One of the wonders about the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is how quickly it morphs from week to week. In late May, the Cherry Blossoms steal the show and by the time mid-June rolls in it's the Rose Garden that gets the spotlight with many cameos from other blooms in between. 

I love watching plants in transition, like the rose above, with some buds just making an appearance as others are in near full bloom. Some plants shine for only a week while others last nearly the whole season. And behind the scenes is a team that has to think and plan through this change, letting some plants come and go naturally while replacing others seemingly overnight.

The Botanic Gardens does more than tell the story of seasons changing. It also brings out the lives of those who come to the garden. From your day-dreamers to your artists, from bird-watchers to photographers and everyone else in between, the Gardens offer a respite from the city that simultaneously celebrates its urbanity (if that's a word) and connection with the ecosystem.