Highland Park — Attraction in City of Rochester

One of my favorite places to escape humans when in the city of Rochester. The park is absolutely amazing with the thousands of plant varieties that can be found in the park, many of varieties are textbook specimens of rare and unusual plant species. The crown has to be the conservatory, the sunken gardens and the amphitheater, all adjacent to each other though separated by south avenue the park has a wonderful cohesive quality, the conservatory in my previous experiences has often been a pay what you can arrangement. Plan for 5 or 10 dollars a person and you'll be glad to have contributed. Not to be taken for granted it's one of the special places in Rochester where you'll find a tropical greenhouse with a banana tree, various citrus trees, numerous orchid species, a vanilla vine, a desert room with massive yuccas, interesting well matured succulents and huge likely ancient cactus plants. If you ever find yourself enjoying nature then do yourself something good and spend an afternoon checking out all of the unique trees with a healthy walk thru the park and finish up the visit enjoying the special plants and flowers waiting for your presence at the highland park conservatory. If you are there at the right time of the year you may find they have some of the plant species growing in the greenhouses available as a cutting for sale, not usually more than a dozen plants and maybe three of four varieties will be available, usually under 10 dollars for a special plant, in fact I have a small coffee tree that was purchased about a decade ago, it hasn't produced any Beans but it's a nice potted plant regardless. If you want some original and unique plants for your home go up to the highland conservatory, you may have to visit a few times before some are available but its worth it as you'll get the reward in time, if you have not enjoyed a visit to highland park then please take time to learn and enjoy what we have, the special plants are just a bonus and the time spent is well worth it regardless of your experience, it's never the same and still enjoyable to observe the amazing things...

The time to visit Highland Park is now! It's because spring is here...one flower at a time...one bud at a time! Watch it all enfold just as we come to celebrate the end of a cold, icy winter and the renewal of life...somehow bringing new life where none has existed for months.

And, just think, our earth somehow blossoms out of nowhere. Just imagine seeing a daffodil, a magnolia tree or lilac tree on Mars! This is the miracle of nature and our world. Like one big festival of Life.

Dog lovers: This park is perfect for your pets to sniff around, meet and play with other dogs, chase and eat sticks, and make friends with all the dog lovers treking thru the park for fresh air and exercise.

If I had one real message to share...It's that as a society we are growing distant from nature...even our own human nature. So, get out there! Take in the sun, moon, clouds, wind. grass plants, trees and flowers. Even stay as the sun sets...watching the sky turn yellow, red, mauve and periwinkle! And allow yourself time...to join its beauty...and feel how its beauty resonates with your own inner beauty. You can.... in varying ways...become one with it all

This park is a gift. Open yourselves to its magic. Just give it a chance. Step out of your minds...look for the miracles, feel them, celebrate them...and take a part of them home with you. You will feel more peaceful, more comforted and more ready to bring the Park experience with you...

Plants were beautiful, but I’m very sad about the animals in the conservatory!! Please take better care of them!! The fish tank in the front is WAYY too over stocked. Please either find those common plecos new homes, or build them a proper setup!!! having them in a shallow tank that already has many turtles is flat out abuse!! those poor animals can barely even swim around plus there are 2!! Another thing I noticed is in the first room there was an overwhelming about of red eared sliders piled on top of one another. Not to mention they were in the tiniest pond i’ve ever seen! Some of the tortoises water bowls were filthy, and probably filled with old water. Lastly which probably made me the most sad, was the koi pod. It was a beautiful shade of dark green, and again very over stocked. I also bet those fish are hungry! I will literally come work for you, and help out if you need it I know a lot about keeping fish, turtles and tortoises. I’m not trying to nitpick, It just hurts my soul to see animals in these...