Looking for outdoor activities to do on Long Island this Spring or Summer? One of my favorite things to do is explore gardens; lucky for us, Long Island has some really beautiful gardens. In this guide, explore some of the best gardens, flower fields, and farms throughout the island.
Planting Field Arboretum
Located in Oyster Bay, Long Island, the Planting Fields Arboretum is easily one of my favorite gardens. It sits on 409 acres and includes an Italian Garden, Cloister Garden, Circular Pool, Rose Garden, Perennial Garden, Synoptic Garden, Sensory Garden, Heather Garden, Dwarf Conifer Garden, Hydrangea Collection, Day Lily Garden, and Dahlia Garden.
If that’s not enough, there are also 2 greenhouses, the Main Greenhouse and the Camellia Greenhouse.
Oh, and did I mention the gardens are actually a part of a Gold Coast estate from the 1920s? This mansion was built between 1918 – 1921 to resemble a 400-year-old English manor and is one of the few mansions on Long Island with its original acreage intact, as well as its buildings.
Don’t be surprised to see tons of photoshoots and even weddings because the grounds provide an epic backdrop.
Besides exploring the gardens, you also have the opportunity to attend a guided estate tour of the Coe Hall Mansion. You can find Planting Field Guided tours here.
Garden Hours: The park is open every day from 9 AM to 5 PM (closed December 25)
Parking Fee: $8 per car or $75 per bus collected from May 1st – Labor Day. It is free parking any time outside that window. It is also free parking for Seniors during weekdays!
Westbury Gardens
Another must-visit garden is the Westbury Gardens. You may have even noticed this Mansion and garden in a few movies, including Cruel Intentions, Hitch, and American Gangster.
The Historic estate, located in Old Westbury, was built in 1906 and nestled on 200 acres.
They have a plethora of gardens to enjoy, including the Rose Garden, Walled Garden, Lilac Walk, Thatched Cottage, West Pond, Terraces of Westbury House, Colonnade and Reflecting Pool, and the East Lake.
The Westbury Gardens are also a very popular place for weddings and photography.
Tickets to the Old Westbury gardens currently need to be purchased in advance and range from $7-$12 dollars a person.
Address: 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Sands Point Preserve Rose Garden
Did you know there is a beautiful Rose Garden right on the Sound? Better yet, did you know there was a castle and mansion with a beautiful rose garden located on the sound? Welcome to one of the best places to visit on the Island, Sands Point Preserve.
Built in 1902, enjoy the 100,000 sq. ft. Ireland-inspired castle along with an additional 50,000 sq. ft. estate which features the rose gardens.
After walking through the rose garden, you can also enjoy the beachfront, several walking paths around the property, a mansion tour, or a picnic on one of the many lawns. Another cool thing about Sands Point Preserve is that they are dog-friendly.
The entrance fee to Sands Point Preserve is $15 per car or a $4 walk-in fee and is open year-round.
Hours change with the season and they are open from Wednesday- Sunday.
Address: 127 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050
Oheka Historic Mansion
If you don’t know anyone planning to get married at the famed Oheka Castle, don’t fret. There is still an opportunity to see the gardens of this historic mansion.
One way is through booking a mansion tour. These tours give you limited access to the estate and gardens. They are by reservation only and can be found here. Prices range from $15 (hotel guest), $20 (student), $25 (senior), and $30 (adult). Children under age 12 are $10.
Another way to get an opportunity to see the gardens is by making a reservation at the OHK Bar & Restaurant. During your visit, they require you to wear proper country club or business casual attire.
Address: 135 W Gate Dr, Huntington, NY 11743
Flower Fields and Farms on Long Island
If you love flowers, you can also experience beautiful flower fields and farms on Long Island. You can find a handful of Sunflower fields and farms across Long Island. I’ve listed some of the best Sunflower farms here!
You can also enjoy lavender farms on the island! Owned by Lavender by the Bay, they currently have the largest lavender farm in the USA. Additionally, you can find tulips on Long Island. During the Spring, the Waterdrinker farm has a tulip festival that has become quite popular!
Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Known as a museum of trees, the Bayard Cutting Arboretum is another popular place to be one with nature. Development of the gardens started in 1887 by the famous Fredrick Law Olmsted firm, which developed many gardens on Long Island as well as Central Park. Throughout the property, you will see blooms of azaleas, hollies, rhododendrons, dwarf evergreens, and more!
Unlike some of the other gardens, no pets, picnicking, or games are allowed, however, the arboretum is joined by Heckscher State Park, where you can picnic and play sports. The property comprises 690 acres with a beautiful Gold Coast mansion, a cafe, and a carriage house.
Clark Botanic Gardens
Another lovely garden to visit is the Clark Botanic Gardens located in Alberson, Long Island. With 12 acres of tulips, oak trees, a pond with koi, azaleas, roses, herbs, and more! Additionally, there is the beautiful Clark estate. The garden is free to visit and open all year. Each season has new beautiful blooms!
Best Time to Visit the Long Island Gardens
This might seem a little obvious, but the most popular time to visit the gardens is in Spring and Summer. I also recommend checking out the gardens during the Fall. You can see some really nice fall foliage, especially at the planting fields.
Wrap-up
This concludes some of my favorite gardens on Long Island! Have you visited any of these gardens yet, or is there a garden you’d like me to add? Let me know in the comments below!
Enjoy this Guide? Please share it below!