The Family Party at BBG
USA Today asked Paul James, host of HGTV’s Gardening by the Yard, for a list of his favorite public gardens. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden made his list as well as a few others that you can make as a part of a weekend trip from Brooklyn. Here are the east coast gardens from his list. For the complete article, go here. I love the Longwood Gardens, but have never been to the one in D.C. or Pittsburgh…..anyone?
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
New York
James calls this a sanctuary in the middle of the nation’s largest urban area. “It’s amazing how you can leave the city and enter a space where it feels like it’s another planet,” he says. Make sure to check out Bluebell Wood, where 45,000 of the flowers bloom in a forest setting. 718-623-7200; bbg.org
United States Botanic Garden
Washington, D.C.
Visitors to the National Mall love to pop into this historic garden and conservatory for a break from museums and monuments, James says. “It’s renowned for the rose garden, a great butterfly garden and the First Ladies’ water garden.” In recent years, the facility has strengthened its educational offerings, including water conservation, composting and waste reduction — “all things having to do with sustainable gardening and being a better steward of the land.” 202-225-8333; www.usbg.gov
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Pittsburgh
This sprawling conservatory and outdoor garden focuses on native plants, sustainability and conservation. James particularly likes the butterfly collection. “You can watch the butterflies come out of their chrysalises and fly around.” The garden garnered international attention last September when it hosted world leaders at the G-20 summit. 412-622-6914; phipps.conservatory.org
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, Pa.
Come to this garden, about 40 miles west of Philadelphia, for what James calls “325 acres of constant jaw-dropping displays.” It’s famous for fountains, although he’s particularly fond of the greenhouse conservatory. “Where else in the world are you going to see 4½ acres of gardens under glass?” 610-388-1000; longwoodgardens.org
Party goers making their passports
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And, by the way, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s is having their wonderful Annual Family Party: Around the World in 80 Days. There are games and crafts, buffet dinner and dancing, raffle and silent auction and DJ and dancing. Many children and adults wear costumes, so it is particularly festive.
Thursday, May 27, 2010 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Advance ticket purchase required; tickets can be purchased online. Individual tickets start at $50 and ticket packages start at $200. To purchase tickets, please click on the links to the left. Proceeds support the Garden’s children’s education programs.