Spring is here, and the flowers are in bloom. It's the perfect time for a family trip to a garden or arboretum. Our REALTORS® know all the best places on Long Island to experience picturesque plantlife. Here are our favorites.

Long Island Gardens to Explore

Bayard Cutting Arboretum - Great River, NY

440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY 11739

Originally a private estate on the Connetquot River, Bayard Cutting Arboretum was opened to the public in 1936, so everyone can see the grounds influenced by the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, one of the 19th century's most iconic landscape architects. The arboretum has picturesque paths for walking or jogging, where you can see all sorts of trees, including:

• Spruces
• Cedars
• Yews

You can also take tours of the manor house, and be sure to visit Hidden Oak Cafe for a bite to eat.

Bailey Arboretum - Locust Valley, NY

194 Bayville Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560

If you're a gardening enthusiast looking to hone your craft, Bailey Arboretum is the place to learn about plants and how they grow. The 42-acre grounds are home to a diverse array of flowers, trees, and other plants, which you can explore and discover. It's a great place to bring your family, including your pets, with hiking trails, picturesque photo backdrops, and hidden gems to discover. They also host events throughout the year, including Wine & Beer in the Garden and their annual Easter Egg Hunt.

Clark Botanic Garden - Albertson, NY

193 I U Willets Road, Albertson, NY 11507

One of the most serene spaces in Nassau County, Clark Botanic Garden is great for communing with nature or for learning about it. Check out their Rose Garden, featuring over 100 varieties of roses, or their Rain Garden, where stormwater nurtures a variety of hearty, vibrant plants. They also have several plant collections, such as:

• Herbs and medicinal plants
• Butterfly plants
• Daylilies

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March, and until 6 p.m. beginning in April, with free admission, it's a great spring outing for your family.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park - Oyster Bay, NY

1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

The 409-acre Planting Fields Arboretum has some of the most fertile soil on Long Island to cultivate some of the most beautiful plants. The heated Camellia Greenhouse has thousands of spring blossoms in flower right now. The Italian Garden shelters more sensitive, temperate plants. And the Main Greenhouse has everything from orchids to begonias to cacti. Be sure to check out their First Fridays tours, where each month you can experience a different aspect of the grounds, from its plant collections to its history and culture.

Bridge Gardens - Bridgehampton, NY

36 Mitchell Lane, Bridgehampton, NY 11932

More than just a beautiful landscape, Bridge Gardens is an opportunity to get involved in the community. Free to the public, it relies on volunteers to maintain its incredible variety of native and non-native flowers, trees, and shrubs. It has several sections, including:

• Rose garden
• Demonstration garden
• Culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herb garden

Plus over 20 community garden plots, and a vegetable garden that supplies to local food pantries. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, it's a great place to gain gardening experience, connect with others in the community, or just enjoy the vibrant scenery.

Finding Your Home in Long Island

Long Island is filled with beautiful places to explore, in spring and throughout the year. Contact us if you're ready to explore Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale. We'll help you find the house of your dreams!