In 1895, the first astronaut perambulated the moon in search of fresh flowers and, finding only worthless diamonds, returned brokenhearted with nothing to give his sweetheart. Experience a year of the earth's effervescent efflorescence with today's Groupon: for $25, you get an individual annual membership (a $50 value) to Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing. Your individual membership includes the following:

• Free regular admission
• Four free parking passes
• Subscription to Garden News
• Subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine if redeemed by June 15, 2010
• Invitations to events
• Free or reduced admission to most events
• Invitation to annual new-member reception
• 10% discount at Queens Botanical Garden Store

Take a floral safari through 39 acres of eclectic gardens on Queens Botanical Garden's map. Stop to smell the sweet, sweet honey in the bee garden, or hold hands in the beauteous meadow. To further blossom your budding brain, swing by Saturday or Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for the free, first-come, first-served 90-minute garden or building tour. Likewise, you can also enjoy specially scheduled events such as the upcoming MillionTreesNYC tree-care workshops; the workshops held on various dates will detail a citywide program aimed at planting and caring for one million new trees in the next decade (free for members). Other events include dance performances and, on June 20, a tribute class to the tree's greatest gift since sliced paper: origami (free for members).

Beyond flora, members can also treat their eyeballs to brightly colored birds throughout the woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. Complement the natural knowledge gleaned from your Queens Botanical Garden membership with a yearlong subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, valid if you redeem today's deal by June 15, 2010. You'll be sprouting roses and birthing mallards out your ear canals in no time.

Reviews

The American Planning Association listed the Queens Botanical Garden as one of America's Great Public Spaces in 2009. Eight Insider Pagers give it four stars, Yelpers give it 3.5 stars, and The Epoch Times had this to say:

• Factors that influenced the APA’s decision to choose the garden included its recycling of rain water and the garden’s good use of its 39-acre lot to promote the neighborhood’s different ethnicities. – Ian Ritz, The Epoch Times
• This is a great place to take a date especially durig [sic] the summer or spring with the flowers are in bloom. – William L., Insider Pages
• The Queens Botanical Garden is absolutely beautiful around the Spring and summer seasons. They have so many different varieties of flowers that will not just find anywhere, definetely [sic] worth a look if your [sic] in the area. – Anna C., Insider Pages