Free: Botanic(al) Gardens

As I near the end of my nearly five weeks of unemployment (!!), I'm trying to fill my remaining days with activities that, as a normal working person, I won't be able to do. Last week this meant taking advantage of the free admission weekdays at both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden.

The BBG is free all day on Tuesdays (and Saturdays 10 am - Noon), and the NYBG has free grounds-only admission on Wednesdays (and 10 am - 11 am on Saturdays). I have been to the BBG a few times, and although it's much smaller, I actually like it much better than the NYBG. It's much easier to get to, involves much less walking and I think it's a prettier space overall.

I don't think anything will ever beat cherry blossom season, but every time I go there's something new and beautiful in bloom. Even when I went in March it was still interesting to see the grounds right at the start of spring, and there's always something to see inside the pavilions. The indoor greenhouses are super warm, which is a total plus when it's winter but not so pleasant in the summer. It was incredibly hot when I went, and I opened the door, stepped in, and turned right back around.

I took a few snacks with me and sat in the Cherry Esplanade and people watched for a while. You can picnic on the lawn, under the trees, and although I'm very vocal about my disdain for screaming children, for the most part it was pretty peaceful.

It's such a beautiful space to just sit and relax. The roses were mostly still in bloom, and I saw a crane in the Japanese pond for the first time. He just kind of stood there and was so still I thought for a moment that he was fake (he wasn't). I saw the lily pads in bloom for the first time as well. They are so strange, incredibly beautiful and unexpected. I'm not sure how long they last, but I think I'm kind of into lily pads now?

I had been to the NYBG only once before, for the amazing Orchid Show, and hadn't yet explored the rest of the grounds. It's much, much larger than the BBG, but I feel like there is also a lot less to look at.

The buildings are beautiful, and the Rockefeller Rose Garden was worth going for alone, but I was a little disappointed overall. I think it was an expectation problem, because by now I'm used to the BBG and they're so different.

The NYBG is actually mostly forests and hiking trails, which are really beautiful. The native plant garden was also nice, but the rose garden was definitely the star. Although I think it's the tail end of the rose season, there were still tons of flowers in bloom. The layout of the garden is wonderful as well, and there's an elevated overlook so you can really take in the design of the entire space.

When you buy the all-inclusive pass, you get to ride a tram tour, which might be the best way to see all of the garden. I love walking and even I was a bit over it by the end. The NYBG is also way pricier normally ($20 adult, $18 student) than the BBG ($10 adult, $5 student), and while I'm sure their special exhibits are interesting, I don't really see how it's worth that much more.

The Orchid Show is definitely the exception, and was worth every bit of the admission price — which also includes the rest of the garden, but it was snowing the day we went. I wouldn't mind checking out their cherry blossoms as well, they kind of have to be amazing.

I am definitely going to return to both gardens in the fall to see the leaves change colors, and as I was walking the trails at the NYBG I was imagining how beautiful it will all be — I think fall will really make me love the NYBG much more. Unfortunately I won't be getting in free again on the weekdays anytime soon, but I love that they both offer Saturday options to (in New York time) early risers. Every once in a while it hits me that I'm going to be here for the entire fall season and I just about die of happiness.