{"id":356782,"date":"2026-07-09T17:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/seeing-the-world-one-botanical-garden-at-a-time\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:52:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:52:07","slug":"seeing-the-world-one-botanical-garden-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=356782","title":{"rendered":"Seeing the World, One Botanical Garden at a Time"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

The gorgeous victorian-era Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in The Bronx\u2019s New York Botanical Garden, practically in my backyard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These are a Few of My Favorite Things<\/h2>\n

Maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019m an April baby (Aries season!!!) or because I grew up in the northeast, where spring marks the start of warm(er) weather. It\u2019s hard to pinpoint exactly where my love affair with plants first began.\u00a0I\u2019ll tell you this much: from picking sweet smelling lilacs<\/a> to seeking out wooded trails to wander, flowers and trees have always been some of my favorite things.<\/p>\n

I remember my first trip to the New York Botanical Gardens in The Bronx at the end of 9th grade for biology class. It was love at first sight: the wide open green spaces, the gorgeous victorian-era conservatory, the sweet scent of the rose garden, and meandering riverside wooded trails. Naturally, I had to buy a souvenir, a beautiful coloring book<\/a> of various rose species (which I held onto until quite recently). I was so enamored that I returned just a few weeks later on my own.<\/p>\n

Nearby thirty years later, I live blocks from the garden, which I frequent, and have since spent countless hours exploring and photographing. New York Botanical Garden was my gateway drug, so to speak. Now, I seek out gardens wherever I travel. No better place to start than with NYBG, which is practically my backyard.<\/p>\n

Botanical Gardens Around the Globe: The Americas Edition<\/h2>\n

North America\u2019s Green Gems<\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York City, USA<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know The Bronx has more parkland<\/a> than any borough of New York City? It\u2019s true: nearly 1\/3 of our borough consists of parks, including New York Botanical Garden and The Bronx Zoo<\/a>, located in Bronx Park and built along the Bronx River<\/a>. Stand in the middle of the garden along the riverbank and for a moment, you forget you are in one of the largest metropolises on the planet. Complete with wildlife<\/a>, you\u2019ll see frogs, hawks, lizards, rabbits, and if you\u2019re lucky, you might just spot a raccoon \u2014 or a wild turkey!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Incorporated into a forest, at 250 acres<\/a>, NYBG is one of the largest, most renowned botanical gardens<\/a> in the world, complete with a Pfizer lab, tram, and its jaw droppingly gorgeous Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, showcasing plants from various climates. Visitors descend on it from around the globe to experience its annual Holiday Train Show<\/a>, an ode to model trains and New York City area landmarks crafted from plants, as well as its Orchid Show, with a new theme and curator every year. The one-off exhibitions are also a draw: guests were transported to Mexico City at its Frida Kahlo exhibition<\/a>, which ran from May through November 2015, and to Giverny<\/a>, France with the Monet\u2019s Garden<\/a> exhibition in 2012 (which I got to see in real life a few years later!)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bronx residents can score free tickets<\/a> to the grounds on the website (an adult ticket costs $35\/39, depending on if its a weekday or weekend to enter the conservatory and exhibitions.)<\/p>\n

New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10458
Website: https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York City, USA<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s always been a rivalry between boroughs: the Mets versus the Yankees, and if you\u2019re old enough, the Dodgers<\/a>. When discussing botanical gardens, The Bronx is the clear winner here. Yeah, I said it. <\/em>After all, we are the<\/em> New York Botanical Garden.<\/p>\n

But Brooklyn Botanic Garden is nothing to sneeze at (unless you have allergies, then, yeah, you may want to pop a Claritin before a visit.) Like NYBG, it\u2019s also considered among the best in the world. At 52 acres, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is nestled between Brooklyn Museum<\/a> and the uber popular Prospect Park<\/a>, making it a strategic location to spend the day. Due to its smaller size, it can get crowded.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One standout is its Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, designed by Japanese landscape designer Takeo Shiota<\/a> in the early 1940s. Filled with koi and turtles, it features wooden bridges and stone lanterns, complete with a torii<\/a> (the red gate that protrudes from the middle of the pond) and Shinto shrine<\/a>. Maintaining the Japanese theme, adjacent to the pond is the Cherry Walk and Esplanade, where the garden hosts its annual Cherry Blossom Festival<\/a>, incorporating aspects of the culture, such as live musical, dance, and food, a favorite event each year.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s the Lily Pool Terrace stretching out onto a rectangular plaza, great for relaxation and quiet reflexion. Visit in summer and you\u2019ll catch the water lilies and lotuses in full bloom. Feet away is its Steinhardt Conservatory, which houses plants from diverse parts of the world, as well as the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum<\/a>. The bonsai collection celebrated its centennial last year!<\/p>\n

\n

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is smack dab in Flatbush\/Crown Heights aka New York City\u2019s Little Caribbean<\/a>. The last week of August into early September is the best time to visit, as the West Indian Day Parade<\/a> is New York City\u2019s biggest culminating summer event takes place on Eastern Parkway every Labor Day. In partnership with local non-profit, I AM caribBEING<\/a>, BBG\u2019s end of summer garden fetes<\/a> have recently become a tradition. Celebrate the rich Caribbean cultures that make up New York City with live DJs spinning Soca, Reggae, and Dancehall and a refreshing rum punch in hand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Brooklyn Botanic Garden<\/strong>
990 Washington Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Website: https:\/\/www.bbg.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia, USA<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been following me for a while, you know I don\u2019t travel around the United States often. Spring of 2024, I was in ATL for a few days with some time to kill, so you know where I headed. Smaller than either NYBG or Brooklyn Botanic Garden, at just 30 acres, Atlanta Botanical Garden hits well above its weight. By late May, Atlanta is already humid in the 80s, which gave the garden a tropical feel. Atlanta Botanical Garden has taken advantage of the city\u2019s mild year-round weather to showcase flora common to more temperate parts of the world.<\/p>\n

