Stunning Tulips Are Blooming at NYC Gardens and Nearby Farms

For day trips in NYC and the Tri-state area this spring, visit the best tulip gardens, festivals, and u-pick farms.

With spring comes the blooming of colored plant around the NYC metro area symbolizing reincarnation after month of wintry temperatures . And whilecherry blossomsmight be the flowered main character of the season — specially inWashington DC , too — countenance ’s not forget another former spring bloomer with over 4,000 varieties : the tulip , aka the King of Bulbs .

The tulip is most associated with The Netherlands but it rise fromKazakhstanwhere its first know finish was by Turks in 1000 A.D. Often found as ornamental motive on 10th century ceramic , art , vesture , and piece of furniture in Central Asia , the prime finally end up in the hand of a botanist namedClusius , who then planted tulip light bulb in Leiden University in The Netherlands .

To maximize tulip season ( typically from April to recent May ) and view these beauty , from Central Park and Upstate , New York to Connecticut and New Jersey , we ’ve rounded up all of the best place to take in their vibrancy this springiness . For a day slip or weekend pickup from NYC , here are some colorful tulip showings and festivals in and near the metropolis .

Mohonk Tulip Festival

Photo courtesy of Mohonk Tulip Festival

NYC Tulips: Brookfield Place, Park Avenue Mall, and Central Park

CitywideIn April , the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation plants over 100,000 tulip citywide , which , weather permitting , can be view for up to a month .

From mid - April through May , catch the blossom tulip garden atBrookfield Placein downtown Manhattan with views of the waterfront that make for an iconic shot;Olmsted Flower Bedat Central Park for not just tulips but other flower like azalea and phlox ; and the formalConservatory Gardenalso at Central Park with six acres of tulip plantings and other summer flush like chrysanthemums . It has three distinguishable garden blueprint of English , French , and Italian , and cast both local and international visitor annually . Another tulip sighting spot is between 54th and 86th Streets on Park Avenue Mall . Every year , theFund for Park Avenuedoes seasonal plantings like fountain tulip which are unremarkably implant in one colour . View them on island concrete while cut across Park Avenue or in pavement bloom beds .

When : Through May

Shakespeare Garden in Central Park

Shakespeare Garden in Central Park|John A. Anderson/Shutterstock

Holland Ridge Farms

Cream Ridge , NJHead to this 300 Akka family farm for the democratic U - pick tulip festival . Over 8 million tulip bulbs are planted and it ’s count one of New Jersey ’s top bound activities . event here are very popular and quickly deal out so plan in front and link theirmailing listto impregnable VIP spots . FYI : The farm is renowned for being content - Maker friendly so stuff your television camera for colorful setting blastoff of tulips , Dutch wheel , and other fun property . Picnics are allowed only on weekdays ( no alcoholic potable ) . The farm will be open everyday for up to five calendar week and is an low-priced $ 15 for eld 3 and up . When : Through former MayDistance from NYC : 1 hour by car

Snyder’s Farm

Somerset , NJThis is another family farm with U - pick tulips available on weekend . Here , tulip must only be cut with shears and not pull out , and the farm provide receptacle for cutting tulip so no need to choke up coolers or plastic bags . The field fee is $ 5 ( free for under 2 year olds ) per individual and the price of flower and tulips are $ 1 per prow ( wagon drive to get at the tulip field of force included ) . The farm is open weekend during tulip season but it ’s extremely recommended to call out front before arrival to ensure flower availability . When : Through mid MayDistance from NYC : 1 hr by railroad car

Waterdrinker Family Farm

Manorville , Long IslandAt this annual family - favorable tulip festival in Suffolk County , visitant can expect a mini windmill , over a twelve tulip potpourri , barnyard brute , and food truck . The farm is also pet - favorable as long as fur babe are rope . The festival feed for up to five weeks and is dependent on weather . Considering Manorville ’s proximity to the Hampton ’s , it ’s often refer to as the “ Gateway to the Hampton’s . ”When : Through previous MayDistance from NYC : 1 time of day 20 mins by cable car

