Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) will present Power of Trees, a summer and fall program series centered on the ways trees serve as pillars of our natural and cultural worlds.
The program runs from June 17 to October 24, 2023. Anchored by an exhibition of six site-specific sculptures by emerging New York artists, Power of Trees will be experienced by visitors across the Garden through visual art, performances, and special events as well as simply by walking the grounds, where 52 of BBG’s most extraordinary trees will be highlighted through scientific, horticultural, and personal narratives.
Power of Trees will highlight unexpected facts about specific tree species found in the Garden and that New Yorkers coexist with in Brooklyn and beyond. Highlighted species include the common horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), which produces spiky, nonedible fruit, and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), which has adapted to fire.
Additional Power of Trees programming includes:
- An artist-in-residency commission
- An immersive Soundbath musical performance
- Interactive indoor exhibitions
- Special tours
- Tree cultivation classes for adults
- Programs for kids and families
- Science demonstrations
- Free workshops and events offering guidance on street tree care throughout the year
Other horticultural displays around the Garden will be inspired by trees: The Annual Border’s plantings feature companion plants for trees; Trees of Little Caribbean, copresented with I AM CaribBEING, is on view in the Conservatory; and the Discovery Garden features exhibits, science demonstrations, a story walk, and a new field guide all about trees for kids and families to explore.
In the Conservatory Gallery, the Garden has partnered with the Nature Conservancy and the Climate Museum to present Witness Trees by Carolyn Monastra, a photography exhibition about the effects of climate change around the world, as well as an interactive exhibit that aims to inspire learning, dialogue, and action.
Science demonstrations—including tree dendrometers and a dissected tree display–encourage visitors to see trees like a scientist. And throughout the summer and fall, visitors can join free tours or enroll in classes, workshops, and community programs to learn more about trees at BBG and around Brooklyn.
Power of Trees will open on June 17, 2023, with a celebration for all ages. All Power of Trees programs are free with general admission unless otherwise noted as a ticketed event. For more information, visit bbg.org/PowerofTrees.
