Take a Ride in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Wisteria in Spring in the Osborne Garden
There is a lot of beautiful green space in and around the five boroughs, but the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is one of my favorites. And for scooter or wheelchair users it is now EASY to access. The MTA finally installed elevators at the Eastern Parkway subway stop so if you travel the Nos. 2 and 3 trains like I do, it can be a quick ride to this Brooklyn gem. You can also use the Prospect Park stop on the Q, B, and S(f) Lines.
BBG is probably best known for its Cherry Blossom Festival in April, but there is something to see, enjoy and photograph any time you go. The blooming of Daffodil Hill and the gorgeous Magnolia Plaza are two of the earliest signs of Spring, and we keep watch on the blooming guide as to the best days to visit the garden for photographs. Lilac bushes and trees burst with shades of purple, pink and white and fill the garden with their fragrant scent in May.
Lily Pools and Magnolia Plaza
In June the Cranford Rose Garden sets off a confetto of color as over 10,000 blooms climb lattices, drape metal arches, stand in groups or singularly reach for the sun.
The Cranford Rose Garden
Unfortunately the Native Flora Garden, across from the Rose Garden, is not accessible for mobility scooter or wheelchair users, but if you can walk short distances and manage two or three steps, it’s a lovely space to wander.
The same is true for the Rock Garden as the paths are narrow, primarily dirt or crushed stone and there are some steps. However, a little past all of that are the Herb and Discovery Gardens, both of which ARE accessible and depending on the time of year, and your interests, are worth visiting. I have gotten some excellent photographs here. There are plenty of bird watchers with cameras and long lenses out and about here too.
Inside the Bonsai Museum
The Children’s Garden and the Water Garden just beyond have limited access as the terrain is a bit rough. But carry on to the Conservatory with its Desert, Tropical, and Warm Temperate Pavilions. The Bonsai Museum here offers some gorgeous trees in every season. You’ll always find an orchid or two to photograph in the Aquatic House and the Trail of Plant History has rare and little-known plants only found in botanical gardens like BBG.
Inside the Conservatory
Beyond the Conservatory, you’ll find Lilly Pool Terrace and the Palm House. The Palm House today is used primarily for weddings and special events, but the Lilly Pools are enjoyed by everyone all year long. Aside from Water Lilies and Lotus plants adorning the pools in summer, here is where you’ll find a brilliant display of tulips in spring and zinnias, dahlias, and sunflowers in early fall. While there are stairs coming down from Magnolia Grove, there also are paved pathways you can use to reach both levels, so this area is very accessible.
Tulips around the Lily Pools
You can always find hidden jewels in both the Fragrance and Shakespeare Gardens, although keep in mind the Shakespeare Garden can be a tight fit for any mobility device. If the garden is crowded the day you visit, you might opt to skip this area and head over to the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden. Here you can access the pavilion, but I have not used my scooter on the paths deeper into this area. I used to walk it and I recall stairs. If you are a photographer, the Japanese Garden is gorgeous any time of the year so it’s worth walking it if you can.
Right next door to the garden sits the spectacular Brooklyn Museum. If you exit the garden by the gift shop, you will be in the parking lot for both venues. Travel past the miniature Statue of Liberty and you will see doors to the museum. If you have time, be sure to explore here as well, but if not, at least visit the lobby. There are excellent handicapped accessible restrooms, access to their cafe, and gift shop and lots of places to sit and people watch.
Location:
150 Eastern Parkway
455 Flatbush Avenue
990 Washington Avenue (use this gate for Lightscape)
Phone:
718-623-7260
Hours:
Hours vary seasonally. Check their website here for that information:
Accessibility:
Overall the garden is very accessible, with the exception of a few specialty gardens as mentioned above.
Restrooms:
Wheelchair accessible restrooms are located in the Visitor Center, Conservatory, outside Yellow Magnolia Café, and at the Flatbush Avenue entrance.
Dining:
Coffee Bar in the visitor’s center. There is outdoor seating here and plenty of room for scooters and wheelchairs.
Yellow Magnolia Café. Open seasonally and roomy.
Yellow Magnolia Canteen. Open seasonally but definitely roomy and can easily accommodate scooters and wheelchairs and scooters.
Outlets for Recharging:
Should you need to charge your scooter, there are outlets near Yellow Magnolia Café where there is also a handicapped restroom.
How to Get There:
Subway:
to Eastern Parkway—Brooklyn Museum for 150 Eastern Parkway and 990 Washington Avenue entrances
to Prospect Park for 455 Flatbush Avenue entrance (no B train on weekends)
Bus:
B16 to Ocean Avenue
B41 to Empire Boulevard
B43 to Washington Avenue
B45 to Washington Avenue
B48 to Eastern Parkway
Nearby:
Brooklyn Museum
Prospect Park
Grand Army Plaza
The Central Library