Home to the spectacular cherry blossoms that attract visitors from all over the world, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the reasons to look forward to spring. Founded in 1910, the BBG showcases some of the most beautiful horticultural collections in the US. Click to book your Brooklyn Botanic Garden admission ticket.
From Dumping Ground to Celebrated Urban Garden
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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden bears little resemblance to its modest beginnings in the late 19th century as an ash dump. At the turn of the century, New York State legislated that 39 acres of the dumping ground be reserved for a botanic garden. Over the years through careful planning and development, the BBG has grown to house a stunning and varied collection of gardens.
Japanese Cherry Blossoms
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is best known for its Japanese cherry trees. The Cherry Esplanade and the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden feature a varied collection of these ornamental flowering trees whose pink blooms come to life during the cherry blossom season in April and May.
Over two dozen of BBG’s cherry trees are planted in the Japanese Garden making it an ideal place to experience the cherry blossom season. And many, many people do- this popular garden draws the most visitors to a Japanese-style garden outside of Japan. The tranquil garden features wooden bridges and hills which circle a picturesque pond and waterfall. The beauty of the Japanese Garden makes it a sought-after spot for weddings at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
The Cherry Esplanade, a sprawling field that features two walkways lined with spectacular double-flowering cherry trees, is another popular destination at the BBG. Many of the trees in the Cherry Walk (behind the Japanese Garden east of the Cherry Esplanade) are the first to burst into blossom during the cherry blossom season.
Other Highlights of the BBG
Literature lovers are drawn to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Shakespeare Garden, which showcases plants mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. The Bard often used flowers or plants as metaphors in his writing and this English cottage-inspired garden features over 80 varieties that make an appearance in his plays.
The Fragrance Garden is another popular and interesting spot at the BBG. Originally created in 1955 for the visually impaired, the aromatic garden beds are planted with scented flowers and herbs as well as highly textured plants intended for touch.
Kids ages two to 17 are encouraged to get dirty in the Children’s Garden. Garden instructors teach kids how to plant their own flowers, herbs, and vegetables and then how to harvest the crops in the autumn season. There are several educational programs available to kids in the summer months at the Children’s Garden, which has been a vibrant and integral part of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden since 1914.
Other points of interest at the BBG include the superior collection of bonsai trees which is renowned as one of the best in the world, the stunning Cranford Rose Garden (another popular spot for Brooklyn Botanic Garden weddings), and the Steinhardt Conservatory which houses the BBG’s indoor plants.
Visiting Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is located at 900 Washington Avenue (at Eastern Parkway) in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Address: 900 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11225 (at Eastern Parkway)
Click here to visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden website.