The Conservatory
Garden & the Harlem Meer
Fifth Avenue (at
105th Street)
Manhattan
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We can think of few places
in New York City with the charm of Central Park's
Conservatory Garden. Tucked away behind
wrought iron gates that once graced the
entrance to the Vanderbilt mansion are
six acres of horticultural magnificence.
Stop to Smell the
Flowers
As you enter, you
will see a meticulously maintained lawn
with a fountain at the far end. To your
left is a shady, tree-lined path, which
is especially inviting on a hot summer
day. Beyond that is a lushly planted
space with a small lily pad pool in the
center. This area, often called the
Secret Garden, is probably our favorite:
there always seem to be dozens of
different plants in bloom and everywhere
you turn you will find another amazing
flower you have never seen before.
To the right of the main
entrance, past another arbor walk
matching the one on the left, is a formal
garden planted with annuals and roses.
Benches are strategically placed to allow
you to enjoy both the fragrance of the
trellised roses and the warm rays of
sunshine. This is the sunniest spot in
the Garden and a great place to sit with
a book on a spring day.
Although we have found that
many New Yorkers are not familiar with
the Conservatory Garden, two groups who
seem to know it well are local artists
and wedding photographers. We invariably
run across someone working with a sketch
pad or at an easel on each of our walks
through the Garden. And one Saturday
afternoon, we counted five wedding
parties posing for photographers.
Hours and Other
Details
The Conservatory
Garden is open daily from 8 am to dusk.
Guided tours that include information
about the plants currently in season are
available every Saturday at 11 am in the
spring and summer. Note that although
this garden seems a bit out of the way,
it is well patrolled and is considered
quite safe.
A Bit of Nature in
the Middle of the City
Just beyond the
Conservatory Garden is the Harlem
Meer, an irregularly-shaped body
of water in the northeast corner of
Central Park. Following the winding path
that leads around the Meer makes a
pleasant stroll. The mix of natural
beauty and facilities for public use will
remind you why Central Park is one of the
great classics studied and copied by
landscape architects around the world.
On the north side of the
Meer is the Charles A. Dana
Discovery Center, which provides
year round environmental education,
cultural events and visitor programs. The
Center is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11
am to 5 pm. Call (212) 860-1370 for a
schedule of events.
Going Fishing
Don't be surprised
to see groups of neighborhood kids
fishing in the Meer. The Meer is stocked
from March through May with bass, carp
and catfish, and free use of fishing gear
is provided to those who request it. The
fish that are caught are, of course,
thrown back so that someone else can have
the pleasure of hooking them again.
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