Escape to Serene Botanical Gardens in Long Island

Long Island is home to a treasure trove of beautiful botanical gardens that provide the perfect peaceful natural escapes. These gardens let you leave the hustle and bustle behind and immerse yourself in serene landscapes filled with flowers, trees, trails, and more. We've compiled the highlights of Long Island's top botanical gardens to help you plan a rejuvenating visit.

History and Highlights of Top Botanical Gardens

Bayard Cutting Arboretum

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum was founded in 1949 and opened to the public in 1971. This expansive arboretum covers over 500 acres and includes woods, wetlands, meadows, a greenhouse, a display garden, and a historic manor house. Signature attractions include the Cutting Flower Garden showcasing over 2,500 azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, and other flowering shrubs and trees. The arboretum is especially stunning in spring when the azaleas and rhododendrons burst into colorful bloom.

Nassau County Museum of Art

The Nassau County Museum of Art opened in 1936 and has since grown its collection to over 4,000 pieces of American art. Beyond the indoor galleries, the museum grounds sprawl across 145 acres and feature outdoor sculpture installations along paved walking paths. The salt marsh, evergreen forest, and other gardens provide scenic backdrops to appreciate the monumental sculptures. Family programs, arts and ecology classes, and seasonal events like the fall harvest festival make this a dynamic destination.

Sands Point Preserve

Once owned by the wealthy Guggenheim family, the 216-acre Sands Point Preserve gives a glimpse into Long Island's Gold Coast era. The estate features landscaped gardens, rolling forests, a quarter-mile sandy beach, and the magnificent Falaise mansion styled after a medieval Norman castle. Public programs allow visitors to tour the castle, learn about the estate's former inhabitants, and appreciate nature through activities like bird watching. The grounds also offer opportunities to volunteer in conservation efforts.

Planting Fields Arboretum

Planting Fields Arboretum was the former home of William Robertson Coe, a wealthy investment broker who built the sprawling estate between 1912 and 1930. Now permanently protected parkland, the arboretum spans over 400 acres and includes greenhouses, formal gardens, woodland trails, and outstanding tree and shrub collections. The arboretum's greenhouses and conservatory provide a lush tropical oasis even in winter. Seasonal events like the fall Chrysanthemum Festival and the holiday train show bring extra sparkle.

Longhouse Reserve

Founded by renowned textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen in 1991, the 16-acre Longhouse Reserve emphasizes the relationship between art, architecture, and nature. The sculpture gardens seamlessly integrate world-class sculpture installations with gardens focused on regional plant varieties suitable for Long Island's climate. Longhouse Reserve hosts workshops, lectures, and innovative exhibitions to engage and educate visitors on the natural world.

LIU Post Community Arboretum

As a community resource on the campus of LIU Post, this arboretum boasts 200 species of trees and shrubs. The arboretum partners with Nassau County to propagate rare and endangered plants for restoration projects. While not officially open to the public, LIU Post faculty, students, and community groups can schedule tours and access the arboretum for education and research. It provides an invaluable resource right in a suburban university setting.

When to Visit Long Island Botanical Gardens

Every season offers delightful reasons to visit Long Island's botanical gardens. Spring welcomes blooms like azaleas, tulips, daffodils, and flowering trees. Summer showcases roses, water lilies, crape myrtles, and hydrangeas. Fall foliage sets trees ablaze in red, orange, and yellow starting in late September. Even winter has its magical moments like seeing the conservatory greenhouses filled with tropical plants or model trains weaving through miniature villages.

Some gardens like Bayard Cutting Arboretum and Planting Fields are open year-round, while others like Sands Point Preserve offer more limited winter hours. Check individual garden websites for the most up-to-date hours and seasonal highlights.

Planning Your Visit

Most of Long Island's major botanical gardens are located outside of the city centers, so having a car is the most convenient transportation. Parking lots are available onsite once you arrive. Public transportation options are very limited, so driving is recommended.

Hours vary by garden but are generally daily from 10 AM to 4 or 5 PM. Some gardens are open until dusk in summer. Admission fees range from $5 to $10 for some gardens, while others like Bayard Cutting Arboretum offer free admission.

Policies on outside food, pets, bicycles, and activities like photography also vary, so check individual garden rules before visiting. Leave drones and sporting equipment at home as these items are universally prohibited.

What to Expect at the Gardens

Wandering through these Long Island botanical gardens, you'll discover diverse natural scenery from forests to fields, marshes to beaches. Sculptures and historic estate architecture add structural beauty blended harmoniously with nature.

Well-marked trails ranging from easy loops to longer hikes cater to all activity levels. Paved paths make the gardens wheelchair and stroller accessible. You'll also find plenty of benches for resting in shady spots and taking in garden vistas.

Visitor amenities differ across gardens but often include gift shops, cafes, information centers, and restrooms. Some gardens like Sands Point Preserve and Nassau County Museum of Art offer picnic areas if you want to bring lunch.

Packing Tips and Visitor Etiquette

To make the most of your Long Island botanical garden visits, keep these packing and etiquette tips in mind:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes. Leave the flats and heels at home.
• Bring water, snacks, cameras, field guides, and binoculars if you like birdwatching.
• Pack sunglasses, hats, bug spray, and sunscreen.
• Dress in layers, since gardens have both shady and sunny spots.
• Smoking, littering, picking flowers, and mistreating wildlife are prohibited.
• Stay on marked paths to protect undergrowth.
• Keep dogs on leashes and clean up after them where pets are allowed.

Long Island is an unexpected oasis offering numerous options to appreciate stunning botanical gardens. You'll find beauty during every season from bursts of spring blooms to fall's foliage. Take a break from the bustle and spend a day wandering woodland trails, admiring art installations, and finding inspiration in nature's masterpieces. Let the peaceful vibes of these gardens rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.

We hope our guide gives you a helpful preview of Long Island's splendid botanical gardens. Now it's time to plan your own visit to these serene escapes and experience their magic firsthand.