I needed a break after a week of running around. I had just reached out to my students for their preparation of the first day of class, have been volunteering at the Soup Kitchen and running from the Jersey Shore to the Hudson River Valley attending events, walking Boardwalks, attending festivals and County Fairs and visiting small museums that seem to be open only once a month. It has been a long but productive summer working.

After a long day of volunteering at the Soup Kitchen and walking the Avenues of Gramercy Park for my blog, ‘MywalkinManhattan.com’ (I am trying to finish the neighborhood before school starts), I went to our last members night at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden ‘Little Caribbean Last Lap’, a celebration of the Caribbean Community. It was such a beautiful night for the event.

The Cheery Blossom Esplanade on a beautiful August night

It was a beautiful sunny night in Brooklyn and the gardens were showing their summer finest. It was a warm night and perfect for touring the gardens. The Cherry Blossom Esplanade Fountain looked especially pretty with the water plants and red flowers surrounding it.

The fountain in the Cherry Blossom Esplande

The view of the fountain was especially beautiful with all the plants in full bloom.

The fountain always is bloom during the warmer months

I walked along the paths around the gardens, admiring the flowers and flowering shrubs giving us the last glimpse of summer. Members were relaxing on benches and the lawns all over gardens just as the music started up by the Lotus Ponds. What was impressive was the field of Bleeding Hearts that were in bloom while I was walking the path.

The field of bleeding hearts in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

When I got to the Lotus Pools, DJ Danglez was playing all sorts of Caribbean dance hits while people were enjoying cocktails and finger foods at the refreshment stands by the Lotus pools.

The music was starting by the Lotus Pools

The evening just getting started at the Brooklyn Botanic

It has been a long summer since graduation on May 17th. I swear my feet have not touched the ground since I crossed that stage at Radio City Music Hall (was that four months ago?) I swear I have run from one thing to another just trying to catch up with my past. I needed an evening of music and a bit of relaxation.

The DJ booth at the top of the pools

The food booths offered items like fried plantains, jerk chicken wings and the bar, Rum Punch and Lemonade with Mint and Rum. It was a long day and the perfect night for a cocktail. Talk about putting you in a relaxing mood.

The Rum Punch at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Bar

The delicious Rum Punch at the Gardens

After a relaxing drink, I walked around and enjoyed the beauty of the gardens while listening to the music.

The beauty of the Gardens by the Lotus Pools

I sat on the hill above the Lotus Pools and watched the DJ spin the tunes. Since there was not enough seating in the pools area many members had the same idea and we just relaxed on the hill and listened to the energetic music.

The DJ spinning Caribbean dance music that evening

Families having a good time that evening

It was a nice way to spend the end of the traditional summer break as the Borough prepares for the Caribbean Parade in a few days. We just hope for good weather that day. As the evening wore on, traditional dancers and stilt walkers entertained the crowds with live musical performances and dance. That was a nice sneak peek before the parade.

We got a first glimpse of the festivities with dancers and stilt walkers

The dancers performing that night

Video on the dancing:

People started dancing along with the performers that night.

People dancing along the pools with the performers that evening

After the performances, the DJ spinned dance music and people got up to dance near the DJ stage. As it got dark, the lights came on and the last hour was a magical night. It really was an entertaining night and a great introduction of the rich Caribbean culture in Brooklyn.

Back on August 27th, 2025:

I found myself in the same position as last year. Overworked from preparing for classes next week, going away for a few days in Upstate New York to Bovina Center and Ithaca for a picture taking session and my evenings reviewing the students resumes. I needed a break from it all so it was back to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for Caribbean Night.

Members Night on the lawn

Listening to Caribbean Reggae

I took some time to walk around the gardens while it was still light out. The gardens were still in full bloom in late August.

The Lotus Pools in the early evening

The colorful flowers lining the pools

The Sunflowers in full bloom

The flowers bursting color

I was not sure if this was an Iris or Lilly

Walking through the Magnolia Gardens in the Summer

Walking through the Shakespeare Gardens

The flowers in the garden in full bloom

There was so much color in the gardens

The garden in peak bloom

Touring the Japanese Gardens

After the quick tour of the gardens, it was time to relax on the lawn and listen to music.

Listening to the DJ spin

It is nice to just sit on the grass and listen to music and relax! This is what I love about the gardens. You can sit down and watch.

The Member’s Night at Twilight