Difficult to believe that such natural beauty is surrounded by drab highways with a plethora of potholes and garbage.

The NY Botanical Garden borders this stark reality and is nestled on a 250 acre oasis of peace and serenity, elegance and artistry behind decorative wrought iron garden gates.  

We journeyed to the Bronx last Sunday to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibit.

It is exhilarating.

Kusama is a contemporary Japanese artist primarily focused on sculpture and installations, but is also active in painting, film, fashion, poetry, fiction and performance art.

Her work is based in conceptual art, displaying elements of feminism, minimalism, surrealism and pop art and is infused with autobiographical influences.

She has been acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan.

As exciting as the art displays intermixed with the gorgeous vegetation were, the fact that at 10am we were the only people in the Haupt Conservatory was as thrilling.

It was a fantasy come true being the lords of our own exquisite manor.

The Kusamas interspersed with the flora (over one million plants) was breathtaking.

Be advised, you must purchase both the gallery and garden passes as only strolling the exterior means you miss out on a great many important works.

The Mertz Library building exhibited Kusama’s paintings, but, alas, no photography is allowed.

We did observe more ceramic work in the library.

After viewing the indoor natural beauty interspersed with Kusama artwork, we headed outdoors to explore the grounds and feast on more of Kusama’s stunning pieces.

The following are the large dramatic pieces scattered about the grounds…

at down the Nronx River 

We walked over 5 miles, visiting the Edible Gardens, watching kayakers float down the Bronx River and strolling the Rockefeller Rose Garden which was started in 1917, interrupted by the World Wars and finally finished in 1988.

We spent 3 glorious hours exploring the Botanical Garden which is technically a living museum, as well as an educational institution and a plant research and conservation organization.

What a natural high and the Kusama exhibit is a must so get to the NY Botanical Garden before  the show closes on October 31st.

NY Botanical Garden 2900 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm. Admission $35. Seniors $32 for the Kusama Gallery and Garden pass. Parking $20. Limited street parking. Right now you can convert your Kusama tickets into a membership. Single membership $90.