June 8, 2026 – The Conservatory Garden

One of my most treasured spots in all of Central Park is the Conservatory Garden, tucked away in the northeast corner of the park. I arrived just as the gates were opening — that magical early-morning window before the rest of the world catches on.

The garden is divided into three distinct sections, each reflecting a different European style: an English garden to the south, an Italianate garden at the center, and a French garden to the north. And the fountains — oh, the fountains. The North Garden’s Untermyer Fountain features the Three Dancing Maidens, a sculpture by German sculptor Walter Schott, while the South Garden’s Burnett Fountain — a memorial to The Secret Garden author Frances Hodgson Burnett — features two bronze children, reminiscent of the beloved characters Mary and Dickon, set at the end of a tranquil water lily pool.

Manicured hedges, fragrant blooms, birdsong. It’s as close to heaven as Manhattan gets.