New York Botanical Garden – Experience the City’s Green Space

Known as a concrete jungle, most visitors to New York City don’t arrive expecting to see an abundance of green space. Well, we have a surprise for you. New York City boasts over 20,000 acres of green space including parks, urban forests, playgrounds, and gardens. These green spaces provide millions of people with meaningful connections to nature.

One of the city’s outstanding examples of green space, the New York Botanical Garden spans 250 acres and provides a home for over one million plants. Maybe it’s time to venture into the Bronx and check out this jewel.

From Tobacco Mill to a World of Plants

Founded in 1891, NYBG is the largest botanical garden in the city. A connective hub for people, plants, and the planet, NYBG remains rooted in the cultural fabric of the city it serves. It exists on land formerly owned by the Lorillard family. The Lorillard’s owned and ran a tobacco mill on the property that dates back to 1840 – primarily known as the “Snuff Mill.” In those days, the demand for tobacco was high with men, women, and even children smoking and snorting tobacco products like. The stone and brick building formerly used as the tobacco mill remains within the boundaries of the NYBG. Restored and renovated, the old mill now serves as a popular event space, especially for weddings.

In addition to the historic mill, NYBG harbors 50 gardens and the Thai Family Forest – a section of old-growth forest with trees native to New York dating back over 200 years. A highlight among the gardens, the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden features more than 4,000 individual rose plants comprised of 37 different species. The Bronx River runs through the heart of NYBG adding another reminder that the Bronx is the greenest of New York City’s boroughs.

An Advocate for the Plant World

The NYBG mission statement reads as follows:

The New York Botanical Gardens is an advocate for the plant world. The Garden pursues its mission through its role as a museum of living plant collections arranged in gardens and landscapes across its National Historic Landmark site; through its comprehensive education programs in horticulture and plant science; and through the wide-ranging research programs of the International Plant Science Center.

Utilizing a staff comprised of dedicated plant people from educators to horticulturists to scientific adventurers, NYBG focuses on ways to make things better. Through the Garden’s many varied programs, adults and kids learn about the importance of safeguarding our environment. The NYBG team strives to find nature-based solutions to our planet’s dual climate and biodiversity crises. And a special garden event educates visitors on healthy eating.

The Importance of Trees

No matter where you stand in the New York Botanical Garden, a tree stands within sight. NYBG’s founding director, Nathaniel Lord Britton chose this location for the Garden primarily because of the old-growth forest at its heart along with the other native trees that shaded the land that surrounded the forest. Native trees at NYBG include ancient oaks, maples, sweetgums, tulip trees, and more. During the Garden’s development, Britton would not allow any of the majestic trees to be cut down. He also made certain they were protected from construction damage.

In addition to the native trees, thousands of trees from around the globe were added to the NYBG tree collection including maples from Japan, oaks from Europe, and pines from China. The trees display their splendor throughout the year with pink cherry blossoms in spring, welcoming leafy shade on sizzling summer days, and, of course, the multichromatic showstopper in autumn.

More New York Botanical Garden Highlights to Experience

The centerpiece of the NYBG, the Haupt Conservatory is crowned with a 90-foot tall Italian Renaissance-style steel and glass dome. Inside you’ll find tropical flowers and plants along with desert and rainforest plants. The Haupt Conservatory transforms into a magical winter wonderland with the arrival of the annual Holiday Train Show. This unique exhibit features dozens of model trains rolling through the conservatory. The trains weave in and out of twinkling botanical-based replicas of New York’s most famous landmarks. After dark, the magic intensifies as the holiday lights come to life.

Currently, the NYBG is hosting Wonderland: Curious Nature. Based on the wonderfully whimsical Alice in Wonderland adventures, this unique botanical experience allows you to choose your adventures. Fantastical tea parties, colorful Victorian flowers, and Wonderland’s fanciful characters add to this enticing world of wild imagination. And there won’t be a concrete jungle anywhere in sight!

 

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