Glow! There’s Still Time—at the New York Botanical Garden

The Reflecting Pool

You have two evenings left—January 7th and 14th, to enjoy this holiday tradition at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Book your tickets as soon as you can as the early time slots book quickly.

For this blog entry I am only covering Glow, the outdoor light show at NYBG. The train show, which is really something to see, will be covered separately.

I took my new Pride Victory 10 scooter on Metro North Thursday night—the first time for me taking my scooter on one of our commuter trains.  Thankfully, all the elevators I needed to use between 96th and Broadway down to Times Square and then onto the Shuttle to Grand Central worked.  The Harlem line train that I needed for the Botanical Garden stop left from the upper level at Grand Central (GC) on track 23 so it too was very easy.  Oh, yes and while the train is not exactly level to the platform I was able to ride onto the train.  In all likelihood, however, I would have had to walk my smaller scooter on.

At the Botanical Garden stop, which is the Mosholu Gate entrance, the ramp was clear and the elevator worked.  (I always say a silent “Thank you, Jesus!” to whomever above, that everything worked.)

The Mertz Library

The show begins as soon as you enter the garden.  While the garden is adorned with beautifully lit garlands and wreaths, the light show adds an entirely other dimension.  Botanicals dance along the face of the Mertz library and stand as a reminder that inside you can research over 8 million samples of plants and seeds!  I know because I was one of those volunteers who photographed the collection to give everyone digital access.  When I left in 2019, we had photographed roughly 5 million items . . . so if you have a mind to volunteer, your time would be welcome.  Closed for the show, access with a wheelchair or scooter to the library is doable through a lift next to the main staircase or using the side door to the left of the building.    

Spheres of Light strewn on the Lawn

Just past the library the grass is strewn with spheres of light of varying sizes which change color every few seconds.  This path leads you up to the reflecting pool, which for the holiday is dressed with trees made of vines wrapped in sparkling lights.  They are a standout in the evening darkness but hard to get a clear shot here as everyone likes to use this spot for family pics or selfies.  Patience is required for that split second when no one is in the frame.  But it’s pretty and worth the wait. 

The Nature Garden Re-Imagined

Off to the left just past the entrance to the children’s garden, you find a long tunnel of light, which reminded me of a giant caterpillar.  Children were having a great time running through it as it changed color.  It’s on a stretch of a tared path that slopes up and down and is easy to ride with a scooter.  Right across from the caterpillar are various sized globes floating in the pond in the nature garden.  That garden is closed off for the show but stay on the lit path and you should be able to get some great photos as the globes change colors every few seconds.  You will be reminded of Chihuly if you happened to visit that exhibit a few years back. 

Head back toward the main gate of the garden, which is 2900 Southern Boulevard and here you’ll find the gift shop, which stays open for night shopping, food trucks offering all sorts of good smelling delights, including everything from Maine Lobster to tacos.  There is plenty of outdoor seating and all accessible with a scooter.

The Pine Tree café is also open with plenty of indoor seating if you need to warm up.

You’ll find the restrooms just past the food trucks.  They are spacious and can accommodate scooters and wheelchairs although I opted to leave my scooter outside the stall.  Sinks are easily accessible here too.

Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

Back on the path to the Enid Haupt Conservatory, which is where the train show is set up, you’ll find lots of various sized spheres wrapped in lights, which blink and fade and create a magical scene using the conservatory dome as a backdrop.  The light show ends across from the Hudson Garden Grill Restaurant in the Gossett Trials Garden with the new gazebo and more spheres wrapped in lights.  It’s all very dazzling.  During my night ride around the garden I met two other scooter users—one using a 4-wheel Pride Go-Go, similar to my tri-wheel and several others in wheelchairs. 

Train Show Depot inside the Conservatory

It was a lovely evening out but would have been truly exhausting had I also done the train show.  There is so much to see in the train show and if it’s crowded, navigating with a scooter is a lot of work.  (I have not done the show with my scooter so I say this knowing how hard it can be simply walking the show when there are a lot of people.) 

The paths throughout the garden are fairly well lit, although there were a few spots where a little more light would have been helpful.  Security and volunteers are stationed primarily at the gates and you’ll see staff riding golf carts to ensure everyone finds their way. I always feel extremely safe in the garden. 

Going home I just crossed Southern Boulevard at the Mosholu Gate took the elevator up to the bridge, which takes you over the railroad tracks down to the platform and waited for the train that heads back to Grand Central.

Gossett Trials Garden

At Grand Central I had a side adventure when the train pulled in on lower level on track 104.  It’s a little tricky down there.  You have to know where the elevators are as they are a bit hidden.  But the conductor assigned another conductor to lead me upstairs.  What was cool is that Nida (lovely woman conductor) asked me if I had ever seen the old railroad cars that are just sitting on the track on that level and while I knew of them, I had never actually seen them.  Turns out they are just off to the side of the public elevator so we took a couple of minutes to ride over there.  Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take a pic, but I will add that the next time I go through GC.

As time is of the essence with only two nights left to see Glow, more information about the New York Botanical Garden will be added in our Destinations section in the coming weeks. 

In the meantime, enjoy your visit and HAPPY NEW YEAR!