Spring in New York City

Now that spring has sprung, and we seem to have shaken off the last of the nor'easters, it's time to carefully plan our springtime flower viewing strategy. After all, one of the absolute joys of surviving winter in the city is watching as the tough little daffodils, tulips and cherry blossoms awaken from their winter slumber.

Below we've rounded up a few of the best spots for doing just that.

Each November, volunteers at this beloved neighborhood garden painstakingly plant 15,000 flower bulbs, including 60 breathtaking tulip varieties, daffodils plus anemone, hyacinths, narcissus and fritillaria. This spring ritual has been taking place since 1990, and with its amphitheater-style layout, the presentation is simply spectacular.

Conservatory Garden — Upper Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 105th Street, Manhattan (Photo via untappedcities.com)

With its iconic fountains and official quiet-zone status, the peaceful Conservatory Garden is a magnificent place to visit any time of year. But like much of the city, it truly comes alive in springtime. Enter the famed Vanderbilt Gate and take in the northern French-style garden featuring 20,000 tulips surrounding "Three Dancing Maidens" fountain, while the southern section features 65 tulip varieties arranged in an English garden. For even more Central Park flower power, stroll south from the Conservatory, along the eastern edge of the Reservoir, where you'll find lovely blossoming cherry trees along the Bridle Path Veer southwest to end your tour at the four-acre Shakespeare Garden featuring a multitude of blooms alongside quotes from the Bard.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden — 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn (Photo via nycgo.com)

There's seemingly no end to the breathtaking foliage in this 52-acre Brooklyn wonderland, but the garden's remarkable cherry blossoms are truly something special. Enjoy a number of different varieties of the delightful blooming trees along the Cherry Walk, the Cherry Esplanade and the Osborne Garden near the Eastern Parkway entrance. And don't miss the park's Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival on April 28 and 29, featuring events and performances that celebrate Japanese culture.

Fort Tryon Park Heather Garden — 1 Margaret Corbin Drive near 190th Street, Manhattan (Photo via noel.events.com)

Nestled in the uppermost reaches of Upper Manhattan you'll find the city's largest unrestricted access garden bursting with 500 varieties of plants, trees and shrubs. The three-acre Heather Garden also features one of the largest heath and heather collections on the entire East Coast. In spring, you'll find Spanish bluebells, vibrant azaleas and gorgeous rhododendron, alongside peonies, irises and lilacs. With clifftop Hudson River views that stretch all the way to the Palisades, this remote, hidden gem is more than worth the trip uptown.

The High Line — From Gansevoort & Washington streets to 34th Street & 11th Avenue, Manhattan (Photo via thehighline.org)

One of Manhattan's most innovative parks also contains some of the city's most diverse gardens and plantings. During springtime, its mile-and-a-half length blooms with irises, daffodils and tulips galore, plus lilacs, sassafras, hyacinth and narcissus. The High Line will officially kickoff its new season on April 21 with Culture Shock, an afternoon of music, art, performance and horticulture.