The New York Botanical Garden has two big exhibitions running right now, and both are worth a trip before they close. Flower Power (through Oct. 18) turns the Garden into a 1960s flower-power celebration — botanical displays plus galleries of art from the era, including Andy Warhol’s Flowers (1964) alongside Joe Brainard, Milton Glaser, Carlos Irizarry, and Corita Kent. The Summer of Moomin takeover (through Sept. 13) brings Moominvalley to the grounds with a clue-based quest, nature crafts, and photo moments.
- Flower Power — May 23 through Oct. 18: flower show + Art & Photography of the ’60s gallery display
- Summer of Moomin — through Sept. 13: quest, crafts, and character photo ops (great for kids)
- Moomin Fest — Sept. 13, 1–5 p.m.: storytelling, a screening, and a panel with Maria Popova and Kate Zambreno in Ross Hall
- Before New York — through Nov. 15: pop-up exhibit reconstructing the city’s landscape as of 1609
- NYBG Farmers Market — Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: local produce and baked goods
The waterlilies and lotuses are at peak bloom in the Haupt Conservatory Courtyard Pools, and the 50-acre old-growth Thain Family Forest is free to wander. Admission to the grounds is separate from ticketed shows, and NYBG offers free-admission days for NYC residents — worth checking before you go. One visit can cover the flowers, the Moomin quest, and the forest; Moomin Fest on Sept. 13 is the last chance to catch both shows together.