Spring 2024 events at Long Island gardens and arboretums

Myung Kim, of Flushing, says “it’s paradise” inside the Camellia... — Myung Kim, of Flushing, says “it’s paradise” inside the Camellia House at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin

By Gina Tabarusgtabarus@newsday.comApril 11, 2024

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... — 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... — 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.

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... — 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.

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.

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.

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
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