Planting Fields Arboretum: A Late Summer Stroll

Planting Fields Arboretum

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! After many years of not getting to visit Planting Fields Arboretum due to a busy schedule and the pandemic, I was finally able to take a relaxing day for myself and a friend to return to this beautiful place. Strolling the grounds in late summer was just what the doctor ordered to have some peace of mind and the visit was just as I had remembered it back from some time ago. 

Planting Fields Arboretum Coe Hall West Portico

First built in 1904 by prominent New Yorker James Bryne, Planting Fields Arboretum is a 409-acre Gold Coast Era Estate located in Oyster Bay on the North Shore of Long Island. The mansion and grounds were purchased as a spring country home by William Robertson Coe and his wife Mary "Mai" Huttleston Coe in 1913. After spending many seasons at their Long Island estate, William R. Coe deeded Planting Fields to the State of New York in the early 1950's and the mansion and grounds are now listed on the National Registry of Historical Places. The West Portico of Coe Hall (seen above) is one of the most striking architectural features at Planting Fields, 

Main Greenhouse

There are two greenhouses on the premises. The main greenhouse, built between 1914 and 1929, is a double-story housing a multitude of beautiful tropical plants, including Staghorn Fern, orchards, ferns, Croton, Hibiscus, bromeliads, Bird of Paradise, Banana trees and succulents. A second greenhouse (1917) houses over 200 camellias which are in full flower generally from late January through early March.

Paul Callahan Dahlia Garden

One of the best features of the gardens is the Paul Callahan Dahlia Garden, constructed in 1998 and maintained by the Mid Island Dahlia Society.   It is known to be one of the largest and most spectacular dahlia gardens in the northeast.

Dahlia Garden

Come take a closer look of some of the many varieties of Dahlias!

 Dinner Plate Dahlia 'Kelvin Floodlight'

Dinner Plate Dahlia 'Peaches & Cream'

Long Island Daylily Society Display Garden

Daylily Garden

The Long Island Daylily Society maintains this lovely garden, which is in full bloom during mid-late summer.

Daylily Garden

Numerous varieties of Daylily are maintained here, along with some Echinacea along the border for an extra punch!

Ruffled Daylily

Coe Hall Planting Fields

William Robertson and Mai Coe built their country home, Coe Hall (1918-1921), to resemble a 400-year-old English manor, along with two greenhouses, hay barn and stables. The landscape was designed by the Olmsted Brothers, sons of Frederick Law Olmsted. After a fire had destroyed the original mansion, ground was broken for the new Coe Hall in the fall of 1918.

Coe Hall 

Here is the back of the mansion, which leads out to the gardens.

Italian Garden

This Italian Garden was originally created by Mai Rogers Coe back in 1913 as one of her favorite places to stroll. There is a central reflecting pool with evergreens, flowering shrubs and over 40 varieties of perennials that bloom sequentially throughout the year.

Italian Garden

Italian Garden & Tea House

Built in 1915, the tea house at Planting Fields is part of the estate's Italian Garden, where it was built for the Mrs. Coe to enjoy tea while overlooking the garden.

Italian Garden

Planting Fields Arboretum 

This magnificent bronze sculpture can be seen on the Great Lawn of the estate.

Late Summer Hydrangea

The gardens provide interest during every season of the year. In late summer, hydrangea are the highlight!

Hydrangea along Perennial Walk

The Hydrangea were in bloom for this visit, but come back in summer for the roses! Planting Fields is beautiful every time of year, even in winter!

Planting Fields Arboretum

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and views of Planting Fields! Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! (Linking with: Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Ruby Tuesday and Image-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up.

 My Author Page and Books

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations 

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening By Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

As Always...Happy Gardening! 😊

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2021. All rights reserved.

Long Island Attractions Virtual Garden Tour

Welcome to This Month in the Garden. While many of us seek to take refuge in the garden, many of the public gardens are either closed, on a reservation only basis or limiting the numbers of visitors during these challenging times. Contemplating what to write about for my next post, and while dreaming of returning to these gardens myself, the thought of a virtual garden experience came to mind. I hope you enjoy your visit!

Old Westbury Gardens

The first garden we'll visit on our tour is Old Westbury Gardens. Old Westbury Gardens is located in the town of Old Westbury on the north shore of Long Island. The grounds were the former home of John S. Phipps along with his wife Margarita Grace Phipps and their four children. John Phipps (1874–1958) was an American lawyer and businessman and heir to the Phipps family fortune, along with being a shareholder of his father-in-law's Grace Shipping Lines. He was also director of the Hanover Bank United States Steel Corporation W. R. Grace Company. Phipps had purchased the 160-acre farm on Long Island where he built a large mansion surrounded by breathtaking gardens. The daughter of John and Margarita Phipps re-opened the vast estate following the death of her parents and it is currently run as a non-profit organization open to the public. 

