I will tell my grandchildren that my garden mania began during covid-19 quarantine of 2020. The year when I probably visited over a dozen of gardens and parks in New Jersey and New York, seeking to escape the shutdown for a brief moment. There is something so peaceful about planned gardens — symmetry of the laid out paths lends one a sense of control, no matter how subconscious. Strolling among the pruned bushes, formal alleys, wisteria-covered pergolas and meticulously manicured lawns, I found respite from the dumbfounding news and politics. I’ve now visited almost a dozen of different gardens around New York and New Jersey, and am so happy to share my favorites, so you might visit them this fall as well.