Featured

view of hillsides covered with trees in fall
In the News
Wet Summer Could Shape New York's Fall Foliage

Times Union, September 20, 2026—Ari Novy, Elizabeth Newman Wilds Executive Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens, discusses the positive impact of summer rainfall on fall foliage in New York.

group of studetns look at jars with insects
Moments of Connection
Cornell Students Learn, Lead, Grow

Nine Cornell students spent the summer on real-world projects related to sustainability, horticulture, and education under the guidance of staff mentors.

In the News
Go With the Flow: A Tantalizing Tour of Big Red Waterfalls

Browse this virtual a tour of some of the major waterfalls on and around campus, featured in "Cornellians."

Upcoming Events

Event
September 26, 2026: Saturday Botanic Gardens Highlights Tour at Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center

Tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 10 am, June 13 through October 18. Pre-registration is not required. Take a relaxing stroll with a Garden Guide through the...

Event
September 26, 2026: Plants of Latin America: A Bilingual Tour at Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center

Join us for a unique bilingual tour experience focusing on plants in our collection native to South America, southern North America (including Central America and the...

Event
September 27, 2026: Sunday Botanic Gardens Highlights Tour at Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center

Tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 10 am, June 13 through October 18. Pre-registration is not required. Take a relaxing stroll with a Garden Guide through the...

Connecting plants and peoples for a world of diversity, beauty, and hope.

Land Acknowledgement

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' (the Cayuga Nation), members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

a person kneeling in a garden
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts

Cornell Botanic Gardens embraces and actively works to increase diversity among all the communities with which we engage.

Two students planting a garden
News
Medicinal garden at Onondaga Nation School grows opportunity

Students in the Learning by Leading program engaged extensively with the Onondaga Nation School on native plants and design ideas.

Our Gardens and Natural Areas

We are responsible for the natural beauty of the Cornell University campus including cultivated gardens, an arboretum, and natural areas. Together these comprise one-third of campus, and with off-campus natural areas, a total of 3,600 acres.

Cascadilla and Fall Creek gorges in summer.
Butterfly resting on a white flower

What to see in summer

Blooms can be found throughout our gardens and arboretum. Our natural areas offer ample opportunity to explore unique settings.