and acknowledges the essential, often invisible, role of farmworkers.

A historical drawing of a white hibiscus

Appreciate the creativity and ingenuity of plant scientists and plant-based chefs exhibited in displays of herbarium specimens, research materials, archival images, seed catalogs, and cookbooks that reveal the science—and art—of agriculture and cuisine.

Three women in a Bronx community garden looking at a garden bed

Engage with the previously untold stories of Bronx community gardeners and urban farmers revealed by NYBG’s Bronx Foodways Oral Histories Project and the work of Bronx-based muralist Andre Trenier.

A farm with greenhouse and red shed on it

A Seat at the Table Symposium

Saturday, June 18, 2022; 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | At the Garden

This symposium brings a unique perspective to the stories for the opening of NYBG’s summer exhibition, Around the Table: Stories of the Foods We Love, with two compelling sessions that explore how Black farming informs American history and culture in New York City and across the country.

Register for Free

Around the Table Credits

Above in Artist Feature:

Lina Puerta
Tomatoes and I (Black) (detail), 2020
14 x 11 in.
Handmade paper composed of cotton, abaca and linen pulp; embedded with velvet, artificial leaves, and discarded food nettings; finished with sequined and velvet ribbons; gouache and googly eyes.

In Slideshow:

Lina Puerta
Broccoli Crop Workers, 2017
41 x 46 in.
Handmade paper composed of pigmented cotton and linen paper pulp; embedded with lace, velvet, sequined fabrics, Aztec (Otomi) embroidered collar; faux fur; and finished with trims, appliqués, velvet ribbon, feathers, gouache, and chains.

Photo credit: Jeanette May