[Updated 2007.04.19 21:30 EDT: Added Fragrance Garden, Magnolia Plaza, Daffodil Hill, and Lily Pool Terrace.]
Magnolia Flower, Magnolia Plaza, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
We visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden last Saturday. So did a lot of other people. It was a perfect day, the day before the Nor’Easter hit and dumped a record rainfall on New York City.
As before, two ways you can explore. The title of this post links to the Flickr set of photos. Or, you can explore the Google Map of my visit.
Rock Garden
Caucasian Wingnut
Best. Name. Ever. For a tree. This may be the most photographed non-flowering tree in the Garden. I’ll honor it with its own post some day.
Compost Demonstration Area
Another feature of the Garden deserving of its own post. Just a couple of shots here. Check the Flickr set for all the signage. I liked the homemade styles; either one would work in my garden, now that I have enough space. Yes, I’m a geek.
Native Flora Garden
Japanese Garden
I walked the south path of the garden. I don’t remember ever walking this way before. It’s a different perspective. And it’s also where the turtles like to hang out.
Fragrance Garden
This has the most beautiful stonework in the whole garden. It lies between the Shakespeare Garden and the recently landmarked Laboratory Administration Building which faces Magnolia Plaza.
Magnolia Plaza
They were at their peak when we visited. They’ll be just passing their peak right now.
Daffodil Hill
Originally known as Boulder Hill, there’s still a marker for the old name.
Lily Pool Terrace
The Annual Borders are about to explode with Tulips. I didn’t get any shots of the Mixed (Shrubs and Perennials) Border, which has year-round interest and is lovely right now. Next trip.
Beautiful pic of the Mag. Leonard Messel? Boy you do get around!
ki: “Leonard Messel” is a Magnolia variety? I didn’t note the different types of magnolias there are in the Plaza. I was just admiring the pretty flowers!
Xris, Leonard Messel is a cross between M. kobus and M. stellata ‘Rosea’. It has thinner and more petals than M. stellata the star Magnolia. Unfortunately I don’t have one as I haven’t come across very many affordable ones in the nurseries. Yeah, magnolias are pretty stunning aren’t they?
What a great post – great photos, great use of tools.
That magnolia bloom looks as if made of silk or satin! How beautiful.
Just came to your blog for the first time today, follwing a link from the tree festival. I once lived in NYC, lower east side, no plot of dirt to garden in, but there was the fire escape and roof filled with pots!
Cheers!
ki: Thanks for the description. They have 15 or so Magnolia species and varieties there. When I’m back there next I’ll see if that tree is labeled. Spring finally arrived today, so it should be a good weekend for it!
ww: Thanks! I’m finding that for every hour I sepnt in the garden, it takes me 5-6 hours to select, edit and process the photos, build the map, and write the post! I hope the investment is worth it to you and my other readers.
st: Where were you in LES? I used to live on 3rd Street, and gardened a few blocks away on 1st Avenue.
3rd St? Didn’t a bunch of bikers live around there?
I lived in many apartments, seems like I was always moving. Let me think.. 7th St near Ave D, 1st Ave near 9th St, and 9th St btwn 1 and 2. Then moved away from NY in 1976.
There is a garden on 1st?
I remember a guy called Adam Purple, he turned a vacant lot into a beautiful garden, it’s probably a parking lot now..
st: Yes, the “bunch of bikers” is the Hell’s Angels. I lived across the street from them. I moved to Brooklyn 15 years ago.
You moved out before I moved in, in 1979. The garden is behind a tenant-owned building. It’s not visible from the street. The building is on 1st Avenue between 9th & 10th Streets, right where you were living.
I remember seeing Adam Purple riding his bike on the streets, towing his carriage of horse manure he collected to build his garden. I never met him, or got to visit his garden, which I think was located in the Lower East Side. Yes, that garden is long-gone.