A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go to the New York Botanical Garden, and I wanted to do so for such a long time.
Where is the NYBG located?
The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458.
You can choose your way to go there: by car, by the metro or even by bike. On their website, you will see all the information you need:
https://www.nybg.org/visit/directions/
I remember that we came from New Jersey by train and after that, we jumped into the metro, and we walked a little bit to get there (and of course, this day was so hot!!!)
How much cost the entrance?
I don’t remember how much exactly we paid, but again on their website, you will see all their price and even if you think it’s expensive, when you will discover the place, you will understand why. For an adult, the entrance is $22 (if you are not from NYC).
Here is the link if you want more information about the prices:
https://www.nybg.org/visit/admission/?keyword=tickets
What is its mission?
The New York Botanical Garden is an advocate for the plant kingdom. 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 wide-ranging research programs of the International Plant Science Center.
A little bit about their history
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) who was established in 1891, is distinguished by the beauty of its landscape, collections, and gardens and the scope and excellence of its programs in horticulture, education, and science. NYBG was inspired by an 1888 visit that eminent botanists Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife, Elizabeth, took to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, near London. The Brittons believed New York should have a magnificent botanical garden to advance public understanding of plants, be a repository of rare and valuable specimens, and lead original research in botanical science. The Garden was placed on the northern half of Bronx Park because of its picturesque terrain, freshwater Bronx River, rock-cut gorge, and 50 acres of old-growth forest.
Today, the 250-acre Garden the largest in any city in the United States is a National Historic Landmark. In addition to the natural attributes that attracted the Brittons, NYBG encompasses 50 specialty gardens and collections comprising more than one million plants, the Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections, and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the nation’s preeminent Victorian-style glasshouse. Highlights include the award-winning Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, considered among the world’s most sustainable rose gardens; the Native Plant Garden, celebrating the diversity of northeastern North American plants; and 30,000 distinguished trees, many more than 200 years old. More than one million visitors annually enjoy the grounds, view innovative exhibitions, and participate in educational programs that are larger and more diverse than those of any other garden in the world.
From its earliest days, NYBG has been driven by a mission to conduct basic and applied research on the world’s plants to protect and preserve them. Currently, 100 Ph.D.-level scientists are engaged in 250 international collaborations in 49 countries. NYBG is one of the top two freestanding botanical gardens in the world where plant and fungal research is conducted thanks to the International Plant Science Center’s resources, the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, and the LuEsther T. Mertz Library. The second-largest in the world, the Steere Herbarium houses 7.8 million plant specimens, representing all groups of plants and fungi from around the world, with strength in the flora of the Americas. The LuEsther T. Mertz Library is the most extensive botanical and horticultural library in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 11 million archival items spanning ten centuries.
During the 129 years since its founding, NYBG has carefully stewarded a stunning urban oasis, created one of the world’s most comprehensive plant research and conservation programs, amassed unrivaled research collections, and, as a living museum, taught millions of visitors of all ages to love and respect the plants of the world.
The New York Botanical Garden is committed to preserving and protecting the planet’s biodiversity and natural resources and enhancing human well-being by educating, training, and empowering the next generation of Earth’s caregivers in partnership with both local and global communities.
A map to walk in the NYBG:
https://www.nybg.org/content/uploads/2020/07/Garden-Map-2020_REOPENING-scaled.jpg
What did I like there?
This place is an incredible place to spend your day. You have so much to discover, and the flowers and the plants are so beautiful. A few areas are fantastic, and you can take some great pictures!
I recommend spending time in the Palm Dome, take time to take a few pictures at the Dome.
Take all the time you need to walk in the Gardens: the Rose Gardens has this incredible smell! And the colors are just amazing!
Water Lilies and Lotuses is an incredible place too. I always loved lotuses, and I have had a chance to take some awesome pictures!
They are many other great places too, and some days you can bump into some shows or exhibitions (this day, we saw a hula representation, I loved it!). We didn’t have a chance to the Lilacs in flowers as when we went; it was just the end of them. But trust me, this place needs to be seen, and you can see their work to protect all the plants and protect the environment!
Enjoy your day!
