Thain Family Forest
Year–Round
For thousands of years, this old-growth Forest has changed, adapted and survived. When you visit the Forest, you will walk along Native American hunting trails, see marks left by glaciers, and pass under trees dating back to the American Revolution. The unique beauty and ecological importance of the forest are one of the reasons why the founders selected this site for The New York Botanical Garden in 1895.
Today this is the largest uncut expanse of New York’s original wooded landscape. The Forest remains a magnificent reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature in the face of complex human-caused disturbances. To preserve the Forest for future generations the Garden manages invasive species, plants native plants, and performs research.
Follow along with the turn of fall’s foliage as reds, yellows, and oranges fill our 250 acres with vibrant seasonal color.
Self-Guided Digital Tour on the Bloomberg App
In autumn, NYBG is filled with colorful leaves, from oranges to burning reds. In this self-guided tour, discover the trees with the most brilliantly colored foliage around the Garden, and learn why some trees produce more saturated fall color than others.
Download the Thain Family Forest Program 2008–2025 to learn more about ongoing forest restoration, education, and research.
Through photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide form the atmosphere and produce the oxygen we breathe. Forests are carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon from the environment in living plants.
