Visit

The Turtle & Wildlife Sanctuary at NBG supports native turtles and urban wildlife through thoughtful habitat design, ongoing care, and conservation-minded stewardship. Integrated into the gardens’ ponds and plantings, the sanctuary offers visitors an opportunity to learn about local species, ecological balance, and the role urban green spaces play in protecting wildlife.

The Native Plant Sanctuary at NBG showcases regionally native species in a setting that highlights both their ecological role and natural beauty. Designed as a living example of local flora, it offers visitors a chance to learn how plants adapted to the Brooklyn area’s climate and soils support pollinators, wildlife, and overall ecosystem health.

The Pollinator Garden is a key part of NBG’s Apiary Program, designed to support bees and other pollinators through diverse, nectar-rich plantings. It honors the volunteer who championed its creation and reflects NBG’s commitment to habitat, stewardship, and pollinator health.

The Lily Pond Garden at NBG centers on a water feature originally created from a repurposed sandbox and now home to water lilies, cattails, aquatic plantings, koi fish, and frogs. The pond adds seasonal color and calm to the landscape while supporting wildlife habitat and offering visitors a chance to observe pond life and water’s-edge ecology up close.

The Modern Rose Garden becomes the first garden designed at NBG and is dedicated to Joan Regan, co-founder and founding president (in memoriam). Reflecting her vision for a welcoming, resilient public garden, it features contemporary rose varieties chosen for their color, durability, and long bloom season, and remains a cornerstone of the landscape today.

Allan’s Old Rose Garden features heritage rose varieties grown for their form, fragrance, and seasonal beauty. Dedicated to Allan Abrams, whose long-term care shaped this space, the garden offers a quiet, reflective setting and a glimpse into traditional rose cultivation rooted in years of attentive stewardship.

MAY

The annual Plant Sale features a selection of plants grown in NBG’s greenhouse Held each May, the sale offers visitors the opportunity to take home plants cultivated with care while supporting the ongoing work of the gardens. Proceeds help sustain NBG’s horticultural programs and volunteer efforts throughout the growing season.

JUNE

Lavender Day celebrates one of the gardens’ most beloved seasonal harvests. Grown and harvested at NBG, lavender is transformed into bouquets, sachets, soaps, linen sprays, and other handmade items for visitors to enjoy. The event offers a chance to experience the garden through scent, craft, and care, highlighting the connection between cultivation, creativity, and community.

JUNE & OCTOBER

Honey Day & Fall Market highlights the vital role of pollinators within the gardens and the local ecosystem. Honey harvested from NBG’s bees is used to create small-batch products such as honey soaps and electuaries, offering visitors a tangible connection to the garden’s ecology. Through hands-on experiences and education, the event celebrates the relationship between flora, fauna, and the care that sustains a healthy urban landscape.

MAY - OCTOBER
Throughout the year, NBG hosts educational programs that connect visitors with plants, wildlife, and hands-on learning. From monarch-focused events that support pollinator conservation to succulent workshops, drawing classes, and community days, these programs offer opportunities to learn, create, and engage with the gardens in meaningful ways.