Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is a botanical garden in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. It was founded in 1910 using land from Mount Prospect Park in central Brooklyn, adjacent to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. The 52-acre (21 ha) garden holds over 14,000 taxa of plants and has nearly a million visitors each year. It includes several specialty "gardens within the Garden," plant collections, the Steinhardt Conservatory that houses the C. V. Starr Bonsai Museum, three climate-themed plant pavilions, a white cast-iron-and-glass aquatic plant house, and an art gallery.
History
In 1897, as the city moved toward consolidation, legislation reserved 39 acres (16 ha) for a botanic garden founded in 1910. Initially known as the Institute Park, the Garden was run under the auspices of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, which until the 1970s included the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Children's Museum, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Garden opened as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on May 13, 1911, with the Native Flora Garden as the first established section. In October 2019, the BBG hosted an exhibition called "Fight for Sunlight" to bring more attention to the proposed development adjacent to the Garden at 960 Franklin Avenue, saying that contrary to the developers' statements, its conservatories "would face catastrophic events such as excessive heat and water damage, loss of glass, and possibly structural failure." The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is currently open to the public with several restrictions. Some visitors must pre-register for timed entry slots, while members do not need to pre-register. The Garden remains closed on Mondays.
Special events at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a great place to visit all year round, but some special events occur throughout the year that is worth checking out. One of the most popular events at the BBG is the Cherry Blossom Festival in April. During this time, the Garden is filled with beautiful pink and white cherry blossoms. There are also a variety of family-friendly activities and performances taking place throughout the festival. Another popular event is the Fall Harvest Festival which takes place in October. This is a great time to visit the Garden to see all the autumn leaves. There are also several activities and demonstrations taking place during the festival. If you're looking for a more festive event, the Holiday Train Show is worth checking out.
Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Today!
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a great place to visit all year round. Whether you're looking to see the cherry blossoms in April, the autumn leaves in October, or the Holiday Train Show in December, there's always something going on at the BBG. Be sure to check out their website for more information on upcoming events and timed entry slots.
