
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Monday, May 1, 2023 – Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Onsite | Online
Join us for a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programs at NYBG! Take part in on-site tours, programs on the traditional Japanese floral art of Ikebana, displays of Chinese poetry, and more.
Mertz Library Book Display
In celebration of AAPI Month, visit the LuEsther T. Mertz Library and enjoy featured family-friendly and educational titles on display. Check out a book with your Library Card, or sign up for one at the Registration Desk.

Chinese Character Drawing with NYCCC
Hear from Angela, an art teacher at the New York Chinese Cultural Center, as she demonstrates how to draw the Chinese character for “spring” pictured here!

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.

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.

“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.

Lead image: Acer palmatum ‘Hupp’s Red Willow’—Japanese maple in the Steinhardt Maple Collection