I fully intended to walk from the metro (I swear!), but rather than to sweat it up, I grabbed an Uber from Midtown, just a short ride away. As we made our way up the hill, the verdant canopy of forest was striking. Above us, I spotted metal platforms that spanned between trees, which I learned was the Kendeda Canopy Walk<\/a> in the garden\u2019s Storza Woods<\/a>, a hardwood forest occupying one-third of the property. After purchasing my ticket, I practically ran there.<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

Next, was the Cascades Garden, a fountain complete with waterfall, backed by a 25\u2032 tall sculpture covered in lush vegetation, aptly named \u201cEarth Goddess\u201d<\/a>. Erected as part of an exhibition called, \u201cImaginary World\u2019s\u201d, which ran from 2013-2024, it was so wildly popular that they kept it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Another highlight is the Japanese Garden, a quiet, peaceful spot, overlooking a tiny pond, which is a popular place for weddings. Nearby is the Perennial Garden, the oldest part of the garden, a beautifully serene section, adorned with small statues and a mini pond covered in lily pads. The garden also features some permanent installments by glass artists Dale Chihuly (yes, the same Chihuly whose work was featured at NYBG in 2017<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

I loved\u00a0<\/em>the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory, which features some unique touches, like tanks with live animals endemic to jungles, such as tree frogs, and even a misting machine so that you feel like you\u2019re walking in a tropical cloud forest.<\/p>\n

Atlanta Botanical Garden<\/strong>
1345 Piedmont Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Website: https:\/\/atlantabg.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Latin America and the Caribbean: Exquisite Floral Sanctuaries<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Botanic Gardens, Kingstown, Saint Vincent<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that St. Vincent Botanical Garden is believed to be the oldest botanical garden in the Americas<\/a>? Founded in 1765, it\u2019s one of the diminutive country\u2019s top tourist sites. The 20 acre garden is in the capital, Kingstown, about a fifteen minute walk northwest of the ferry terminal.<\/p>\n

The garden is situated at the bottom of a hill with a dramatic backdrop. On a rainy day (like the one we visited on), you can see clouds rolling off of the mountains. The property contains mature trees that are said to be hundreds of years old.<\/p>\n

Here, you\u2019ll get up close with Caribbean plants<\/a>, which you may not recognize at first, but probably use products containing them everyday. Nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, hibiscus (or sorrel), and allspice, to name a few. If you have a green thumb and collect houseplants like I do, you\u2019ll immediately recognize some of your favorites.<\/p>\n

The garden includes a small aviary, the Nicholas Wildlife Aviary Complex<\/a>. It\u2019s home to the St. Vincent Amazon parrot, which they breed on-site as a conservation effort. The birds do talk and get excited if you speak back to them!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

St. Vincent Botanical Garden<\/strong>
5Q7C+7VM New Montrose
Kingstown, St. Vincent & Grenadines
Website: http:\/\/botanicalgarden.gov.vc\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quind\u00edo Botanical Gardens, Calarc\u00e1, Colombia<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My favorite kind of botanical garden is one that showcases local flora. You don\u2019t need an extravagant conservatory or Insta-ready exhibitions when you can tap into natural beauty. That\u2019s exactly what they\u2019ve done with Quind\u00edo Botanical Gardens<\/a>. With Colombia coming in #2 for world biodiversity<\/a>, they\u2019ve got nature at their fingertips.<\/p>\n

Set in the heart of Colombia\u2019s idyllic coffee region, Quind\u00edo Botanical Gardens is a few miles outside Calarc\u00e1<\/a> city limits, which quickly fade into rustic countryside. The uniqueness and beauty of this region made it one of UNESCO <\/a>world heritage sites: Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Open to the public since December 2000<\/a>, aside from the obvious (coffee), visitors will learn about other botany from this part of the country, such as guadua<\/a>, a local bamboo, as well as the national flower, the orchid<\/a>, and the wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense<\/a>), endemic to Quind\u00edo and the tallest species of palm.<\/p>\n

The trails and suspension bridge cut through dense forest, giving a feel of adventure. There\u2019s even a 22 meter high observation tower you can climb for a spectacular view \u2013 you\u2019re going to want to take some pictures. But wait, there\u2019s more\u2026<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a butterfly farm housed in a metal structure in the adorable shape of a butterfly, which you\u2019ll get a bird\u2019s eye of from the observation deck. Boasting over 50 butterfly species<\/a>, it\u2019s a destination in its own right.\u00a0 Several of the butterflies landed on me, allowing for some excellent close-up shots.<\/p>\n

\n

Fun fact: butterflies enjoy a stiff drink<\/a>. It\u2019s true: if you\u2019ve ever visited a butterfly farm, you\u2019ll notice the fruit kept out \u2013 usually citrus \u2013 which they suck the nectar from. In the sun, especially in warmer climates, the fruit will begin to ferment meaning\u2026yes, those butterflies are getting a buzz.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Quind\u00edo Botanical Gardens<\/strong>
Km 3 v\u00eda al Valle del Cauca
Calarc\u00e1, Quind\u00edo, Colombia
*No website<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite botanical garden?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Related<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n

Discover more from All Day I Dream of Travel<\/h3>\n

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n