Colorful spring flowers blooming at Central Park Conservatory Garden

CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan (WABC) -- Something beautiful is happening in the heart of New York City.

Central Park's Conservatory Garden is in full bloom, with thousands of multicolored flowers for everyone to enjoy. Call them the newest New Yorkers in one of the city's truest hidden gems.

"We just finished this morning, finished planting with the wonderful staff and about 15 volunteers, about 3,000 pansies," said Diane Schaub, director of gardens for the Central Park Conservancy.

Schaub is in charge of the Conservatory Garden on Manhattan's Upper East Side, one of the most ecologically diverse places in New York City. Hundreds of plant species existing on just two garden plots alone.

"We get shipments of 40,000 bulbs to plant in the fall. So, 20,000 of them are planted here in the English garden, 20,000 approximately are planted in the French garden," Assistant Curator of Gardens Joseph Gamache said.

Bulbs that are blooming right now, and in part paint the garden with its perfect palate of colors.

"I mean, it's like painting, right? That's like the biggest box of Crayola crayons you could possibly want," Schaub said.

For the team, it is a passion, and in many cases, a life's work. Similar stories of upbringing meshed with enjoyment.

When it comes to crowd favorites, the magnolia trees are definitely a hit with garden goers.

According to Gamache, there is an iris flower that blooms and smells like a grape Pixy Stix. For Schaub, one of her favorites is Corylopsis pauciflora, more commonly known as winter hazel.

And as New Yorkers thaw out, it's a reason to be thankful, for one of the snowiest winters in recent memory.

"It makes a terrific mulch, so it protected the plants that it's sitting on," Schaub said. "It's like an incubator, really. It's functioning as an incubator."

So, as you stroll around the park this spring and summer, admiring the work of dozens of gardeners, there is only one rule park staff asks people to follow: Try your best to look, and not touch.

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