New York Botanical Garden

ElPais News, the most widely read online Spanish language newspaper, has named Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD one of the "100 New Leaders of Colombia." Learn more about NYBG's Chief Science Officer in this English translation of their profile.

On Sunday, December 8, we welcomed Bronx residents for our Bronx Community Partner Day, featuring free access to the Holiday Train Show. Families enjoyed exploring the enchanting displays both indoors and out, and took part in our festive Holiday Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremonies. A special thank you to Councilmember Eric Dinowitz and Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz for lighting the menorah, and Councilmember Kevin C. Riley, M.P.A and Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr for joining in the tree lighting ceremony. We also express special gratitude to Councilmembers Pierina Ana Sanchez and Eric Dinowitz for sponsoring free access to hundreds of their constituents on this day. Finally, big thanks to the Bella Voce Choir from Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music for the wonderful holiday songs—and to everyone who helped make this program such a success!

In a new post on CarbonBrief, join Dr. Evelyn Beaury, an Assistant Curator in our Center for Conservation & Restoration Ecology, to explore how land use practices designed to tackle climate change may sometimes be at cross purposes—and the choices we face as a result.

"On Tanna, the sun is not a distant celestial body, but rather an active player in the biosocial, multicultural landscape of the island." In a recent publication in PLOS One, Drs. Mike Balick, Gregory Plunkett, and K. David Harrison document the multifaceted role that the sun plays in the lives and beliefs of the people of Tanna, Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. "It provides information—either directly or transmitted through plants and the land—guiding people in time-reckoning, agriculture, architecture, and more," they continue. NYBG scientists have been working with Vanuatuan colleagues to preserve and support Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices in the archipelago of 80 islands. Learn more about this latest effort: https://brnw.ch/21wPitg

In the latest update from Short Wave, a science podcast from NPR, hear from NYBG Assistant Curator Aleca Borsuk as she discusses the fascinating details of plant growth during the show's 5th-anniversary episode. https://brnw.ch/21wOKTl

While much of the work being done during #COP16 took place around conference tables and presentation stages, it was out among the natural landscapes of Colombia—where the event was hosted—that participants immersed themselves in the significance of this important work first-hand. Hear from NYBG CEO Jennifer Bernstein, alongside Chief Science Officer Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD and representatives of the Nariño Department of Colombia, as they discuss the vast beauty and biodiversity of the territory. As a place where environment and culture intertwine, it represents a microcosm of everything we strive to protect and uplift on our shared planet.

Among the huge number of items in our Mertz Library archives, there are always surprises waiting to be discovered. Recently our staff came upon a previously unidentified folder of pencil illustrations depicting various species of grasses—which turned out to include some 1871 originals that were part of the Flora Brasiliensis, a monumental work of botanical literature in the 19th century. Hear from Stephen Sinon, our Curator of Special Collections, Research, and Archives, as he details the sleuthing that revealed the drawings’ origins.

It’s been a busy past two weeks in Cali, Colombia, as our scientists took part in #COP16, and we’re back with a recap of this important event. 🌎 Delegates from over 180 nations gathered in Colombia for the United Nations biodiversity conference to discuss solutions to the crises our planet faces. Among them was NYBG's own delegation, including CEO Jennifer Bernstein; Chief Science Officer Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD; VP of Urban Conservation Dr. Eric W. Sanderson; and Drs. Aleca Borsuk and Evelyn Beaury, each NYBG Assistant Curators. The critical work by this team advances real-world solutions around conservation, restoration, land use, regenerative agriculture—and plants, people, and culture. Check out a rundown of the forward-looking, collaborative work done at COP16.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve signed an agreement with CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-—the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean—to develop research on biodiversity, promote restoration strategies to improve the connectivity of natural vegetation, and foster the growth of green urban areas in sustainable environments, among many other combined efforts. “The scientists at the New York Botanical Garden look to plants for the answers in advancing real-world solutions around conservation, restoration, land use, regenerative agriculture, and plants, people, and culture,” said Mauricio Diazgranados, PhD, NYBG’s Chief Science Officer. “NYBG has been a leader in plant research in Latin America and the Caribbean since its founding in 1891 …. Our collaboration with CAF is an exciting new chapter in this long tradition.” Want to learn more? Read our press release about this forward-looking partnership as #COP16 continues in Cali, Colombia: https://brnw.ch/21wOeLm

Coming Spring 2025, Van Gogh: Painting with Flowers makes NYBG a canvas for the brush strokes of one of the world’s most revered artists. 🎨🌻 It’s your chance to revel in the beauty of the flowers that inspired the Dutch master's iconic paintings. Find yourself immersed in botanical displays and large-scale art as you wander through a breathtaking lawn of monumental sunflowers, and see the expressive masterpieces bloom in recreations made of living flowers. You've seen the paintings, now see them come to life in a way that only NYBG can deliver—and let Vincent van Gogh's unforgettable world of art and nature envelop you in a vibrant daydream during this botanical celebration of the internationally acclaimed painter. Sign up for ticket alerts to this all-new exhibition opening May 24, 2025.