The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a beautiful and impressive garden located in the heart of Brooklyn, where visitors worldwide come to appreciate its splendour. It’s a lovely site that captures the beauty of nature with vibrant blooms and lush ferns in tranquil garden spaces. You can visit the garden all days except Monday, and visitation hours vary according to date and season.
Encompassing 52 acres of land, it’s one of the most extensive botanical gardens in the world. The park is located in the heart of Brooklyn, so it’s impossible to miss. It takes 2 to 3 hours in the garden to fully appreciate the beauty. There are numerous gardens within the park, such as the rose, Shakespeare, native flora, fragrance, and children’s gardens. The atmosphere is tranquil and quiet, providing a place to escape the noisiness of the city and relax. People who visit come to enjoy the serene and beautiful environment.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York - one of the highlights of 11 Best Free Things to Do in New York (Read all about New York here)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden highlights
The Garden is an oasis of different plant species. There are over 12,000 plant species from other parts of the world, some dating back as far as 3 centuries. The park is home to over 200 cherry trees, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the Cranford Rose Garden, and many other gardens. It fosters delight and appreciation of nature’s beauty in the hearts of visitors.
Weddings and other events are organised in the park at the Atrium and Palm House. The most popular activity tourists embark on at the garden is sightseeing. With thousands of different species in different themed garden spaces, you could spend hours wandering the pathways to see all the floral displays, landscaping, and artistic features. The garden is also close to the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum and an art gallery that you can visit during your trip.
History of Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden has a long and rich history. The plans to build Prospect Park, which houses the Botanic Garden, the museum, and other attractions, began in 1859. A 12-man committee set out to begin this work, but the the American Civil War halted development for several years. In 1910, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden came to fruition. At its launch, the landmass was 37 acres and the Native Flora Garden was its first section.
Initially, the name for the large piece of land was Institute Park, for the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences that maintains the garden. From 1912 on, the architect Harold Caparn designed the grounds while William M. Kendall designed the buildings. Today, about a million people visit yearly to gawk over the diverse flowers and plants that the garden holds.
Good to know when visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Non-members have to pay a fee to gain access to the garden most days, however, entrance is free every Friday morning until noon from March to November. From December to February, the garden is free on weekdays, except for Monday. If you want to experience all of the different themed gardens, plan to spend 2 to 3 hours at the garden.
Other attractions nearby include the Prospect Park Zoo and the Brooklyn Museum. The Zoo is a lovely place to watch birds and other animals while listening to outdoor concerts. At the museum, you can see beautiful artwork from global artists and cultural artefacts like Egyptian antiquities. Also, there are numerous restaurants nearby where you can get dinner and drinks. Some of the best restaurants in the area include ICHIRAN Brooklyn, Tom’s Restaurant, The Counter, and The Islands.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York
Locatie: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225, United States
Openingstijden: Tuesday–Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 718-623-7200