There’s nothing like sinking your bare toes in warm Long Island garden dirt. Especially when it’s public Long Island garden dirt. These are some of the best.
Long Islanders Voted Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury the Best Public Garden on Long Island!
Old Westbury Gardens
71 Old Westbury Rd.
Old Westbury
516-333-0048
www.oldwestburygardens.org
What could possibly make the gardens at Old Westbury even more beautiful? The Charles II-style mansion they surround. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the former home of John S. Phipps, his wife, Margarita Grace Phipps and their four children is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. All the events held there don’t hurt either—guided tours, classic car shows, indoor and outdoor concerts, book signings, horticultural demonstrations and workshops, Scottish Games, botanical arts and gardening classes—OK, we’re running out of space.
2nd Place – Planting Field Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay. 516-922-9200. www.plantingfields.org
Planting Field Arboretum is a gem to Long Island’s gardens. In any season, this garden is picturesque and a perfect escape. With dozens of acres of sprawling lawns, greenhouses, and gardens with hundreds of species of flowers, it leaves you in awe of its nature. In the winter, the hothouse is the place to visit; the greenhouse is at its peak, showing all its potential.
3rd Place – Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Oakdale. 631-581-1002. www.bayardcuttingarboretum.com
Bayard Cutting Arboretum offers relaxation while you seize its outdoor beauty. A nearby café overlooks the gorgeous lawns, where some plants date back to 1887. Different species of flowers, marine birds, and small wildlife also call this arboretum home.
Directions to Old Westbury Gardens:
