The Osborne Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a captivating Italianate-style garden that transports visitors to a serene and picturesque oasis in the heart of New York City. This lush and meticulously maintained garden features a stunning array of architectural elements, diverse plant collections, and a captivating layout that makes it a must-visit destination for garden enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Architectural Highlights
Wisteria-Draped Pergolas
One of the most striking features of the Osborne Garden is the ten stone pergolas that are draped with the cascading blooms of Japanese wisteria. These wisteria-covered structures create a breathtaking display, especially during the peak flowering season in May and beyond.
Towering Stone Columns
The garden is also home to two sets of impressive stone columns, each standing 35 feet tall. These columns feature intricate carvings of ginkgo leaves on their pedestals, adding to the garden’s elegant and refined aesthetic.
Whispering Benches
Another unique architectural element of the Osborne Garden is the limestone benches arranged in a semicircle near the central fountain. These “whispering benches” are designed to create an acoustic effect, allowing people sitting at either end to hear each other clearly, even when whispering.
Diverse Plant Collections
Cherries and Crabapples
The Osborne Garden is home to several cultivars of flowering crabapple trees that burst into bloom in late April and early May, creating a stunning display of color.
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Vibrant azaleas in shades of pink, red, and fuchsia, as well as large masses of white, red, and pink rhododendrons, add to the garden’s springtime splendor.
Wisteria and Evergreens
The iconic Japanese wisteria that drapes the pergolas is a highlight of the garden, while a variety of evergreen plants are used to frame the central lawn and provide year-round structure.
Captivating Layout
Central Lawn
At the heart of the Osborne Garden is a lush, emerald lawn surrounded by walkways lined with spring-flowering plants, creating a serene and inviting space for visitors to stroll and relax.
Boulder Wall
The western border of the garden features a striking Boulder Wall, with annuals planted in beds and two terraces with benches, offering visitors a unique and visually interesting element.
Fountain
The garden’s central feature is a beautiful fountain, surrounded by the limestone “whispering benches” and framed by the towering stone columns.
History and Restoration
The Osborne Garden was originally designed in 1935 by landscape architect Harold Caparn and dedicated to Dean Clay Osborne in 1939 by his wife, Sade Elizabeth Osborne. The garden underwent a restoration and expansion in the 1980s and 1990s, with ongoing maintenance and curation by Dan Ryniec, the garden’s curator.
Visitor Information
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, including the Osborne Garden, is located next to Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum, with three main entrances at 150 Eastern Parkway, 455 Flatbush Avenue, and 990 Washington Avenue. The garden is open year-round, with varying hours and admission rates depending on the season and special events. The best time to visit the Osborne Garden is in late spring and early summer when the flowers are in full bloom.
References:
– Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Osborne Garden. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/collections/gardens/osborne_garden
– The Empty Nest Explorers. (2023, June 18). How to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Retrieved from https://www.theemptynestexplorers.com/blog/how-to-visit-the-brooklyn-botanical-garden
– Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (2011, May 12). Bright Blooms in the Osborne Garden. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/article/blooms_osborne
– Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Late-Spring Highlights. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/visit/late_spring_highlights
– Wikipedia. (n.d.). Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Botanic_Garden