New York City’s Hidden Gem

A spot you’d never thought you’d find in the city

It was my first fall in the city when I finally visited this place for the first time.

I’d been searching for a way to fill the void left by the lack of nature–of which I had plenty up at school in Maine. One of my friends mentioned that there was a place, just north of the city, that could possibly satiate this yearning of mine.

I entered the address into Google Maps, boarded the D-line train northbound, and was on my way. About 50 minutes later, I hopped off, walked about a half-mile or so down a slight hill through a neighborhood in the Bronx, and arrived at the front gates of The New York Botanical Garden.

Now, I had heard that there was also a botanical garden in Brooklyn, but for one reason or another I had decided that I should make the extra effort to visit the one a bit more out of the way. And I was not disappointed.

See, for many in New York City, the only natural respite tends to be Central Park or a variety of other pseudo-natural environments amongst the walls of concrete.

This, a more distant plot of land north of the city, *actually* felt like I had escaped all of that. Founded in 1891, the botanical garden in the Bronx is now a National Historic Landmark and is truly a spectacle. For a reasonable $23 on weekdays or $28 on weekends, you’re granted access to all 250 acres of beautiful sprawling hills dotted with trees, flowers, and fauna, both familiar and foreign.

Only a short walk through the entrance and you come upon the main conservatory–a majestic structure that sparks imagination and seems to embody the perfection of a greenhouse sanctuary.

I, selfishly as a photographer, love the entire grounds of the botanical garden not only for it’s innate beauty, but for the fact that the photographic possibilities are truly endless. There are often beautiful art exhibits thoughtfully incorporated into the scenery, which only adds to its overall allure.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, I’m not sure what will. But I’d strongly urge you to find a weekend this fall to take the trip up to this magical place and explore. Don’t rush it. Make a day of it. Bring a charged camera and a friend and appreciate this gem just north of the city.

In a metropolis that so often forgets about the natural surroundings on which it was initially built, this intentional maintenance of nature’s beauty is a real treat to be enjoyed by all.

You can learn more about the New York Botanical Garden here. I should mention that in no way am I paid or sponsored to say any of this, I’m just an extremely passionate advocate for the great work the NYBG does and I hope this post can convince you to go take a peek sometime soon!