New York Botanical Garden

Details:
The roses are in bloom! Join me on a leisurely stroll through the botanical gardens on Wednesday, where we will immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the lush green forest on our way to the Rose Garden.

Our first stop will be at the Ross Gallery to see the small but relevant exhibition Before New York: The Bronx. We will then
walk through the Thain Family Forest to the Rose Garden, make our way to the benches near Pine Street Cafe, have lunch, and then look at the small gardens and peonies that line our path to the exit.

Admission
On Wednesdays, Grounds Admission is free to NYC residents all day and to all other visitors between 10‒11 a.m. Tickets are required for visiting the conservatory or taking the tram tour.

How to get to the gardens:
If you are taking public transportation, you will be entering the gardens through the Moshulu entrance (see map)

• Train: From Grand Central, take the 10:21 Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station, located directly across the street from the Garden’s Mosholu Entrance. Off-peak one way tickets are $5:25. Senior $3:50 tickets can be purchased on the train.
• Subway: Take the D train to Bedford Park Blvd. Station. From the station exit either take the Bx25 or Bx26 bus east to the Garden’s Mosholu Entrance or walk the eight downhill blocks on Bedford Park Blvd. Turn left onto Southern Blvd. and walk one block to the Mosholu Entrance. The walk should take around 20 minutes.

Drivers should enter through the main entrance, 2900 Southern Boulevard. Directions and parking fees can be found here.

When and where to meet:
Meet at 11 AM in the seating area past the ticket windows and the Farmers Market stalls. This would be the first day of the Farmers Market, so look for the group in the seating area just past the stalls.

The walk will start at 11; if you are late, ask the ticket agent for directions to Ross Gallery. Look for signs on the path directing you to the exhibition.

Bring: water, snacks, lunch; we will stop for lunch near the Pine Street cafe, where you can buy food and beverages.

Wear sturdy footwear as the paths in the Thain Family Forest are not only unpaved, but also require negotiating tree roots, stones and boulders that serve as steps.

Restrooms: in the Ross Gallery, our first stop, near Pine Street Cafe, and also near the entrance.

Pace: leisurely stop-and-smell-the roses stroll.

Registration opens at 9 AM on Monday, and is capped at 15 as the NYBG requires groups of 15 or more to register and pay the required admission fees. Please check your schedules and availability before registering for this walk. Do note that although this is a leisurely stroll, we will be walking uphill and downhill on paved paths, and also scrambling over stones and small boulders on unpaved paths.

Leader: Prathima Christdas, christdasp@yahoo.com