4. Heather Garden Is One of the Largest Heath and Heather Gardens on the East Coast

The 3-acre Heather Garden is one of the highlights of Fort Tryon Park, hosting over 50 varieties of heaths and heathers which are surrounded by 200 varieties of perennials and shrubs. The garden is open to visitors all year round, featuring seasonal blooms and perpetually changing foliage. Funded by the Greenacre Foundation and the recent addition of the Fort Tryon Park Trust, the “crown jewel of the park” celebrated its 75th year in 2010.

Since then, the park has commissioned public garden designer Lynden Miller to develop a framework plan for the garden’s long term development. Known for her work in Bryant Park, Central Park’s Conservatory Garden, Madison Square Park, the Perennial Garden at the New York Botanical Garden as well as Columbia University, Miller will deliver an all-rounded approach to tackle horticulture challenges while preserving its “romantic feel and otherworldly aura”.