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After emerging from the enjoyable chaos of winter break, I’ve been struggling to get back into a normal routine this week – while also seeking new ways to find balance in my life. After the indulgence of holidays in the city (and way too much time inside), I have been craving the cleansing experience of being immersed in nature. Since a weekend trip to the country isn’t an option at the moment, I decided to take advantage of the abundant green spaces that the city has to offer… especially right here in Brooklyn, where we are lucky enough to have the wonderful Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park and lots of smaller green spaces.
While popular in the spring and summer, many of our parks and other green spaces are pretty empty in the fall and winter. It’s still important and possible to spend time outside when it’s cold (just bundle up and dress appropriately!) and it’s a great time to be immersed in nature and escape the crowds and noise of the city…which is exactly what I needed after spending my break traveling back and forth between Brooklyn and Manhattan, Christmas shopping in midtown and competing with holiday tourists for a spot to see the tree at Rockefeller Center. There is nothing quite as peaceful and refreshing as a winter walk in nature, especially in larger urban green spaces like Prospect Park or the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where you can be fooled into believing you have actually left the city for a moment. (Anyone who has explored the ravine and discovered waterfalls in Prospect Park knows what I’m talking about!)
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
There are so many benefits to getting out in nature, so one of my New Years Resolutions (now in writing for everyone to see) is to take at least one winter walk every month in an urban green space for my physical and mental well-being. First stop: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which can get quite crowded at certain times of the year (have you stood in line for the Cherry Blossoms?) but it is so quiet in the winter they offer free admission on Winter Weekdays (Tuesday-Friday) through February. I hadn’t been to the BBG in way too long, so I decided to take my first walk of the year there. I considered bringing my son but he still has a limited tolerance for walking in the cold (or anywhere) and I knew that I needed the space to explore and connect with nature on my own right now. As a mother, one of the hardest things is learning to admit when I need something and to put my own needs first once in a while. (Another resolution: committing to self-care.) So I took this winter walk alone while he was in school and promised myself that I would bring him back with me next time.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden
As I approached the garden, I saw crowds of children outside loading into (or out of) school buses and realized that one drawback to going during the week is the risk of running into these large school groups that could interrupt the otherwise peaceful experience. But of course I’m glad that schools are taking advantage of this (free) resource and the garden is really large enough to avoid them. Mostly, I only ran into staff working in the garden, a handful of other people wandering the garden alone, and a few parents pushing strollers or carrying babies.
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As I walked into the middle of the garden, one of the first things I noticed was the sound of running water. A sign posted in the garden explained the a complex water filtration system beneath the garden that allows them to filter and recirculate fresh water and reduce water consumption. Water flows from the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden to the Water Garden at the bottom of the garden, then cycles back underground. The stream winding through the middle of the garden creates a lovely sense of motion in the otherwise still garden, catching the light and adding to the sounds of nature like birds rustling in the leaves. It felt like a respite from the city in most respects, but it was also hard to forget I was in an urban space due to traffic noise coming from the major roads surrounding the garden (and views of large buildings nearby). I look forward to getting a more complete escape from the city in green spaces with less traffic noise competing with the sounds of nature.
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One of the many advantages of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (relative to the other green spaces) is getting to visit the incredible Steinhardt Conservatory, where you can explore and learn about plant life typically only found in other climates (tropical, desert, warm temperate, and aquatic). When you enter each greenhouse, you get to escape the city (and even our region of the world) as you are immediately transported to a very different climate and natural landscape. Since discovering the conservatory a few years ago, I knew that I would return to them many times with my son as he grows up so that he could “travel” to distant parts of the world we otherwise might not be able to experience. The diversity and beauty of the plant collections in these conservatories is awe-inspiring.
While in the Conservatory Gallery, I was reminded of the contentious Fight for Sunlight movement that has been going on for the past year to prevent the rezoning and development of tall buildings nearby that would block out sunlight and do great harm to their garden. In fact, I found out later that as I was enjoying the incredible gardens, activists were being arrested for protesting and trying to halt the construction at one of these development sites. It would be a terrible loss if these developments were allowed to damage this wonderful resource in our community, so I hope that the movement is successful in preventing it. (You can help out by signing their petition and making your voice heard.)
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Another great resource to explore with kids is the Discovery Garden at the southern end of the garden (close to the Flatbush Avenue entrance), which presents so many wonderful opportunities for children to explore and discover nature through their interactive exhibits. I had previously visited this part of the garden on a crowded summer weekend in the past, and it was nice to roam around the winding paths on a quiet winter day. I also enjoyed the rock garden and the quieter southern end of the garden, which I had not explored as much on previous visits. It was nice to find many signs of life and flashes of color still present in the otherwise grey winter landscape.
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It was one of the coldest days of the week, so I was a little worried about getting cold, but I dressed warmly and it wasn’t a problem at all. Of course, my Scandinavian heritage could have helped with that! It also helped that between the conservatories and the visitors center, there were plenty of places to warm up and use the bathrooms. And I look forward to trying the lovely Yellow Magnolia Cafe next to the Conservatory on a future visit. (Their menu looks delicious.)
Steinhardt Conservatory – Desert Pavilion
If you do visit on a weekend and pay the admission fee, you will be rewarded with the opportunity to take (free) guided tours like Nature Walks, the Conservatory Highlights Tour, and more. (Check the event calendar before you go for more details.) While I’ve never taken a tour, I would love to come back for one. There is plenty to learn by reading the signs all around the gardens, but it would be nice to get a more in depth understanding of the plant life from an expert and experience all the garden has to offer. I didn’t get to see the entire garden this time, but it was wonderful to see as much as I did and I look forward to returning for another winter walk with my son – before free Winter Weekdays end and Cherry Blossom crowds arrive. But it is a truly beautiful place to take a walk at any time of year, and I love watching it change from season to season.
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Who says you can’t find nature in the city? As much as we may love living here, I think we all need to take breaks and find space for nature within our busy urban lives. We are lucky to live in a city that provides plenty of opportunities to connect with nature – we just need to get outside and explore them!
If you want to visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, their winter hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM. They are usually closed on Mondays, but will be open on the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20th) and President’s Day (Feb. 18th) if you’re looking for something fun to do with kids. You can find directions and more details on their website.
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Margel Nusbaumer is a local writer and mom in Brooklyn. Thoughts? Reach out to margel@achildgrows.com.
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