It’s been so hot and humid this summer. With the climate changing so rapidly, I worry this kind of weather is here to stay and summers will only get worse, with more frequent heatwaves. Manhattan feels like an oven with all its concrete, but thankfully, the New York Botanical Garden is just a short train ride away. It’s still hot, but it’s quiet; a peaceful escape where I can be surrounded by nature.

I’ve found a few favorite spots in the garden where I like to sit, reconnect with the earth, and catch my breath away from the city’s chaos. I love New York, but after spending most of my life in L.A., where nature was always close, I can’t go too long without it. With the heat keeping me off the trails, the botanical garden has become a welcome respite from the sirens, traffic, and concrete.

The lilies were in full bloom, and the herb garden was lush. I sat for a while in the shade of the Azalea Garden to watch a squirrel building a nest, curious if it would strip an entire branch of leaves. I passed my favorite stand of white pines. The dry scent of fallen needles instantly reminds me of the trails I used to hike in California.

It was a short visit, too humid to stay long. But just before I left, I spotted a red-tailed hawk taking a bath in a shallow pool of water collected in a boulder. An unexpected moment and the perfect way to end the visit.

Click “Read More” below for more photos from this day.