Wednesday, July 30, 2014
We met our friends, Gerry and Aileen, at the Botanical Gardens to socialize and take photographs. The ‘garden’ is an amazing 240 acre oasis in the Bronx borough of New York City. A large portion of it is preserved native eastern woodlands. There are magnificent old-growth trees as well as beautiful formal gardens filled with spectacular seasonal flowers. We are so fortunate to have this wonderful treasure in our own ‘backyard’.
When I was young, my brother and I frequently walked to the Botanical Gardens from my grandparents’ house in the Bronx. It was a long walk but we spent the day exploring every corner of the ‘garden’. We discovered the paths and trails and learned about the different sections of plants and trees.
The Bronx River meanders through the Garden and historically provided power for the old Snuff Mill. We rested on the rock wall near the river under majestic trees and listened to the moving water. We also enjoyed walking along the path next to the river up to the waterfall. In our childish naiveté, we thought we had discovered the waterfall and no one else knew it existed. It was thrilling to sit next to the loud falling waters and feel the cool spray on hot summer days.
This Wednesday, the weather was perfect: warm in the sun, comfortable in the shade. We walked along pathways and through some outdoor seasonal gardens which were overflowing with bright blooms. We visited the Enid Haupt Conservatory to see beautiful temperate and tropical gardens. The twin reflecting pools behind the greenhouse glowed with unusual water lilies and we watched dragonflies hover above the flowers.
The Botanical Garden has changed somewhat during the last fifty years. It is better organized and staffed with friendlier people, and has a greater variety of plants and flowers. New speciality areas have sprung up and there seems to be a more active outreach to the Bronx community. There are two new buildings which house cafes and there is a large gift shop.
Currently, the 1840 Lorillard Snuff Mill is reserved as a catering facility and offices. I think, one of the greatest rewards of getting older is to watch the constant changes around me. I can remember and visualize what the Gardens were like fifty years ago as I experience the current place and I wonder what it will be like in the future.
