The Best Garden In New York City? It Might Not Be The One You're Expecting

When asked to select the best garden in New York City, many people's first response might reference Central Park or the 250-acre New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. However, a smaller — yet equally stunning — botanical garden can be found in Brooklyn. Although a fraction of the size of the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a quiet respite from the busy cityscape with dozens of unique attractions and landscape features. With its many distinctive features, there are more than enough gorgeous landscaping ideas to be found on a trip to these gardens, which first welcomed visitors over 100 years ago. Visitors praise the garden, with one describing its views as a "truly visual pleasure and so therapeutic."

Another review calls the Brooklyn Botanic Garden "a true Brooklyn treasure," and each of its gardens, collections, and exhibits highlights that as true. A popular area on visitors' agendas is usually the Cranford Rose Garden, especially in June during peak bloom times. The garden features a very impressive collection of roses, from wild species to miniatures. But other garden spots, including smaller, more intimate settings, also have a lot of allure. The sweet and stimulating Alice Recknagel Ireys Fragrance Garden was created in 1955 to be an inclusive garden for individuals with visual impairments. Touching and smelling plants is highly encouraged, and it can be a delightful place for all visitors.

The smaller scale of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden puts it on the map as the best garden in New York City. You can still easily feel overwhelmed with all there is to do and see, so come prepared to walk or at least hit the main parts. One of the areas that cannot be missed is the C. V. Starr Bonsai Museum located in the Steinhardt Conservatory. This collection is the second-oldest in the U.S. and includes 400 bonsai in total. You might find inspiration for types of bonsai trees to add a dramatic flair to your indoor space at home. Another must-see feature is the Children's Garden. Situated in the southeast corner, it is the oldest children's garden in the U.S. and continues to educate child visitors every day. 

Other highlights include visits to native gardens and exotic locales. Step through eight different ecological zones in the Native Flora Garden, from tallgrass prairie to pine barrens. These themed spaces also show why native plants attract more birds to your yard than nonnative species. After you're done there, stop by a Japanese-inspired garden that is one of the oldest outside of Japan, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Located near the 990 Washington Avenue entrance, this garden first opened in 1915 and features iconic elements like a Shinto shrine, artificial hills, and a waterfall.