On this self-guided visit, you can get to know the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, a 21 hectare park with over 18,000 kinds of plant species. The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens have many different kinds of gardens, from Japanese lily ponds to climate-controlled greenhouses to traditional English country gardens. You can explore the gardens at your own pace, in a calm soothing atmosphere that feels far away from the busy streets of New York. The gardens are open all year round and the exhibits are carefully timed to bloom at different times, meaning that there’s always something to see, regardless of the time of year that you visit. There are also themed displays and exhibits at different times of year such as a winter lightscape and a cherry blossom stroll in spring. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are accessible for people with disabilities, with wheelchair-accessible entrances and free wheelchairs available to borrow on a first come, first served basis. Carers are admitted free of charge and service animals are welcome. Accessible restrooms can be found in the visitor center. Many specialty gardens are step free, but due to the historic nature of the gardens, some paths are uneven or steep. Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is also home to America's first garden designed for people with visual impairments, the Alice Recknagel Ireys Fragrance garden. In this garden, all plants are set in raised beds and can be touched and smelled, and Braille signage is offered throughout.