The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a 52-acre oasis in the middle of Brooklyn, and it punches way above its weight. The Japanese garden, the rose garden, the cherry esplanade — they all come together in a landscape that feels both meticulously designed and completely natural. I’ve spent whole afternoons here and barely covered half of it.
History
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded in 1910 through a campaign by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, which already operated the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The land was originally part of Mount Prospect Park and included a disused reservoir. The garden’s design was led by Harold Caparn, who created the formal and informal landscape rooms that define the space today. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, designed by Takeo Shiota in 1914, was the first Japanese garden to be built in an American public garden. The Garden’s research program has been significant — the discovery of the Brooklyn strain of the Dutch elm disease-resistant tree happened here. The garden was designated a New York City scenic landmark in 2018, the first botanic garden to receive that designation.
Features and Highlights
- The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden — a 3-acre masterpiece with a Shinto shrine, waterfall, and koi pond dating to 1914
- The Cherry Esplanade — over 200 cherry trees that explode in pink blossoms every April
- The Cranford Rose Garden — 5,000 rose bushes representing 1,200 varieties in a formal layout
- The Steinhardt Conservatory — three climate-controlled pavilions with desert, tropical, and temperate plants
- The C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum — one of the finest bonsai collections outside of Japan, with trees over 100 years old
- The Fragrance Garden — designed for the visually impaired, with raised beds of aromatic and tactile plants
- The Native Flora Garden — a reconstructed Long Island ecosystem with indigenous plants from the region
Visitor Tips
Cherry blossom season in late April is spectacular but packed — arrive before 10 AM to avoid the lines. The garden is free on weekdays before noon and all day on Fridays. The Japanese garden is quietest on weekday afternoons. The gift shop has excellent plant-themed gifts and books. The garden’s location next to the Brooklyn Museum makes for an easy culture-and-nature double date. The 2/3 train to Eastern Parkway-Brooklyn Museum drops you right at the entrance.
Cultural Impact
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden introduced the concept of the Japanese garden to American public horticulture. Its Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri) is one of the largest in the United States, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. The garden has been a site for scientific breakthroughs in plant pathology and horticulture. For travelers who’ve admired the artistry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the garden’s landscape design is living sculpture — a constantly changing work that requires a different kind of appreciation. The cherry blossoms here rival those at the Central Park in New York, and the garden offers a peaceful contrast to the energy of Madison Square Garden across the river.
Location and Contact
- Address: 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225
- Coordinates: 40.6695° N, 73.9638° W
- Garden Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Mondays)
- Official Site: Visit Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Wikipedia: Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Wikipedia
CONTACT US
For more information or to visit us, here are our branch addresses:
- Branch 1: Naungayan Building, Aala Road, Barangay Mankilam, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
- Branch 2: Sobrecary Street (In front of Velox Gas Station), Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
- Email: gracezelguerra22@gmail.com
- Phone: 09460480491
- Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PH Time)
- Facebook Page: Visit our Facebook Page