New York Attractions: Botanical Gardens

Described by the Wall Street Journal as “a garden of earthly delights”, the New York Botanical Gardens is a flourishing and exquisite oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. The Gardens are home to one of the largest collections of plants and flowers in the world and are a leader in the study of ecological preservation.

Visitors can experience a wide variety of natural attractions in the Gardens, ranging from a dramatic waterfall and river, to hills, ponds and a 50-acre preserved natural forest. Also on the grounds are several beautiful historical buildings, including the largest Victorian conservatory in the world and nineteenth century landmarks.

The New York Botanical Gardens, sprawled over 250 acres of space, were founded in 1891, with Nethaniel Lord Britton as their first director. Situated in New York City’s Bronx region, the Gardens host a multitude of happenings, events and exhibitions right through the year, offering visitors and locals alike a delightful encounter with nature at the highest possible level.

What’s to See?

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Created in 1902, this huge Victorian conservatory is a definite must-see for visitors to New York City. The Edith A. Haupt Conservatory is home to the permanent exhibition entitled A World of Plants – a magnificent presentation of 11 distinct habitats from around the world. Visitors can experience rain forests, deserts and magnificent plant and flower displays on an ecological tour of Earth’s development over time and space. Visitors can also enquire about seasonal exhibitions hosted in the Conservatory, including the popular Holiday Train Show and The Orchid Show.

The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden
From late May until early September, the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden provides visitors with a stunning display of over 3000 rose plants. The garden is a full treat to the senses – the sight of so many blooming roses is one that is hard to forget and the fragrance is a true delight. The garden is home to a multitude of rose varieties – from the antique rose that is rumored to be over 2000 years old, to contemporary shrubs and floribundas.

The Rock Garden
Spread on three acres of area, this dramatic rock garden has been touted as the most beautiful of its kind on earth. The garden boasts a delightful waterfall and stream and literally thousands of alpine flowers displayed against the dramatic background of rocks. Visitors will enjoy this rock garden in every season as plants and their colors change to provide an endless show of beauty and wonder.

The Home Gardening Center
For visitors who have been inspired to create their own garden after experiencing the beauty of the New York Botanical Gardens, they will find answers to all their questions about how to go about doing so in the Home Gardening Center. Here they will find a number of model gardens on display, together with explanations and handouts to make the process as simple as possible.

The Forest
Where New York City now stands was once magnificent woodland that covered the entire expanse of the area. Today, the only remnant left of that natural wonder is a 50-acre forest region incorporated into the New York Botanical Gardens. Visitors can still experience the beauty and peace while wandering through paths lined with 200-year-old trees and along the Bronx River. The Forest is a peaceful haven for a variety of bird species and visitors can enjoy nature watching at its best.

The Seasonal Walk
The New York Botanical Gardens is beautiful all year round, and nothing evokes this image as much as the Seasonal Walk. Throughout the year, this path is changing palette of different colors from seasonal flowers and plants. From tulips, annuals and perennials to chrysanthemums and a riot of color in the changing autumn leaves, the Seasonal Walk is a glorious testimony to the wonder of nature.

The Mertz Library
Known as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive research libraries about the world of plants, the LuEsther T. Mertz Library is situated in the New York Botanical Gardens. The library has over 1 million accessioned items, ranging from manuscripts dating back to the 12th century and contemporary research and data regarding all aspects of botanical and horticulture studies.

What’s on for Kids?

The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden
If visiting New York with kids between the ages of 2 and 12, this is one place that should not be missed. The Everett Children’s Adventure Garden is the ultimate in hands-on fun. It’s a well-known fact that kids learn best by exploring and discovering things for themselves and this garden aims at providing them with ample opportunity for just that. The designers of the Everett Garden created an experience that has all the senses working at once, with special events brought on with each new season. Definite must-dos are the Boulder Maze and the Touch Tank to get as close as possible to water plants.

The Family Garden
The Ruth Rae Howell Family Garden provides little gardeners with literal hands-on entertainment. Children of all ages can enjoy digging in the dirt, planting seeds and finding earthworms. A special gardening program encourages children to tend their own plot of land and grow whatever they desire. The Family Garden is closed in the winter.

Food Options

Great outdoor entertainment works up a healthy appetite and visitors will be sure to seek quality dining options in the New York Botanical Gardens. Visitors can choose between two casual facilities, both offering excellent food catered for by the legendary Abigail Kirsch. Both the Garden Café and the Leon Levy Visitor Center Café offer visitors the chance to eat either inside or outside to enjoy the splendid views and atmosphere of the Gardens. In addition, visitors can opt to picnic in the specially designated area near the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden.

Botanical Gardens NYC

Whether visited in winter, spring, summer or fall, the New York Botanical Gardens are sure to amaze even the worldliest travelers. Visitors of all ages will find something interesting and exciting to do in the Gardens – whether it is to play in the mud, shop in the gardening center, find a secluded spot to read in the rose garden, marvel at the autumn leaves or take a brisk walk through the forest. Open practically every day of the week, except Mondays, the Botanical Gardens is open throughout the year to bring visitors closer to the wonders of nature and to see the seasons in all their glory.

Location
Botanical Gardens is located at 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx, New York USA 718.817.8700

Click here to visit Botanical Gardens official website