Visiting Central Park’s Conservatory Garden

One of the most beautiful areas of Central Park in New York City is the Conservatory Garden. The Conservatory Garden is the only formal garden located within Central Park. This six-acre garden got its name from the actual conservatory that stood on the site from 1898 to 1934. The Conservatory Garden was constructed and planted in the real conservatory’s place and was opened to the public in 1937.

Location

You’ll find the Conservatory Garden’s main entrance on Fifth Avenue between 104^th and 105^th streets. You can drive to the Conservatory in your New York car rental from Edge Auto Rental. When you get to the garden’s main entrance, you’ll walk through the Vanderbilt Gate, an ornate iron gate made in Paris in the late 19^thcentury that was originally located at the Vanderbilt mansion. Go down the wide stairs and you’ll see the garden before you.

Formal Garden Areas

The entire Conservatory Garden is divided into three smaller gardens. Each of these gardens has a unique style; one is an Italian garden, one is a French garden, and one is an English garden.

The Italian-style garden is the first garden you’ll see from the main entrance. It features a large lawn that is surrounded by rows of pink and white crabapple trees. A 12-foot-high fountain stands out against a backdrop of tiered hedges. You can also walk under a pergola covered in beautiful wisteria. On the walkway, look for the medallions that have the names of the original 13 states inscribed on them.

South of the Italian-style garden is the intimate English-style garden. In the center of the garden, you’ll see the Frances Hodgson Burnett memorial fountain, a tribute to the author of “The Secret Garden.” The fountain’s statues, all characters from the story, stand at one end of the water lily pool. Rings of flower beds, shrubs, and trees surround the fountain.

On the northern side of the Italian-style garden is the French-style garden. This garden features seasonal displays such as tulips in the spring and chrysanthemums in the fall. In the center of this garden, you’ll see the Untermyer Fountain, which features bronze figures called “Three Dancing Maidens” that were made by artist Walter Schott in 1910.

The Conservatory Garden is a beautiful and relaxing area within Central Park, especially since the garden is one of the park’s Quiet Zones. You can visit the garden year-round from 8:00 a.m. to dusk. To get around the city, rent a car from Edge Auto Rental. Edge offers car rentals, van rentals, and SUV rentals in the NYC area. Contact Edge today at 212-947-3343 to reserve a rental for your next trip.