Step Back in Time at the New York Botanical Garden

Join me on a leisurely stroll through the botanical garden on Wednesday, where we will immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of the lush green forest. We will be stepping back in time to the 60s as we walk through the phychedelic exhibits depicting Flower Power, "a joyous celebration of the enduring symbolism of flowers as icons of peace and love".

Our first stop will be at Mertz Library, where we will be treated to "a display of paintings, photographs, screenprints, and collages by artists from the 1960s and ‘70s that depict flowers as symbols of peace and love". Included in the exhibit is Andy Warhol's Flowers.

Our next stop is the Ross Gallery to see the small but relevant exhibition Before New York: The Bronx. We will then
walk through the Thain Family Forest, take a detour to admire the waterfall before spending some time in the Rose Garden. We will continue down the path in the direction of the seating area near Pine Street Cafe, have lunch, and then look at the small gardens and flowers 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.

Guests are welcome; please have them sign the waiver and release via this link to participate. Guests should also be familiar with the walk description.

When and where to meet:
Meet at 11 AM in the seating area past the ticket windows and the Farmers Market stands.

The walk will start at 11; if you are late, ask the ticket agent for directions to the Mertz Library.

Bring: water, snacks, lunch; we will stop for lunch near the Pine Street cafe, where you can buy food and beverages. Remember to bring sun protection such as a hat and sun screen.

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 Mertz Library, the Ross Gallery, near Pine Street Cafe, and also near the entrance. The restrooms in the Ross Gallery might be more convenient as they are just past the entrance to the building.

Pace: leisurely stop-and-smell-the roses, admire-the-psychedelic-exhibits stroll.

Registration opens at 9 AM on Monday, July 6th. If you must cancel, please do so by 9 PM on Tuesday. Before registering for the walk, please

• read the entire description
• check your schedules
• answer the two questions

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