Thatched Cottage

One of the highlights of the estate is this charming Thatched Cottage, which was constructed for the Phipps youngest daughter as a playhouse. The cottage style garden surrounding the cottage consists of an assortment of  blooms, timing a new display for each season.

Walled Garden

Another favorite attraction is the magnificent Walled Garden with its wrought iron gazebos and evergreens for structure, a beautiful lotus pond and an abundance of every kind of bloom you can imagine. The gardens are carefully planned to supply a constant and ever changing sequence of color.

Temple of Love

The "Temple of Love", a marble and wrought iron gazebo overlooking the main pond on the estate, makes for a romantic setting. If you look closely you can see the reflection of the mansion in the distance. 

Planting Fields Arboretum

The next visit on our tour is Planting Fields Arboretum, a 409-acre public arboretum and historic site that is one of the few remaining famous Gold Coast estates located on the north shore of Long Island. Located in the town of Oyster Bay, the estate including a mansion and meticulously kept grounds, was the former home of William Robertson Coe and his wife Mary (Mai) Huttleston Coe in 1913. Planting Fields retains its original historic buildings and landscapes and can be visited year-round.

Italian Garden Planting Fields

This is one of the reflecting pools on the estate known as the Italian Garden. Mai Rogers Coe originally created the site back in 1913 as one of her favorite places to stroll. There are over 40 varieties of perennials that bloom sequentially throughout the year to produce a vibrant display of color.

Play Cottage

This adorable pink playhouse surrounded by a cutting garden built for the youngest child and only daughter Natalie is one of the sights to be seen on the estate. 

Dahlia Garden

On the estate are many cutting gardens and the Dahlias are magnificent this time of year. William Coe had admired Dahlias because of their variety of texture and bold colors. The present day garden constructed in 1998 is maintained by the Mid Island Dahlia Society and is one of the largest and most spectacular dahlia gardens in the northeast. Over 400 varieties of dahlia are tended to and Dahlia Society members donate over 2000 hours a year maintaining the gardens.

Meet the Coe Family (Photo Credit: Planting Fields Arboretum)

Avalon Park & Preserve

Next is Avalon Park & Preserve, a private park and preserve located on the north shore of Long Island, across from the Grist Mill on Harbor Road in the town of Stony Brook. The park and preserve were created to celebrate the life of Paul Simons, a native Long Islander, hiking enthusiast and cyclist, who always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. After his life was prematurely taken away in 1996, the Paul Simons Foundation was formed, and an abandoned 7.5 acres of residential land was purchased to become the future site of Avalon Park. The goal was to celebrate the life of Paul Simon's and his love of nature by creating a natural habitat for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. While the park is managed privately, it is available to the public.

Letters to The Sky

One of the main park trails leads to this giant mirrored sculpture. The phrase Cartas Al Cielo, which is printed by a mail slit on the front, is roughly translated as "letters to the sky". Visitors are supplied with note cards and pencils, allowing them to insert letters containing their deepest thoughts into the enclosed sculpture.

Labyrinth

In the center of the park is this labyrinth leading to a central circle, symbolizing wholeness and eternity, no beginning or end. Above the labyrinth is a sculpture of a "broken" man climbing the rock, an emotional tribute to life of Paul Simons.

Peconic River Herb Farm

Last on our tour is The Peconic River Herb Farm, established in 1986 along the Peconic River on the eastern end of Long Island in Calverton, New York. The farm consists of 14 acres of display gardens, eight greenhouses, a garden shop and picnic areas along the river for visitors to relax and enjoy the view. The farm is a huge draw to visitors from all over and as the name implies, they are known for their extensive variety of herbs, which you can purchase and grow. While there, you may want to take in all the beauty the location has to offer by strolling through the gardens. The story of the Herb Farm began in the late fall/winter of 1986 while the owner, Cristina Spindler was looking for a small farm/garden where she could set up a business selling garden related products. It all started with a small 14 x 24’ hoop house to grow vegetable and herb plants and the farm grew by leaps and bounds to what it is today. 

Potting Shed

Cristina and her husband Michael built this adorable potting shed along with several greenhouses to support all the plants on the farm. 

