Spring means exploring! Over the next few months, Open House New York and Bloomberg Connects are taking you on a world tour. We’re sharing our favorite cultural places to discover in New York and beyond – recommending local, national, and international locations for you to visit in person, or explore from the comfort of home.

First up, we’re urging you to step outside and get to know these gorgeous gardens across the globe.

LOCAL

New York Botanical Garden | Bronx, New York, US [OHNY Weekend Partner]

The Bronx is the greenest borough of New York City and New York Botanical Garden definitely plays its part – the 250-acre botanical garden is a delight to visit whatever the season. This Spring, don’t miss the fashion-inspired celebration of the orchid: The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion running until April 21, 2024. All year round you can learn about the “Arts and Architecture of NYBG” using the self-guided tour, and hear about the gardens with the Bloomberg Connects audio guides hosted by a range of horticultural experts.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden | Brooklyn, New York, US [OHNY Weekend Partner]

Brooklyn Botanical Garden was founded in 1910 at a time when New York was going through huge industrial growth. This public garden was created to ensure green space endured. It’s now a living museum with over 12,000 plants and continues to inspire people of all ages. Learn how plants thrive in different climates with “Conservatories” or calm your mind with “Meander” – a site-specific meditative sound walk around the grounds. Be sure to visit before April 24 to see Seasonal Work: Art from Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Florilegium Society.

NATIONAL

Ganna Walska Lotusland | Montecito, California, US

On a hillside in California, you’ll find a garden that’s been named one of the 10 best in the world. It’s easy to see why Madame Ganna Walska’s Lotusland is a 37-acre botanical paradise of spectacular design. Ganna Walska purchased the estate in 1941 and devoted her life to creating these gardens, including auctioning her jewelry collection in the seventies to invest into it. She was “head gardener” until the last few years of her life. Learn about her vision, the history of the gardens, and how Lotusland is “Pioneering Sustainable Horticulture” today using the app.

Portland Japanese Garden | Portland, Oregon, US

Head up to Oregon and take in the beauty of the Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park. It was designed in 1963 with the mission of inspiring harmony and peace, and is a true expression of Japanese culture, tradition, and aesthetics in the US. Seeking inspiration, serenity, and tranquility? Go for the authentic Japanese Tea House experience and stay for the awe-inspiring view of Mount Hood. We thoroughly recommend that you spend “A Day in the Garden” curated for you in their guide.

INTERNATIONAL

Horniman Museum & Gardens | Forest Hill, London, UK

The family-friendly Horniman Museum first opened in 1890 and is famous for its huge collections of objects, taxidermy, and musical instruments. Frederick Horniman said he built his museum to bring the world to Forest Hill, South London. The museum’s gardens didn’t officially open to the public until June 1, 1895. They’ve grown and adapted over the years, including the beautiful addition of a “Butterfly House”. What better day to visit than a Sunday for the weekly Horniman Market.

VanDusen Botanical Garden | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

A 55-acre oasis in the heart of Vancouver with plants from around the world. VanDusen Botanical Garden is dedicated to increasing appreciation for plants, and encouraging future generations to protect the natural world. Get lost in the Elizabethan Maze, admire the stone sculptures, and enjoy a full calendar of events. Add May 29 to your calendar for Pollinators Day – it’s your chance to explore the relationship among people, pollinators, and plants.

Don’t forget to download Bloomberg Connects to access all the guides above, and find even more botanic gardens to explore.

Open House New York is supported by Bloomberg Connects, a free mobile app featuring guides to hundreds of museums, galleries, sculpture parks, gardens, and cultural spaces.