BUFFALO'S BOTANICAL GARDENS

A local and national treasure, the Botanical Gardens opened to rave reviews in 1900 for the Pan-American Exposition. Designed by Lord & Burnham, premier designers of Victorian glass houses, the Gardens is the gateway into the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed South Park. The conservatory was part of Olmsted’s final plan for South Park and was designed to offer a collection of exotic plants from around the world. Olmsted intended South Park to function as an arboretum for arboreal plants tolerant of Buffalo’s climate.  

The conservatory’s unique tri-domed glass, wood and steel design was based upon the famous Crystal Palace and Kew Gardens Palm House in England. When built (1897-1899) it was the third largest public greenhouse in the United States and ninth largest in the world. Today, the Buffalo’s Botanical Gardens is one of only two remaining Lord & Burnham conservatories incorporated into a park designed by Olmsted.  
 
The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is a national historic site, education center and tourist destination full of exotic horticulture treasures. Although there are some plants native to our temperate region, most are native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Made up of three glass domes and nine greenhouses, this breathtaking conservatory is situated on 11.4 acres at the entrance to Buffalo’s historic South Park.

The indoor gardens include a fully restored palm dome, an impressive fern house that is home to “life-size” dinosaur topiaries and a koi pond stocked with over 20 koi fish. The humid rainforest houses a 27-foot waterfall, bromeliads and banana trees, just to name a few. The permanent plant collection includes hundreds of unique cacti and succulents that bloom on a regular basis, exotic varieties of orchids, begonias, tropical plants, herbs, the largest public ivy collection in the world and much, much more.
 
March through November the beautiful outdoor Perennial Shrub Garden it is a constantly growing and evolving sequence of blooms and leaf textures. This meticulously maintained garden contains hundreds of varieties of rare and unusual plants, all hardy in our climate. The wandering paths allow you the opportunity to enjoy what nature has to offer. This garden changes weekly so be sure to visit often.

2655 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14218
716.827.1584
www.buffalogardens.com

Hours
Open year round - Its always 72 degrees at The Gardens!
Monday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm (Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day)

Admission  
Adults - $6
Seniors (55+) & Students (with school ID)- $5
Children (6-13) - $3
Gardens members and children under 6 are free
(Admission rates are subject to change)

Directions from NYS Thruway (I-90):

• Take Exit 55 (Rt 219 and Ridge Road)
• Exit at Ridge Road West "Lackawanna"
• After ~ 2 miles, turn right on South Park Avenue
• Turn left at first traffic light into South Park
• Park along the ring road

Directions from Downtown Buffalo:

• Take Route 5-(Skyway) South
•  Take the Tifft Street Exit
• Turn left on Tifft Street
• Turn right on South Park Avenue
• Turn right into South Park
• Park along the ring road