New York Botanical Garden
Discover the New York Botanical Garden, a sprawling 250-acre area home to over one million living plants in the Bronx.
For those willing to venture beyond the confines of Manhattan, New York is certain to surprise you with some of its lesser-known attractions for the international tourist. Located in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden is just one of the city's remarkable botanical gardens. Spanning a total area of 250 acres and home to over one million living plants across tropical, temperate, and desert climates, the gardens are sure to impress and educate visitors as they transform throughout the seasons of the year.
The grounds host a vast multitude of gardens for visitors to explore, including the Seasonal Walk, Wetland Trail, and the Rock, Rose, and Herb Gardens, to name a few. Many transform throughout the year, allowing returning visitors to witness a constant change of colour, form, and beauty. The jewel of the garden is the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, an impressive Victorian-style glasshouse that contains a diverse range of plants from various climates housed within each of its 'galleries', from lush tropical rainforests to cactus-filled deserts and temperate lands. Under the large glass roof, the conservatory is climate-controlled, ensuring habitats are maintained and plants are consistently cared for. This also means that the gardens look their best and visitors can experience the tropical wonders even in the depths of winter.
During the winter months of 2019, the NYBG hosted the 17th edition of its orchid show, drawing inspiration from Singapore, where the orchid is the national flower. The tribute to the “City in a Garden” showcased thousands of orchids to create mesmerizing and colorful displays, many of which were housed in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Large tree-like sculptures, reminiscent of the forms found at Singapore's Supertree Grove, reached for the conservatory's glass roof, encouraging visitors to look up and admire the views.
This oasis in the heart of New York reveals a dramatically different facet of the city that never sleeps. It serves as a calming retreat for visitors looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets; not only does it appear beautiful throughout the seasons, but it also educates people of all ages. In an era where nature and the environment are hot topics, the New York Botanical Gardens reconnect us with the earth, reminding us of its importance and immense beauty.
