Spring 2024 events at Long Island gardens and arboretums
Myung Kim, of Flushing, says “it’s paradise” inside the Camellia House at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Historic estates and arboretums come alive in springtime, with many hosting events that celebrate the great outdoors. This season, special programs include dog festivals, car shows, 5K runs, musical performances and nature walks. Here's where you can stroll the gardens, see the flora and have some fun exploring:
Old Westbury Gardens
Amos and Aesil Lee, of Roslyn Heights, enjoy a picnic lunch with their children Chloe and Jude on the grounds of Old Westbury Gardens. Credit: /Debbie Egan-Chin
- April 13: 7:30 to 10 p.m. Poetica Musica: A Thousand Years of French Music
- April 20:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spring Dog Festival
- June 2: Antique Car Show
- June 21-23: Midsummer Weekend
HOURS 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (closed Tue.) April 1-Oct 31. House closes from 1 to 1:40 p.m. daily.
COST $15 (advance purchase currently required), $8 ages 7-17. Additional fees for events.
MORE INFO 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury; 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org
Planting Fields Arboretum State Park
Camellia flowers bloom on trees and shrubs inside the Camellia House at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Upon visiting this spring, expect to see magnolias, azaleas, cherry and dogwood trees in bloom.
- April 20: 8 to 10:30 a.m. Planting Fields Spring 5K
- April 22-26: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Natural Sensory Celebration Week
- April 27-28: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arbor Day Festival
- May 17-19: Dog Festival
- May 31-June 2: LI Orchid Festival
- June 8: Pride Festival
- June 22: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Moveable Feast
HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
COST $8 per car through Sept. 2, weekends and holidays Sept. 7-Nov. 17, and April 6-May 5
MORE INFO 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay; 516-922-9210, plantingfields.org
Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum
Bronze statue fountains, manicured grounds and a variety of architectural monuments are a few things you'll find while exploring Pinelawn's arboretum.
The Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum in Farmingdale. Credit: Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum
- May 18: 7 to 9 p.m. Jazz Under the Stars
- June 2: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arboretum tours (multiple sessions)
- June 9, July 21, Aug. 4, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13: 9:30 a.m. to noon Morning flow yoga multiple sessions)
- Aug. 25: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Honey Bee Experience
- Sept. 21-22: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lantern Lighting Celebration
HOURS 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 30-Oct., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. November-March.
COST Events are free and open to the public
MORE INFO 2030 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale, 631-249-6100, pinelawn.com/arboretum
Clark Botanic Garden
See a plethora of in-bloom flowers, including forsythia, flowering quince, hellebores, magnolias and tulips.
Visitors enjoy a spring day at Clark Botanical Garden in Albertson. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa
- May 10-11: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. plant sale
HOURS 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily
COST Free
MORE INFO 193 I.U. Willets Rd., Albertson, 516-484-2208, clarkbotanic.org
John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden
The garden includes a tea house, stone water basin, pond, stone lanterns and steppingstones.
The John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck. Credit: North Shore Land Alliance/North Shore Land Alliance
- May 11: Shakuhachi (Japanese Bamboo Flute)
- June 1: 3:30 p.m. Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Aug. 3-4: Weekend Bonsai Exhibit
HOURS 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, beginning May 4
COST Free; donations accepted
MORE INFO 3 Dogwood Lane, Locust Valley, 516-922-1028, northshorelandalliance.org
The Madoo Conservancy
Located in Sagaponack, this 2-acre garden features an array of perennials, shrubs and rare specimen trees throughout.
The gardens at the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack. Credit: Mary Elizabeth Andriotis
- April 7: Noon, Justin Quinn, Principal, James Doyle Design Associates and Photographer Neil Landino Jr.
- June 15: Much Ado About Madoo an annual garden market
- July 20-21: Evening Gala Cocktail Party
- May 24-June 28: Jean-Philippe Delhomme a solo exhibition
- July 5-28: Sara Mejia Kriendler and Lucy Loewenberg exhibitions
- Aug. 2-Sept. 8: Michael Light solo exhibition
HOURS Noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays April 15 to June 3; noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from June 7 to Sept. 6
COST Free; donations accepted
MORE INFO 618 Sagg Main St., Sagaponack, 631-537-8200, madoo.org
Longhouse Reserve
The garden includes seasonal blooms, established lawns, collections of bamboo and grasses, conifers and broad-leaved evergreens, ornamental borders, a pond, reflecting pool, and allées anchored by sculptures.
Sound Meditation on the grounds of LongHouse Reserve led by Jim Owen. Credit: LongHouse Reserve
- March-October: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. once a month on Saturday (check calendar) and garden tours on weekends
- April 13: 2 p.m. Iris Trio Ensemble
- Larson Salon Series: Machine Dazzle (May 5), Liz Collins and Lynne Cooke (June 15), Jonathan Adler (June 23), Christine Coulson (June 29), Rue Matthiessen with Nina Raeburn (July 14), Maryam Eisler in conversation with Shirin Neshat and Mickalene Thomas moderated by Max Blagg (Aug. 22) and Eric Fischl, Harper Levine, Joel Mesler and Sheree Hovsepian (Aug. 28)
- June 1: Spring Dreamweaver Garden Brunch
- June 16: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company
- Aug. 3: Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner
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Aug. 11, 18 and 25: Young Concert Artists
- Aug. 22- Sept. 1: Confined Artists — Free Spirits: Portraits and Interviews from Lockdown 2020
HOURS 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday January-March, Wednesday-Sunday April-December
COST $20
MORE INFO 133 Hands Creek Rd., East Hampton; 631-329-3568, longhouse.org
