It was a very nice surprise to discover roses still in bloom at The Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I couldn’t help but stand and take in the sweet fragrance knowing it would be the last time until they bloom again next year. The pastel pinks and yellows stood out against the brown color tones that are taking over for winter. I found a late blooming Foxglove which reminded me of spring when the carpenter bees would would be gathering pollen from the bell-shaped flowers. Some roses in the garden now bore fruit or rosehips which will serve as a food source for birds and squirrels. Many plants have gone to seed and the garden puts on a different kind of display. While some may think this is not a very interesting time to go to a botanic garden, I beg to differ. This living museum holds an abundance of dried flowers, seeds and plants. There are different shapes and textures to explore and discover. The birds are easier to spot as they dart in and out of the leafless trees, plants and shrubs. It is now time for the conifers to take centerstage, with their wintergreen needles and boughs.
I wandered through the different conservatories impressed by a magical display of Bonsai trees (which I should have photographed but did not - perhaps next time.) I entered the Desert Pavilion and came upon a Creosote Bush whose aromatic leaves took me back to my days hiking in the Mojave in Joshua Tree National Park. In that moment I felt grateful and happy knowing I can come here and visit this plant whenever I want to be reminded of my home in Southern California. The desert holds may wonderful memories. If I close my eyes and inhale the aroma of Creosote I can travel back to that beautiful landscape and dream of desert rain.
The trees at the New York Botanical Garden were still holding onto their vibrant fall colors. It was a sunny day making their hues even more vibrant. After a very busy month of October, taking refuge under the golden leaves of a maple tree was a much needed respite. I felt a weight being lifted from my shoulders; a feeling of peace, content and relaxation. I stood under the maple for a long time enjoying the warm embrace of fiery gold hues and the sunshine that flickered through the leaves.
Fall is a bittersweet time of year. The trees put on their best display before saying goodbye for the winter when they take their life deep down into the earth to prepare for a long winter rest. But even after the leaves fall to the ground and begin to decay, there will be seedpods for birds and other critters to harvest and feed upon during the cold months ahead. Winter can be a very beautiful time of year. And while I do not favor the cold when it drops below freezing, I do enjoy the quite and peace of the winter season soon to come.
Today was my first time visiting the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Because we are members of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, we have a reciprocal membership with other participating gardens. This is a great perk and having a membership supports the work of the gardens. The garden occupies 52 acres in central Brooklyn near Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. There is so much to see here. The garden has a number of specialty gardens including a Japanese Hill-and-Pond garden, Water Garden, Rose Garden, Native Plant Garden, and a Fragrance Garden just to name a few. The weather today was extremely hot and humid, and we were grateful to find shaded paths along the way. There are hidden benches tucked away beneath the trees in the romantic, Shakespeare Garden too where we could sit for a moment to cool off. We had a wonderful day exploring, and I can’t wait to come back again to see more.
I woke up today feeling like I needed to see spring flowers and color. Winters are long on the east coast. New York Botanical Garden was just what I needed. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and Daffodil Hill was bursting with thousands of yellow Daffodils. Spring ephemerals are popping up, and the Magnolia trees are growing closer to peak bloom. There’s nothing like a botanical garden to lift your spirits after a long winter! The weather was slightly chilly in the morning, but it warmed up and turned into a gorgeous day.
