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Address: 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury, NY 11568 Website: https://www.oldwestburygardens.org/ Old Westbury Gardens is a treasure in the heart of Nassau County. Inspired by English design, the estate was created by George A. Crawley and completed in 1906. The estate spans 200 acres and feature spaces like the Rose Garden, the Lilac Walk Garden, and the beautifully traditional Wall Garden. The gardens are home to a variety of rare plants, which are tended to and cared for on-site through the estate's private greenhouse.Old Westbury Gardens has welcomed the public since 1959, offering visitors the chance to experience the estate in its beautifully preserved state. The Walled Garden, in particular, is one I hadn’t visited in quite some time. I was happy to find the ornate metal gate open on the day I returned to Westbury Gardens.  Overlooking the terrace at the entrance of the Wall Garden. Gorgeous purple and pink flowers set against the green background.
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Gerry Pond Park has been a source of grounding for me over the past few years. I am a frequent visitor to the park, along with my dog Mochi, who also loves roaming the expansive fields and eyeing the geese wandering about. Gerry Pond Park is registered in the National Register of Historic Places, meaning that the park has deep historical significance, lending to its preservation. The Roslyn Landmark Society archives depicts the rich history of Main Street, Roslyn during the early 1900s when the park was first built. Even when looking at old maps of Roslyn during the late 1800s, the ponds definitely played a huge role in the landscape of the village. There was already a vibrant community of people who lived there, and possibly enjoyed the area of Gerry Pond Park the same way that we do. To see a map of The Village of Roslyn during the 1870s, click here.  The picturesque pond that is filled with many geese and ducks throughout the year. Clark Botanical Garden is an oasis tucked away in Long Island. It's easy to miss, but once you're there you'll wished you had visited sooner. The property was owned by the Clark family, prominently the wife and husband duo Fanny Dwight Clark and Grenville Clark, during the early 1920s. Mrs. Clark contributed to the essence of the gardens, acting as landscape designer and horticulturalist. What we see today at the garden is largely her undertaking. In 1966, Mr. Clark had given up some acreage to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in memory of his wife in which the property was to be used as a sanctuary. It wouldn't be until 1989, however, that the garden would be turned over to the Town of North Hempstead where its possession still lies. The garden serves the public as a park and as an educational center.  Upon entering the garden you are met with this elaborate floral bordered walkway. Colors splash everywhere, like paint splattered across a canvas. During my visit, the borders were lined with bright pops of pink, orange, and red.
Website: https://snug-harbor.org/botanical-garden/new-york-chinese-scholars-garden/ Directions: 1000 Richmond Ter, Staten Island, NY 10301
 View upon entering the inside of the garden. The Chinese Scholar's Garden located in the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden was built by 40 Chinese artists and designers from Suzhou, China. This garden is one of two authentic Chinese gardens in the United States, built upon the style of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD). The materials needed to build the garden were shipped from China in 1998, with the garden opening to the public in 1999. Chinese gardens were usually named after it's creator's expertise. This garden, as I was told by my tour guide, focuses on poetry and literature with various calligraphies written on the walls focusing on the philosophies of nature.
Greenwood Gardens' history goes back to the early 1900s, under the ownership of prominent real estate auctioneer Joseph P. Day. In 1906, he purchased the 28-acre estate as a retreat from hectic New York City life. The estate featured a traditional wood-frame Victorian home, which unfortunately caught on fire, prompting the need for architect and landscaper designer William Whetten Renwick to step in and rebuild the property. Renwick's influence spans across the entire estate, including the grounds.
The garden would eventually be sold again in 1949 to Peter P. Blanchard Jr. and Dr. Adelaide Childs Frick Blanchard. Replacing the original structure, the Blanchard's rendition of the Colonial Revival mansion still stands today. The estate would also be renamed "The Greenwoods" in reference to Peter's ancestors' and their efforts during the Civil War. Unfortunately, Adelaide passed away only a few years after they had occupied the estate. As a result, Peter devoted more time to tending to the landscape adding garden sculptures, planting ornamental trees and shrubs, and re-configuring the gardens to evoke a more European ambiance and feeling. When Peter passed away in 2000, it was his wish that Greenwood Gardens become a public garden. |
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