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Standing on 52 acres with more than 12,000 kinds of plants
from around the world is the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
What a Beauty! I'd chanced upon this treasure by accident
on one of my doldrum afternoons. A terribly hazy, hot New
York September day. Ugggghhhhh. Entering through the Flatbush
Avenue Gate at Empire Boulevard I first came across the Children's
Garden. Whatta ya' mean for children!???? Heck, my friends
and I enjoyed it!
Strolling along we came across some wild fire colored flowers,
Kiwi hangin' from trees, Pepper plants, Mint, Okra, Sweet
Potato, Ginger, and so much more.
Beyond that was the Steinhardt Conservatory for us where
within we caught sight of plant growths we never knew existed.
'Never seen these on the Nature Channel", said a friend
of mine. Water lillies and lilly pads the size of kitchen
tables floated on the indoor ponds while wildly shaped plants
hung overhead. 'And of course the Bonsai Garden as well. Just
outside of this is the Lily Pool Terrace where Goldfish, Carp
and others swam within and flowers stretched just above the
water's surface. Stunning!...I mean really, be sure to have
your camera ready when you come to this living museum.
The aforementioned are just a slight fraction of what's to
be seen. There's the Shakespeare Garden filled with plants
and flowers existing in his plays, Celebrity Path containing
stones within which are the names of well-known celebrities
born in Brooklyn, Daffodil Hill, Cherry Walk, Herb Garden,
Discovery Garden and......
At one point we were greeted by volunteer Green Thumbs who
offered us huge Sunflower heads. We each took ours home. I
spent days drying mine for the seeds.
But what really captured my imagination was the Japanese
Hill and Pond Garden. One's able to encircle the pond while
capturing an even more spectacular view of the pond and Japanese
structure which rises out of the pond itself. We took photos
of the fish within, the turtles, and the ducks alongside.
My doldrum day was a special day from here on!...Whatta Cure!....
PS....Remember to get a free map, if not at one of the entrances
then at the Conservatory or Visitor's Center....have fun!
Should you be in the area then it's another one of those
definite musts! You've got Prospect
Park at one end, Brooklyn
Museum at the other and Prospect Park Zoo close enough
as well. Check out the Visitor Info section below.
Getting there by subway: 2,3 to Eastern
Parkway leaves you in front of the Brooklyn Museum and a comfortable
walk from the Garden; 2,3 to Grand Army Plaza takes you to
the entrance of Prospect Park but a somewhat lengthy walk....might
be worth it |