Colorblends House and Spring Garden

Bridgeport , CTAfter World War II , lowly business owner Cornelis Schipper migrated from The Netherlands to the US with his married woman and know - how of selling tulip bulb from his Dutch native land . Fast forward X subsequently , the companionship is still home - owned and sell tulip bulbs to long suffer customer . locate in the Stratfield historic district of Bridgeport , Colorblends House and Spring Garden has an staggering number of colourful tulips — between 8,000 and 25,000 have been planted since 2014 — endemic wildlife in the area and is family - favorable and less crowded than other major tulip garden . When : Through May 7Distance from NYC : 1 hour 25 Taiwanese by railroad car

Hollister House Garden, Connecticut

Washington , CTIn late April , Hollister House Garden start out blooming with early tulips and other springtime peak . In 1979 , theGardenwas launch by George Schoellkopf in the stylus of conventional English garden with scenic backdrops of the Litchfield County landscape painting . The season start on April 21 and admission is $ 10.When : LateAprilDistance from NYC : 2 hours by car

Mohonk Tulip Festival

New Paltz , NYThis deluxe mountaintop retreat in New Paltz flora 9,000 tulip bulbs every nightfall for a springtime rosiness . And while a determined universe of local cervid has take in much of it , they were still generous enough to result some bulbs uneaten on parts of the dimension . These uneaten bulbs will flower by the Gatehouse and Show Garden for interested visitant . Make it a fun day trip and combine Mohonk ’s tulip sights with a leisurely outflow hike or one of their manyspa experienceslike the mineral puddle or a soothing massage . When : April 28 to May 8Distance from NYC : 2 hours by railway car

Elizabeth Park Conservancy

West Hartford , CTTulips blossom cordially in May in the Robert Prill Garden of the Conservancy where 11,000 light bulb were planted the previous fall . Forhistory and botanynerds , Elizabeth Park is rest home to America ’s oldest rose garden , donate by Charles Pond in his wife ’s memory , and open up to the world in 1897 . It opened as a Conservancy in 1977 and is on the National Register of Historic Places . Beyond the tulips , walk the property for a pond teeming with water bird and a rock bridge build in 1905 . Additionally , feel the gazebo and rise garden arches to relax in or take creative shots . The park is undefendable day by day and is spare but donations are accepted . There is a coffee shop available but picnics are welcome so contribute a basket and blanket . When : EarlyMayDistance from NYC : 2 hours 25 Amoy by car

Wicked Tulips Flower Farm

Preston , CTConnecticut has its sightly share of tulip farm and gardens , including Wicked Tulips Farm , a six - Accho property that blooms in late April through mid May . This is a U - pick event where visitors mosey lightly through over 700,000 tulips , pick upwards to ten stem with an grownup slate . Adult tickets range between $ 17 and $ 23 while Thomas Kyd ’ ticket up to 17 years old are $ 5 . ticket are loose in batches and sell out fast so sign up foralerts . The farm also offers Yoga in the Tulips on select weekends . Whether here for tulip picking or content creation , take banker’s bill that there ’s no laggard or photography equipment let . When : April 26 to May 8Distance from NYC:2 hours 45 Amoy by automobile

Albany Tulip Festival

Albany , NYAlbany ’s tulip fete began in 1948 with Mayor Corning declaring the tulip as the city ’s prescribed flower and defend Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands to name a electric light variety show after New York State ’s uppercase . take spot every female parent ’s Day weekend at Washington Park , the Albany Tulip Festival features over 100,000 colorful tulips . Local festivity in Ithiel Town also include a traditional Dutch street scrubbing as a festival kick - off , Tulip Queen Procession and Coronation , Royal Tulip Ball , kinsfolk - friendly activities , food marketer , and more . When : Saturday , May 13 and Sunday , May 14Distance from NYC:3 60 minutes by car

Holland Ridge Farms