Boston Flora

Tag: Old Westbury Gardens

  • Thursday, May 19, 7:00 am – 7:00 pm – Planting Fields Arboretum and Old Westbury Gardens

    This year’s annual Berkshire Botanical Garden benefit garden tour on Thursday, May 19 will explore two extraordinary estate gardens on Long Island’s “Gold Coast:” Planting Fields Arboretum Historic State Park, Oyster Bay, NY, and Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury, NY.

    The day will begin with a tour led by Vincent Simeone, Director at Planting Fields Arboretum (pictured below), a premier public arboretum and historic site. A former Gold Coast estate of over four hundred acres, it contains greenhouses, gardens, woodland paths, and outstanding woody plant collections. The grounds, landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts, are spectacularly beautiful at this time of the year. Following the tour enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds of the Arboretum.

    The afternoon will include a tour of Old Westbury Gardens. Completed in 1906 by the English designer, George A. Crawley, the magnificent Charles II-style mansion is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. Although the guided tour will focus on the horticulture of the gardens and grounds, history and architecture will be included. Tours of the house will be possible only if time permits.

    A mid-morning refreshment and late afternoon wine & cheese snack will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a bagged picnic lunch. (Lunch can also be purchased at the Arboretum’s café.) Due to travel time and traffic the coach will leave promptly at7 am from the Garden’s main parking area, and return at 7 pm.Tickets: $125 Members / $150 non members.  You may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org. For more information, call 413-298-3926.

  • Thursday – Saturday, August 6 – 8 – Annual Meeting of American Conifer Society

    Entitled “Great Gatsby on Long Island”, the 2009 American Conifer Society will present its 2009 Annual National Meeting in Hauppauge, New York, August 6 – 8.  The Northeastern Region is excited to host this year’s ACS National Meeting on Long Island. The emphasis will be the Great Gatsby themed estates of Long Island. Each of these estates were created with lavish gardens and magnificent landscapes. The estates contain their own pinetum which feature mature conifer specimens as well as dwarf conifer gardens. Participants will also visit  perhaps the finest public garden in the United States: the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York. The NYBG features the Benenson Collection of Dwarf and Unusual Conifers plus a number of the conifer discoveries of the late Dr. Sid Waxman. Fred Soviaro, Director of the Hofstra University Arboretum, will speak on “The Gardens and Conifers of Hofstra.” Vinny Simeone, Director of  The Planting Fields, will present “A Look at the Coe Family and Their Estate.” There will also be a session on “Conifer Gardens of Great Britain and the Netherlands.” Other tours will be of Old Westbury Gardens, 88 acres of formal gardens, tree-lined walks, grand allees, ponds, statuary, and architectural follies, Hofstra University, and the newly renovated Dwarf Conifer Garden at the Planting Fields.  Silent and live plant auctions will be held at the banquet dinner Friday nightt.  On Saturday, two tours, New York Botanical Gardens and Bayard Cutting Arboretum, will conclude with a Caribbean cookout.  The meeting site and accomodations will be the Hyatt Regency Long Island, 1717 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, New York.  For more information and to register, log on to www.conifersociety.org.


    New York Botanical Gardens The ACS meeting will feature:

    • Premier garden tours
    • Educational Talks featuring the ACS Scholarship 2008 winner
    • Outstanding silent and verbal conifer auctions
    • Excellent accommodations
    • Plenty of conifer information and conifer comradery
    • PLUS attendance by members of the British and Dutch Conifer Societies
    • Exclusive Post tour (details soon)