By Harvey D. Goodman
One of the most delightful experiences for nature lovers is to visit local areas that feature a wide variety of ecological beauty, ranging from saltwater marsh to deciduous forest and mixed with a bit of master gardening. The task, of course, is to select your locations reasonably close to home so as not to be exhausted by a long trip. Here are a few suggestions that I have found to be worthy of a morning, afternoon or entire day of exploration.
The Nassau County Museum, noted for its truly beautiful exhibits, is highly lauded for blending art with the beauty of 145 acres of magnificent woodland and landscaped gardens. During the summer, a truly unique exhibit entitled “Gardens as Art” adorns the grounds. Some of the most talented horticulturists in the metropolitan area transform a meadow into 10 theme gardens.
Each exhibit is as beautiful as the next and each emphasizes a different motif. For the most part, the plants, flowers and shrubbery are potted, although once covered with mulch it becomes almost impossible to see the pots. Mason walks, waterfalls, miniature pools and a variety of annuals and perennials create an environment that is truly captivating.
It’s too late for this season, but you can contact the museum at 516-484-9337 for a program of upcoming events. You may even be moved to join the museum, which is two blocks west of Glen Cove Road at Northern Boulevard, only 20 minutes from Queens.
The Leeds Pond Preserve – Science Museum of Long Island is located on Plandome Road, about two miles north of Northern Boulevard. I was able to make the trip from Little Neck in less than 15 minutes. The science museum is a teaching facility that is located on a 36-acre preserve. The living classroom is made possible by the surrounding area, which consists of a variety of ecosystems ranging from forest to salt marsh, and brackish pond to freshwater stream.
Visitors are provided with a map that lists a variety of trails, with some taking you to the beach adjacent to Manhasset Bay, and others through thickly wooded forest. Along the way you may encounter youngsters who attend the summer camp, as well as their knowledgeable counselors and staff. The youngsters seem to truly enjoy their interaction with nature and appear to be developing a healthy respect for the environment. For more information, contact the museum at 516-627-9400.
Old Westbury Gardens, on Old Westbury Road on Long Island, is a consistent source of the art of gardening. There are 150 acres of exquisitely maintained lawns, fields of every conceivable ecology, meadows, woodlands, lakes and ponds surrounding a stately mansion, which served as the residence in the early 1900s of John S. Phipps, son of Henry Phipps, partner with Andrew Carnegie in the Carnegie Steel Company.
When I visited the facility in early July it was a haven for both gardeners and artists. While I admired the magnificent floral gardens, artists were capturing the beauty and serenity that often escapes the camera and beckons the expression captured on canvas. Amid the sundials, fountains and statuary, birders and animal lovers can view a large variety of butterflies, foxes and rather large hawks, herons and owls.
Booklets are provided for self-guided tours. Formal tour guides led by volunteers are scheduled throughout the day. For further information, contact the Old Westbury Gardens at 516-333-0048. Parking is free, rates for the gardens, mansion and tours are incredibly reasonable, with discounts provided for senior citizens.
Old Westbury Gardens is a year-round facility. The gardens treat you to ever-changing fauna and flora, with special events planned to coincide with the season.
A bit closer to home, the Alley Pond Environmental Center always has something for everyone throughout the year. If you are fortunate, you may take advantage of one of the many guided tours scheduled throughout the year. A tour of the intertidal habitat of Little Neck Bay explores a unique ecosystem with the mission to understand and appreciate its past, coupled with a strategy to ensure its future.
The staff members are committed educators who pursue their guardianship of the Alley Pond ecosystem with purpose. The area is traversed by every variety of urban development conceivable, and yet, when one walks the trails, views the fauna and flora, one admires both the fragility and endurance of a system to survive.
The Alley Pond Environmental Center offers wonderful programs throughout the year for children of all ages and adults of all interests. Contact them at 229-4000. Membership in this organization contributes to educational programs and the continued preservation of this unique ecosystem.
Questions or comments on gardening and plant care can be addressed to: The Plant Doctor, c/o Queens publishing Company, 41-02 Bell Blvd. Bayside, N.Y. 11361 or e-mail Harvey.Goodman@att.net
