Walk in Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment. 

When Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded more than a century ago, New York City area was promptly being developed into a cityscape of buildings and paved roads. Creating a public garden was one way to ensure that some green space remained. Today, the Garden has come to represent the very best in urban gardening and horticultural display.

Highlights include:

- Cherry blossom trees! (come in April/May when Cherry Esplanade is at its most floral).

- Yellow Magnolia Cafe - quaint cafe in a greenhouse setting where you may spot a movie star (I looked up and saw Michelle Williams sitting a table across from me)

- Shakespeare Garden (an English cottage-style garden with around 80 plants referred to in Shakespeare’s works)

- The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden (a traditional Japanese garden and pond with orange torii gate, immaculately kept plants and trees, sculptures, and a gazebo for viewing

- The indoor C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum which houses one of the largest collections of bonsai (around 350) outside of Japan

All things considered, this is a must-do. Perhaps combine it with a day trip to Brooklyn/Prospect Park. Cost is $30 and you will be given a detailed map of the Gardens on entry. The entrance is adjacent to Prospect Park.