Astonishing Fall Adventures at the New York Botanical Garden

Even in 2020, it’s still possible to experience the amazing beauty of the autumn season in New York, dear reader. This week we went in search of a forest ablaze with fall foliage, pumpkins and gourds and a bit of pre-Halloween spooky fun. And we found it all in the Bronx! Here’s our report on the astonishing fall adventures to be had right now at the New York Botanical Garden, including fall foliage and a display of pumpkins and kiku chrysanthemums. From now until mid-November, it’s the perfect place to revel in autumn joy.

Autumn in New York can be Magical – even in 2020

The fall season in New York is absolutely iconic. It’s sung about, and dreamt about, and lionized in movies like “When Harry Met Sally.”

The fall foliage season at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier.

There’s very little not to like about autumn in New York. The hardest part is usually finding the time to play out a little and deciding which of the many available adventures to have before the season whirls away.

This year, though? Social distancing, personal losses, an appropriate sense of caution, and a general feeling of “meh” have all conspired to keep us from some of our favorite fall excursions.

So is autumn in New York even happening this year? Despite rumors to the contrary, New York is not dead. And neither is autumn in New York.

The fall foliage season 2020 at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier

Astonishing Fall Adventures Await at the New York Botanical Garden

In this COVID-19 pandemic era, when all of us are essentially confined to a small radius around our homes, sometimes it can feel as if time has stopped altogether and there is no fall season this year.

Fall 2020 at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier.

And for those of us who love fall, this is just one of the many things that coronavirus has taken from us. Not the most significant, of course. But it’s a loss just the same.

We have good news to report, though, you lovers of fall. If you live anywhere in Greater New York, the glories of the autumn season await at a location that you can safely travel to and explore in a socially distanced and responsible manner. Four words: New York Botanical Garden.

Fall kiku chrysanthemum display 2020 at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier.

Our love for the NYBG is long-standing, and we’ve shared some of our prior adventures there. Namely, the annual orchid show, which is a can’t-miss for us every year in late winter.

But to be honest, we hadn’t visited the NYBG in the fall in quite some time – mostly because of school homecomings and football games and trips to New England to see the leaves and apple-picking and pumpkin-picking and all the things that generally crowd onto our fall calendar.

Fall 2020 at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier.

This year, though, we had a LOT of open space on our weekend calendars and an insatiable desire to immerse ourselves in the autumn before it’s too late. So when we were invited to visit and see what the NYBG has to offer right now, we happily accepted. And dear reader, it’s marvelous. If you can, visit in the next 2-4 weeks. You’ll be delighted. Astonishing fall adventures await this year at the New York Botanical Garden.

Fall 2020 at the New York Botanical Garden. Photo Credit: Dandelion Chandelier.

Here are 5 not-to-be-missed sights to see and things to do while you’re there.

1. A walk in the woods

Begin your visit with a walk in the woods, starting with the Native Plant Garden. Within just a few steps, you’ll feel as if you’ve left the city altogether and that you’ve wandered into a forest in Upstate New York.

This year, the peak fall foliage color is expected around the end of October – so you’ve still got time to get lost in the woods, surrounded by brilliant colors, the crunch of autumn leaves underfoot, and the wind in the trees.

And yes, there’s wildlife out there. One of our sharp-eyed companions spotted a hawk.  There’s a duck family in a placid pond near the Children’s Adventure Center. Equally enchanting are the late-blooming flowers, the wide expanses of green lawn and the sheltering trees above our heads.

2. Chrysanthemums in the Conservatory

Our journey next took us to the Enid Haupt Conservatory, which has just been reopened after a make-over that has restored the pristine white ironwork and sparkling windows of this glass house to its original splendor.

Just in time for the kiku season. Kiku is the Japanese art and horticultural tradition of training chrysanthemums into gorgeous architectural displays. It takes a full year to train the plants to grow in various ways, so this season is always a celebration after a year of work and craft.

The results of this centuries-old technique are stunning. We had no idea that a humble mum could become such an object of beauty – these are like little works of art. Organic sculptures to celebrate the season. One of the NYBG team members noted that in Imperial Japan, only members of the Royal Household were permitted to view the kiku. Now these hidden gems are here for all.

3. An Autumnal Lily Pond

After you’ve explored the kiku, make time to pay a visit to the two water lily ponds in the courtyards just outside the conservatory. There you’ll find fall beauty of a different kind: blooming water lilies and lotus that also sport the colors of the season.

The gorgeous array of autumnal hues – yellow, purple, deep earth browns and sage green – will put you in a fall frame of mind that’s contemplative and reflective. There’s quiet, subdued beauty here that is poignant and elegiac. It will remind you of endless carefree summer days that have come to an end. And help you remember to treasure the moment before these, too, have taken their leave.

4. The Pumpkin Pool

For a complete change of mood, head to what we affectionally refer to as “the pumpkin pool.” There, you’ll find a collection of incredibly expressive carved Jack O’Lanterns striking poses in a reflecting pool filled with miniature pumpkins and surrounded by corn stalks.

They’re eerily reminiscent of Louise Bourgeois’ Spider series. But much groovier.

Just steps away, there’s another pumpkin party going on at a lawn adjacent to the Pine Tree Café. It’s a perfect place to sit and people-watch, perhaps while snacking on a blondie and a fragrant cup of coffee from the café.

5. The Great Pumpkin Path

The piece-de-resistance of a visit to the New York Botanical Garden this fall for those who really love pumpkins and decorative fall displays? The Great Pumpkin Path! There are pumpkins, squash, and gourds of every conceivable shape and hue, all set against the backdrop of the magnificent Enid Haupt Conservatory.

There’s also a display of the largest pumpkins of the season – there’s a friendly rivalry for which will win the prize this year for Biggest, Baddest Pumpkin of the season.

While these behemoths are certainly awe-inspiring, personally, we were most enchanted by the yellow pumpkins. We’ve never seen a pumpkin that looks like a ray of light. This year more than ever, we really needed that!

Fall Adventures at the New York Botanical Garden

However you choose to experience the fall at the New York Botanical Garden, we think you’ll love it. Go alone, go with the kids, bring your BFF or make it a marvelous date. The joys of autumn await, and like so many luxuries, they won’t last for long. Happy autumn! Stay safe and strong, dear reader. And save us a pumpkin!

join our community

For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier Newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.

Forward This Article