Hydrangea Walk

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden for August, and be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! (Linking with: Floral Fridays, Macro Monday 2, Ruby Tuesday and Image-in-ing Weekly Photo Link-Up.

For gardening info and tips: Visit my Author Page/Purchase My Books  😊

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations
Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

~As Always...Happy Gardening~

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2010-2020. All rights reserved. 

Early Fall at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park - Long Island

I recently had the pleasure of an early fall visit to Planting Fields Arboretum in late September.  Planting Fields Arboretum is a Gold Coast Era Estate located on the North Shore of Long Island.  First built in 1904 by prominent New Yorker James Bryne, Planting Fields was purchased as a spring country home by William Robertson Coe and his wife Mary "Mai" Huttleston Coe in 1913.  After Mai's death in 1924, Mr Coe remarried and remained in residence with his wife Caroline Graham Slaughter and his four children until his death in 1955.  At that time the property was deeded to the State of New York and Caroline remained in the Manor House until her death in 1960. Planting Fields now exists as a historical landmark.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Japanese Pagoda Tree

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Grounds

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Grounds

As you enter the 409 acre park a vast great lawn with majestic trees is within view.  Hues of golds and oranges are appearing early this year as it is just turning to fall.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Grounds

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Coe Hall

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Coe Hall

The main residence Coe Hall is a 65 room Tudor-Revival Style mansion developed by Walker & Gillette replacing an earlier Queen Anne Style house that burned in 1918.  An outdoor living area was created by the terraces and arches seen here that lead to the Italian Garden nearby.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Coe Hall

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Coe Hall (View from Back Lawn)

European Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica)  Approximately 100 years old

Many mature Beech Trees exist at Planting Fields Arboretum.  For a little bit of history...In 1915 two gigantic beeches from Fairhaven Massachussetts, the childhood home of Mary “Mai” Huttleston Coe, were ferried across the Long Island Sound to Planting Fields.  Only one of the trees possessing a 30 foot wide root ball survived the journey and  lived until 2006.  The legend of the tree lives on today as seedlings were collected from the "Fairhaven Beech" from 2000-2005 and a new tree was started in the back lawn of the mansion.

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

The Dahlia Garden planted in the spring of 1998 is known to be one of the largest and most spectacular dahlia collections in the Northeast consisting of 400 plants. The Mid Island Dahlia Society's members donate nearly 2000 hours a year maintaining these magnificent gardens. The Dahlia Garden is in bloom from August through October and is one of the highlights of the estate.

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Paul Callahan Memorial Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar Arch Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

This magnificent living arbor leading to the greenhouse is formed by just four Weeping Blue Atlas Cedars at approximately twenty feet apart cascading over a supporting frame. These majestic Cedars are just some of the many mature specimen trees at Planting Fields.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Lantana Tree

 Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Main Greenhouse

There are several greenhouses on the estate property.  The large central Main Greenhouse constructed between the years of 1914-1929 is my favorite harboring a variety of tropical plants.   Seen here are numerous species of tropical plants including bromeliads, anthurium, palm trees, croton, and hanging planters as the one pictured below displaying the most magnificent Staghorn fern I have ever seen.

 Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Main Greenhouse

 Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Main Greenhouse Staghorn Fern

  Italian Blue Pool Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

The Italian Blue Pool Garden was originally the site of a tennis house and court that was transformed into a Tea House in 1915 and surrounding perennial gardens in 1918. Seen from the mansion, a rectangular pool with fountains bordered by raised planting walls and English country style gardens form a beautiful display.  It was known to be one of Mrs. Coe's favorite areas on the property.

  Italian Blue Pool Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Perennial Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum-Goldenrod and Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus) Seed Pods

The vine covered arches and perennial gardens of Planting Fields are one of my favorite areas to visit.  At this time of year (late September) combinations of daisies, sunflowers, goldenrod and asters are at their prime displaying a mixture of yellow, white and purple blooms throughout the garden.  

Perennial Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park (September)

September Perennial Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

September Perennial Garden at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park Coe Hall Lower Garden Path & Sitting Area

There are also many serene and tucked away sitting areas like the one shown here at the back area of the mansion...perhaps a quiet retreat.   Leaving the park, majestic trees tower overhead in the serene setting and another visit is complete.

Horsechestnut Tree at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is a beautiful place to visit anytime of year as the gardens change with each season for a constant breathtaking display.  For more on visits to Planting Fields visit my other posts at Planting Fields Arboretum July and Planting Fields Arboretum August.

As Always...Happy Gardening and Happy Fall!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved