The little pond is one of the wild garden’s greatest attractions. Bayberry shrubs, pickerel weed, arrowhead, and golden clubs grow on its banks.
A quiet haven for nature lovers, particularly those interested in our native flora, is the wildflower area of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
While there, enjoying its peace and beauty, it is hard to realize that teeming apartment houses and two busy thoroughfares are but a few yards distant.
It is so shielded from the evidence of its urban location that it delights those who seek its seclusion and the opportunity it affords to carefully study its many wildflowers.
Wildflower Area
The 2 1/2 acres, which have been so skillfully laid out and developed that they appear much greater in size, contain a variety of ecological habitats.
This wild area, begun in 1911, was reconstructed on its present ecological basis by Dr. Henry K. Svenson in 1931 and has been carefully maintained ever since. This “garden within a garden” features native species found within 100 miles of New York City.
While not all possible species can adapt to conditions there, many thrive in various habitats.
Woodland, meadow, bog, marsh, pond, and sand-barren are home to many species, and so ingeniously have these terrains been blended to create an illusion of wild nature that the visitor is unaware that all of this beauty has been man-made.
Owing to the delicate and fragile nature of many rarer wildflowers, the entire tract is fenced, with access through a gate.
The gate is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and in early spring, one evening each week until 7:00 p.m.
At all times, when it is open, Mr. Harry Betros or his assistant is in charge of the garden and available to answer questions.
At the left of the entrance at various periods will be found the soft, misty flower heads of the tall meadow rue (Thalictrum poly gam um), the yellow radiating clusters of the golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea), masses of the moss-pink (Phlox subulata), Virginia-bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and the shooting-stars (Dodecatheon Meadia).
Plains Section
At the right lies the plains section, a bit of the Hempstead Plains, which once covered 16,000 acres on Western Long Island.
In early spring, the lovely flowers of Rhododendron vaseyi glorify this habitat and fill the air with fragrance.
Later, dainty sprays of sheep-laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) and the delightful, sweet-smelling pinxter-flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum) attract attention, while underfoot the bird’s-foot violet (Viola pedata) and the yellow star-grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) have established themselves and appear each year.
During July and August, the flaming orange of the butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) lures many species of butterflies that enjoy the nectar of its blossoms.
Not Complete Without Waterscape
No wild garden would be complete without a waterscape; the little pond here is one of the wild garden’s greatest attractions.
Several water-loving plants decorate their banks and grow in the water.
The pond comes into its own in June and July when blue spikes of pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) and the white blossoms of the arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) join the yellow golden club (Orontium aquaticum) to create a vision of loveliness.
Swamp Candles
At this time, the swamp candles (Lysimachia terrestris) will be noticed as their yellow blossoms start to climb up the flower stalk, but it is not until late July that the peak of color and interest is reached.
Then the stately Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) unveils its dusty rose flower heads.
Last July, across the path from the pond, I saw a remarkable stand of these imposing plants.
At The Farther End of The Pond
The barren sand, with its handsome pitch pines, plays host to many interesting plants that bloom year after year in this sandy tract.
I must mention the perennial sandwort (Arenaria caroliniana) and the goats-rue (Galega officinalis) with its curious blossoms.
Then there is the spicy sweet fern and a large patch of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), one of our finest native ground covers, noted for its dainty white spring blossoms, bright red autumn berries, and shining evergreen leaves.
Not to be overlooked are the beach plums (Prunus maritima, cherished for their May blossoms and small late-August fruits that make the delectable beach plum jelly.
Nearby grows the New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), which comes into bloom a bit later.
For several weeks in July, the flowers of the meadow beauty (Rhexia virginica) keep the sand barren and dressed in vivid pink.
Bog Area
The bog area calls to mind the difficulty of access, wet feet, and other discomforts associated with such terrain. Still, none of these inconveniences will interfere with the pleasure of walking the narrow path there and observing the interesting plant inhabitants.
These include the following:
- Bog-laurel (Kalmia polifolia)
- Bladderwort
- Two sundews (Drosera intermedia and filiformis)
- Pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
- Cranberries
- Turk’s-cap lily (Lilium superbum)
- Lovely orchid (Calopogon pulchellus)
- Red milkweed (Asclepias rubra)
Adjacent Damp Meadow
The adjacent damp meadow, kept moist by the brook, shelters an ecologically happy family of plants.
In early spring, the golden blossoms of the marsh marigold announce the season’s opening.
Then follow the blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), the relatively rare Helonias bullata or swamp-pink, water parsnip (Sium suave), and the fiery red cardinal-flower (Lobelia cardinalis); in the dryer section, bluets (Houstonia caerulea) and the false Solomon’s-seal (Smilacina racemosa) faithfully return each year.
From the meadow, the little brook passes through the wooded area, which simulates an Allegheny Mountains woodland. At the brook’s edge, the skunk-cabbage blooms in February, followed by false hellebore (veratrum) in March.
The false hellebore flowers are insignificant, but the large, parallel-veined leaves bring the first mass of green to the early spring woods.
A spicy fragrance emanating from the tiny yellow flowers of the spicebush (Lindera benzoin), the uncurling fern fronds, and the pointed spears of Jack In-the-pulpit pushing up through the earth all indicate spring.
Wooded Section
Many of the flowers of late April and early May appear in this wooded section.
I must first mention the eight or ten clumps of blue hepatica (Hepatica americana), for I have not seen the blossoms so blue elsewhere.
Then follow:
- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
- Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria);
- Several trilliums
- Trillium grandiflorum
- Maroon T. erection
- Exquisitely painted T. undulatum
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
- Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
- Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Images:
Water parsnip is an aromatic herb that blooms in the spring. This tall plant grows in a damp meadow kept moist by a little brook that passes through the woods.
Joe Pye weed grows near water, and its purple flowers come out in late summer or autumn. It is named for Joe Pye, an Indian doctor who used it medicinally.
A perennial growing in dense mats with small white flowers, Arenaria caroliniana, is at home in the sand-barren. Many rock garden plants are found in this genus.
Although the various plant habitats—woodland, bog, meadow, and sand-barren —look as though they had always been here, they are man-made. This is the wooded section. At the far left is a brook; to the right, woodland flowers such as spicebush, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and blue hepatica will bloom in the early spring, followed later by bloodroot, Dutchman’s-breeches, and spring beauty. (left)
The sand barren with its handsome pitch pines, is located at one end of the pond. Among the plants that belong here are sweet fern, bearberry, the perennial sandwort, goats-rue, New-Jersey-tea, beach plum, and the delicate meadow beauty. (right)
44659 by Samuel H. Gottscho