Brooklyn Botanic Garden — Attraction in New York

As an avid gardener, orchardist, and landscaping enthusiast, what I've been able to see so far is absolutely amazing! Even in early March, the garden layout and features are incredible. I am here in a professional capacity for minor construction, and at this level, I've found BBG staff very helpful, friendly, and professionally a joy to work with- from security and custodial to administration. My only wish is to be here later, also, to witness everything coming back from dormancy! (Though it is amazing to see the garden even in this state- especially the degree to which even mid 40's temps are kicking some trees and plants back to life, as others wait for their own perfect time.)

The garden store is currently (3/2024) undergoing a transformation into an URBN Terrain store, which should be a great retail destination that ties garden and home together in true design fashion; and should be ready for customers mid-April.

I've never been a city guy, but this section of Brooklyn is an excellent spot for tourism. Spend a day or weekend here, with plenty to do within short walking distances. I highly recommend you visit BBG! What a GREAT place!

Also- for my photography friends, there are some normal restrictions to make sure everyone's experience here is great. Be sure to check their website for these and other rules.

UPDATE 4/10/24: Cherry blossoms and magnolias are in full bloom, drawing crowds of people. VERY picturesque and pretty around the Japanese garden. My task this trip, my first visit ever, was to look at what brings color to the landscape this early in the season. I found many specimins- flowering shrubs, flowering cover plants and creepers, bushes that produce red and orange berries, and plants with contrasting main trunk branches- these, the garden staff use to create natural barriers, obelisks for training climbing plants, for visual structures in beds, and more. The Bonsai Museum is small (naturally,) but all specimens were fantastic, and some very, very old. I found that they had espalier trained fruits- apples and of course, grapes- but they had many different training forms, showing how the trees could be arranged for aesthetic and maybe, for functionality, specific fruiting, etc.. It would be nice to be able to visit as fruit sets and matures.

The garden REALLY has something for everyone. If you want a break, to relax, or work on sketching- there are plenty of areas, even when the garden is moderately busy- to do this. There are less-travelled side paths where great portraits can be done. (Remember: no easels are allowed for artists, and no tripods or professional photography without a permit.) Kids can plant their own gardens and attend kid classes, if they're signed up for it. There are places for large groups to eat and a food vendor at the observatory. Water features, a "Brooklyn's celebrities" path, with the names of famous people who started right here in this city. There is an expansive rose garden- and while it was not in bloom yet, the varieties are vast and I saw plenty I never heard of. There are rolling hills planted with Daffodils and grasses. There is even a fragrance garden, started with the purpose of aiding the blind and demonstrating one of the many ways plants enrich our lives. I noticed a few teens who didn't appear to want to visit with their parents, but who, near the end, had genuine interest in what was around them. There were also teens and young adults who were there to really take in the garden for enjoyment.

There is so much to see here, and like in all nature, many different scales. (Look really closely, or stand back at the wondrous balance they achieved in the garden design.)

The staff were all working hard, getting ready, and trying to stay ahead of the increasing workload that this type of thing requires- but all seemed friendly enough to answer people's questions.

I am not sure of pricing, especially for groups or children. If you want to visit but the cost is high- ask them about a more...

A great place to walk around with many plants and grounds to keep you engaged or on the look out for the next best thing! Highly recommend visiting if you are in town!

We entered through the Flatbush Avenue entrance around noon and purchased our tickets from the window. There was no line. We let them know we were using affiliate tickets and just had to show them our IDs. Paying in-person saves the online transaction fee. The best thing about this entrance is that it leads immediately to the Discovery Garden where they routinely host family friendly activities; today, we made bookmarks and picked up a few viola plants free of change. You also can't miss the "learn to speak" boxes throughout this air, such an interactive display.

The grounds are easy to navigate. If you wish to exit using the same entrance gate, it's easy to do a loop around the park. There are plenty of signs along the paths pointing visitors to main attractions or gates.

I recommend picking up a physical map or keeping a copy on your phone because the layout of the map changes throughout the park - confusing but not impossible. One of my favorite features of the map is that it tells you where visitors are permitted to relax on the grass.

Before going to the garden or even at the front entrance, check out the activities. You may be able to join a free tour!

Restrooms - there are plenty spread out around the grounds. The ones I usually use are at the entrance gates or visitor center, and the one in lower level of the conservatory. The cleanest one with a great water fountain is in the visitors center right by the Japanese gardens.

Parking - especially on the weekends, arrive early and you won't have trouble finding spots. There is free street parking around the garden on Sundays. Another option is the train or bus; public transportation also takes you right to the front of the garden.

Some of my favorite things about BBG: activities/tour, easily to find and clearly marked accessible routes or rough terrains, and seating/shady options.

P.S. bring your own water bottle to refill! There are numerous water fountains scattered...

I had a wonderful experience at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. The intentionality of the space and the variety of plant life is inspiring. More on some of my favorite aspects of the garden:

The Japanese Hill-and-Pond garden is tranquil. The viewing pavilion facing the water is so peaceful, and a great place to see wildlife like ducks, koi fish, and turtles. I even saw a crane! The lush, green shrubs and trees make the space feel secluded. Apparently, this garden is one of the oldest Japanese-inspired gardens outside of Japan.

The Fragrance Garden has such a profound history as one of the first gardens (created in 1955) in the country to be created for children who were visually impaired. I loved being able to interact with this garden, and to touch and feel and smell different plants. It's great for kids, and even has braille labels to identify the plants.

The Steinhardt Conservatory is so interesting, filled with plants that I had never seen before. I particularly enjoyed the bonsai exhibit, filled with miniature maple, olive, and citrus trees (so adorable!).

Overall, Brooklyn Botanical Garden is definitely worth a visit. The Brooklyn Museum is next door, so you can hit two birds with one stone and see the museum as well. It's such a refreshing and gorgeous space.

Reminders: I visited on a Sunday afternoon and found parking along the Main Street, I would recommend coming earlier in the day to beat the crowds especially during the warmer months. You should walk up the Robert W. Wilson Overlook to catch a gorgeous view of the Cherry Esplanade. There isn't any garden specific merchandise, rather the have a shop called Terrain which features a lot of plants and...