New York City just proved it’s much more than concrete and skyscrapers. Two of our most iconic green spaces have officially landed on a global list of the world’s most beautiful gardens by Homes & Gardens.
In their latest series, Beyond Wild Expectations, the publication curated a list of the 21 most beautiful gardens on the planet. Celebrating historical significance, unique design, and elite plant collections, the study seeks out “extraordinary gardens” that improve our well being and deepen our connection to the natural world.
While we’ve always known our parks are elite, the world is finally catching up. Leading the charge is the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in the Bronx, which secured a top spot as a 250-acre paradise where history and jaw-dropping plant collections collide. But the Bronx isn’t the only winner–Manhattan’s beloved High Line also made the cut.
🌸 The Crown Jewel of the Bronx: NYBG
Founded in 1891, the New York Botanical Garden isn’t just a park; it’s a living museum and a National Historic Landmark. Here’s why the world is obsessed with it right now:
- The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory: this landmark Victorian-style glasshouse is the largest in the country and feels like stepping into a tropical dream
- The Thain Family Forest: a massive 50-acre stretch of old-growth woodland—it’s the largest remaining tract of the original forest that once covered all of NYC
- The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden: home to more than 650 varieties of roses that smell as good as they look (prime viewing is May–October)
- Old Growth Forest Trails: one of the reasons why founders selected this site for NYBG–walk along Native American hunting trails, see marks left by glaciers, and pass under trees dating back to the American Revolution
- World-Class Research: it houses the largest herbarium in the Western Hemisphere, making it a global hub for saving the planet
Whether you’re there for the seasonal Orchid Show or just to get lost in the perennial gardens designed by Lynden B. Miller, NYBG proves you don’t need to leave the five boroughs to find world class serenity.
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🛤️ The Urban Oasis: The High Line
Manhattan’s elevated oasis, which sees 8 million yearly visitors, also grabbed a well-deserved nod. The High Line, a 1.45-mile-long greenway built on a historic freight rail line 30 feet above the city streets, was praised for its industrial-meets-botanical aesthetic…