Untermyer Gardens

Yonkers (Westchester County)

Why we love it

A sea of tranquility in the heart of Yonkers, Untermyer Gardens also represents a great story of revival. When created in the 1920s around the estate of prominent lawyer and ardent amateur horticulturalist Samuel Untermyer, it earned instant acclaim as one of America’s great gardens and attracted thousands of visitors. After Untermyer’s death in 1940, it gradually fell into decay. Today, it’s well on its way to regaining top-tier status. The most spectacular features — the Indo-Persian walled garden, with numerous fountains and waterways, and the Temple of Love, sitting atop a grotto and cascade.

More to explore

In downtown Yonkers, check out Van der Donck Park, another remarkable transformation. Scenic Hudson supported efforts here to “daylight” (uncover) the Saw Mill River, which for decades flowed beneath a parking lot.

Highlights

• Formal gardens with water features
• Stairway leads to fine vista of Palisades

Directions, hours, etc.: https://www.untermyergardens.org/