This summer, the New York Botanical Garden is trading quiet garden strolls for it’s own technicolor time capsule.
From psychedelic flower displays and giant peace signs to vintage hippie vans tucked between blooming pathways, the Bronx destination is leaning into flower-child aestheticism, and honestly, it might be one of NYC’s happiest summer outings.
The New York Botanical Garden just got a groovy 1960s makeover
The garden’s new Flower Power exhibition transforms the grounds into a vibrant tribute to the spirit of the 1960s, celebrating flowers as universal symbols of peace, creativity, and joy.
Visitors can wander through brightly colored garden beds filled with seasonal blooms while spotting oversized floral peace signs, retro-painted vans, and trees wrapped in vivid crochet-inspired yarn installations.
Inside the garden’s Museum Building, the exhibition continues with a gallery showcasing works from iconic artists of the 1960s and 1970s, including Andy Warhol. The exhibit explores how flowers became deeply tied to the era’s art, protest movements, fashion, and cultural identity.
Alongside the psychedelic blooms, NYBG is also debuting Before New York, a fascinating exhibit that transports visitors back to a time before skyscrapers, subways, and city streets existed.
Through immersive visuals and aerial comparisons, guests can see how today’s five boroughs once looked as untouched forests, wetlands, and winding rivers—offering a striking glimpse into NYC’s wild natural past.
Know before you go
Both exhibitions are now open at the New York Botanical Garden, located at 2900 Southern Blvd in the Bronx.
Flower Power runs from May 23 through October 18, while Before New York remains on view through November 15.
Whether you’re in the mood for colorful nostalgia, peaceful garden wandering, or a fresh perspective on NYC history, this summer exhibit lineup delivers a little bit of everything.
