Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225 718-623-7200

Description: BROOKLYN. Occupying 52-acres of manicured land adjacent to Prospect Park, Brooklyn's Botanic Gardens are a little bit of country in the middle of the city. Over 12,000 different plant and flower types are represented. The Children's Garden was the first of its kind in the world, and the extraordinary garden for the blind features hundreds of beautifully-scented and textured plants. The Gardens delight almost one million visitors per year. TRAIN: D, Q to Prospect Park; 2 to Botanic Garden
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Channel Gardens

5th Ave, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10003

Description: MIDTOWN WEST. Just a few steps away from the famed Rockefeller Center, a narrow promenade separates the British Empire Building and the Maison Française. The promenade, cleverly dubbed the Channel Gardens, is noteworthy for its six pools surrounded by a beautiful assortment of flowers. This is a great place to catch your breath, people watch or just take in a great view. At Christmas when the tree in Rockefeller Plaza is lit, the view of Fifth Avenue via the Channel Gardens is one of the most picturesque you can imagine. TRAIN: B, D, F, Q to 47-50th Sts
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Conservatory Garden

5th Ave and 105th St, Central Park ­ Vanderbilt Gate, New York, NY 10029 212-794-6564

Description: HARLEM. Located at the 105th Street entrance to Central Park, the Conservatory Garden is the park's only formal garden. The six-acre manicured grounds are surrounded by a wrought-iron gate and feature three distinct European garden styles. The North Garden exemplifies a formal French design, the Central Garden embodies a classic Italian plan, and the South Garden represents an English country garden. A centrally located circular bed blooms with 20,000 tulips in spring and 5,000 chrysanthemums in autumn. The garden was first opened in 1937. TRAIN: 4, 5, 6 to 103rd St
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Ford Foundation Atrium

320 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017-4890 212-573-5000

Description: MIDTOWN EAST. Travelers have long enjoyed this retreat, which is located in the Ford Foundation Building, from the chaos of the busy Midtown streets. Built as part of the Foundation Building in 1967, the atrium features soaring trees and cascading plants in the middle of teeming Manhattan. The atrium is 130-feet high and is one-third of an acre large. A great place to stop and relax.
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Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum

9-01 33rd Rd, at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11106 718-204-7088

Description: QUEENS. This unique museum displays the artwork of renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The museum, which is actually his former studio, boasts over 250 original stone, metal, wood and clay sculptures, as well as garden areas and dance sets. The tour includes a short film about the innovative artist's life. After a quick stop in the museum's gift shop, you can be a proud owner of one of Noguchi's Akari lamps.
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New York Botanical Garden

Bronx River Pkwy and Fordham Rd, Kazimiroff Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458 718-817-8700

Description: BRONX. These magnificent gardens host an exciting array of flowers, plants, trees and shrubs. The plant collection boasts over 18,000 different species from around the world, and the flower collection allows you to enjoy the daffodils, daylilies, tulips, annuals, chrysanthemums, peonies and ferns that abound here. You can also peruse the collection of endangered plants that include a tree and shrub collection and a conifer arboretum. A number of more exotic trees also punctuate the grounds, including the Japanese pagoda tree, the Kobus magnolia and tulip trees. Of course, a visit would not be complete without a visit to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the highlight of the Botanical Garden. Curator-led tours available. Cafe on premises. TRAIN: 2, 5 to Bronx Park East
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Snug Harbor Cultural Central

1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301 718-448-2500

Description: STATEN ISLAND. Sailors' Snug Harbor opened in 1833 as a home and hospital for retired seamen. In the ensuing years, the property fell into disrepair and was eventually slated for demolition. Luckily, the city of New York purchased it and set about restoring it for use as a community arts center. Today, the 83-acre site is a designated National Historic Landmark comprised of twenty-six historic buildings, botanic gardens and parkland. Among the events on the schedule here are indoor and outdoor concerts, theater productions, art exhibits and festivals.
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Staten Island Botanical Gardens

1000 Richmond Terrace, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, NY 10301 718-273-8200

Description: STATEN ISLAND. Located at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, this charming garden complex offers visitors a touch of green on Staten Island. Eighty-six acres highlight an English Perennial Border, a Conservatory, a Butterfly Garden, an Herb Garden and a collection of woodlands and wetlands. Special classes and exhibits offer guests a chance to learn about herbs, plants and other garden-related topics. Tours are self-guided. Small charge to visit the Chinese Scholars Garden and the children's Secret Garden. SIRT to St. George's
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Wave Hill

W 249th St & Independence Ave, Bronx, NY 10471 718-549-3200

Description: BRONX. In the mid-1960s, this surreal 28-acre estate, welcomed the public for the first time. What those visitors discovered was a piece of history unique in the Big Apple: beautiful Glyndor House, Georgian Revival-style home overlooking the Hudson River, and the Greek Revival-style Wave Hill House, both of which are surrounded by rolling meadows, serene woodlands and well-preserved gardens and courtyards. The homes have had a veritable who's who of residents, including the Roosevelt Family (1870) and Mark Twain (1901). After touring the grounds, plan to take lunch at the Wave Hill Café, which offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and Palisades. TRAIN: 1, 9 to 231st St
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