Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

For more than 125 years, nature enthusiasts have flocked to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The park itself was dreamt up in the late 1800s, and its design was mapped out by noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted’s vision for the park included a conservatory with formal gardens surrounding it.

The conservatory was completed in 1900 and was modeled after conservatory architecture that was popular in England. When it opened, it was an instant sensation, becoming the third-largest public greenhouse in the United States.

The gardens are a popular destination today, and the conservatory contains 12 distinct greenhouses, each featuring a variety of plants, from coffee trees to cacti to bonsai trees. The Arcangel Gallery also regularly spotlights local artists, with artwork rotating every eight to 12 weeks.

Venturing outside the conservatory, visitors can explore the property’s nearly 12 acres, which feature a variety of different natural spaces. The native plant garden highlights species native to western New York and shows how gardening with native plants helps support local biodiversity. The farm garden is more agriculturally focused, showcasing vegetables and herbs, as well as sustainable gardening practices like composting and rain barrels. 

The arboretum showcases different species of trees, many of which were planted as the park was being constructed in the late 1880s. The garden is currently undergoing a $31 million expansion and renovation, which plans to add more than 16,000 square feet of new construction and over 90,000 square feet of outdoor gardens. The spaces are set to open to the public in early 2027. 2655 S. Park Ave., Buffalo, New York 14218, 716-827-1584, buffalogardens.com