Explore: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

My family has always loved spending time outdoors, particularly in beautiful gardens and parks. When I was very little, my mom's request every year for Mother's Day was to go to Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum.

When my parents moved to Miami, FL in 2005, we became members of the Fairchild Tropical Garden, which is hands down my favorite place in the whole city (I've written about it here, here, here and here). When we traveled as a family to New York in September 2015, we planned an entire afternoon at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It is majestic and totally worth the long subway or cab ride. 

As we researched places to go during our trip to Brooklyn, the Botanic Garden was high on our list. It was recommended by several friends who live locally and even those who had visited as tourists. On Sunday afternoon of Memorial Day Weekend my mom and I hopped an in Uber and headed over. 

Adult admission is $15 dollars, which seemed pretty reasonable given how large the garden is and how long you could spend in there exploring. We opened the map and headed straight for the Rose Garden. 

My mother pointed out a grouping of roses that seemed to be hanging vertically on a very thin vine. 

I would love to have these crawling up my backyard fence. 

The peach hue of these blooms had me feeling so ready for spring. 

On the gate by the garden's exit were these exquisite roses, tightly clustered together, in hues of pink and purple. I was mesmerized. 

From there, we walked up a flight of stairs to the Osborne Garden, which featured a sculpture by artist Shayne Dark. You can read more about his work throughout the garden here. 

My mom and I stopped on a bench to admire the sculpture and to snap one quick picture. 

After the Osborne Garden, we meandered to the Native Flora Garden. The entrance to this area has the most stunning wooden doors and a natural arch of lilacs. 

Just beyond that gate is a quiet reflecting pool, home to some lily pads. This is a great place to rest your feet if you need a break (or a snack). 

Our next stop was the Rose Arc Pool, which was amazingly gorgeous. 

I love the repeating arches on the perimeter of the garden. 

These plants looked like extra tall dandelions. 

I swooned for this blush-colored flower, which I was picturing in a vase on my dining room table. 

In every rose garden I have ever visited, I think it's such a hoot to see the names of all the different varieties, like this one - Pink Home Run. 

Did you know there is a rose called My Girl? Seems like a perfect wedding flower choice, no? 

Further down the path we stumbled upon the Fragrance Garden with this branded iron gate. 

A few families were camped out here in the wide open green. 

I was dying of cuteness watching this young girl and her mom make wishes into the Fragrance Garden fountain. Her sun hat! I just can't. 

As we continued walking, we passed these impressive flowers in full bloom. After a 10 minute Google search I could not figure out the name of this flower! If you are a Green Thumb and you know, please comment below! 

We wound through one more small garden before reaching our final destination, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. 

When I was young, I always loved the Japanese House inside the Boston Children's Museum. This garden reminded me a bit of that exhibit. 

Of all the gardens we walked through on our visit, this was the most tranquil. 

Five minutes before I took this picture (below) there were about 10 children hanging over the railing squealing at the koi fish and turtles in the water down below. I immediately wished my little cousins were with me. 

After the Japanese Garden, we popped into the gift shop, which had some very special stationary and cards and an entire "Made in Brooklyn" section. If you are looking for local gifts to send to family or friends, this is a great place to buy them. 

When we exited the garden gates, I looked up and saw a Mister Softee ice cream truck parked right out front. People I had seen earlier in the garden were standing in line for soft serve cones. Families and couples on dates were all licking away on the front steps. It felt like such a classic, New York moment. 

The whole time were exploring the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I couldn't help but compare it to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. For me, this garden didn't have the same magical sense of awe and wonder that I had while strolling through the garden in the Bronx. Maybe it was because we were too late for the lilacs and too early for the roses? I wanted to love it, but it just didn't impress me as much as I was hoping.

Tell me, have you been to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden? Do you have a favorite area or spot?