Where all New Yorkers can go to recharge!
Spare the dent in your bank with these mini getaways…
We all reach that tipping point when all we crave is a hideout — an escapade from the everyday mundane routines of life — especially from a city like New York. Yet, its not so easy to just hop on a plane for a 4 day holiday if you have household chores, rent to pay, cumulative sleep of 28 hours to cover those dark circles and a social circle to stay tuned in with before you stop receiving invites for Sunday brunches!
Hell, then what is a low-budget trip from New York where one can go just for some tranquility and shortly return after feeling recharged and rejuvenated yet again?
I decided to look no further than the Bronx and ventured up to the New York Botanical Gardens. How to get there: An easy hour long train ride, or a more expensive 30 minute Uber ride from midtown.
Sometimes, a peaceful rendezvous with nature stirred with a spoonful of #plantlove is all one really needs!!
Let’s start with the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory that was completed in 1902. A Victorian-style glasshouse — picturesquely nestled amongst waterbodies, a perennial garden and herb garden — that literally takes you on an “ecotour” around the world and across the ages.
Then comes the book and plant-lover’s paradise: The LuEsther T. Mertz Library — a vast expanse of horticultural and botanical works —the largest collection in the world.
For those literally seeking a off-beaten path, the Thain Family Forest — the largest remaining tract of original forest that once covered most of New York City — offers a mixed bag of trails that meander by waterfalls on the Bronx river suited for hikers or serene patches of green if you’re one to camp!
What’s not to miss is the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, designed by Beatrix Farrand in 1916, and fully realised in 1988 by a generous gift from David Rockefeller. Home to over 670 varieties this garden is sure to blow your mind.
My top spot for the day, however, is the newly opened Edible Academy with the Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden as its centre piece. This state-of-the-art facility for education, hands-on activities, and programs will entice and invite you to learn about growing and preparing vegetables, fruits, and herbs while encouraging a lifelong interest in gardening and healthy living. What’s more is that the very friendly staff over here will guide you to harvest fresh produce that you can take home (I got kale & basil) with a sneak peak on some gardening techniques!
Another stunning and surprising element at NYBG is the Steinhardt Maple Collection — a wide range of native species and cultivars, including selections from Japan and China. Wow, there really was maple maple everywhere, and not a pancake to eat!!!
Last, but definitely a highlight, is the hidden treasure at NYBG — the Stone Mill which encompasses an outdoor terrace with an invigorating view of the Bronx River meandering by lush green trees. A true gem for those looking out for farm chic coupled with historic charm and modern comforts. I sure would plan my big day here in a heartbeat!
Pro tip: Don’t forget to take back a little bit of NYBG with you from the NYBG Shop. Yes, we can all be #plantlovers even with space constraints! Start with cacti succulents or opt for “Air Plants” or Tillandsia — a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to mid Argentina.
I was happy to bring back this low-maintenance plant that needs very little up-keep, yet adds a nice splash of green to brighten a work, school or home setting all year round.
