Old Westbury Gardens

I took the kids to Old Westbury Gardens in Westbury, NY. They love walking around all the gardens and following the winding paths and I love to see what is blooming and how the gardens are coming along. 

Old Westbury is the former home of John S. Phipps and was one of the old Gold Coast estates of Long Island. The mansion sits on nearly 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes.

The walled garden is my favorite spot. As soon as you enter, you can feel the temperature rise and each of the beds are so beautifully planted. Above, various types of Rubeckia are in bloom.

Pink and white Phlox, blue Salvia and more.

A beautiful mixed bed in August.

I like to imagine what it would be like if this was my garden. To be able to walk around it every day and enjoy it's beauty. But then, I think of all the work that is involved in maintaining a garden this size and I'm just happy to be able to enjoy it.

These wrought iron gates create the entryway into the walled garden.

It's such a magical place!

Garden Tour: House #4 Oyster Bay Cove

The fourth and final house on the Garden Tour along Long Island's Gold Coast was in Oyster Bay Cove, NY. The home on this property was originally built for Thomas F. Young, a colonial merchant in 1863. It was later owned by Charles Lewis Tiffany II, son of Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Colonial Revival home is beautiful in its own right, but the five acres of property are stunning.

The pool garden is green and simple with lawn, a Japanese holly hedge and a natural stonewall dividing it from the cutting garden. Above, the view of the pool from the covered patio. 

Overlooking the pool, this patio is the perfect place to relax out of the sun and enjoy a glass of lemonade. Behind the couch and chairs is a small kitchenette, cabinet space and a small table.

To the left of the pool, the stonewall fence is planted with Nepeta (Catmint) and Rosa 'Carefree Wonder.' Behind it is the cutting garden.

The cutting garden (above) is planted with all sorts of beautiful flowers. Currently blooming were magnificent blooms of white Phlox.

Adjacent to the cutting garden is a bountiful vegetable garden. A black walnut tree shades the corner of this garden in the background.

Behind the pool and next to the covered patio was a glass greenhouse for potting and overwintering plants.

Wisteria grew along the sides and top of the pergola by the covered patio. Potted Hibiscus added color.

To the right of the pool, steps lead down to a grassy lower courtyard, framed by brick walls. One length of this garden is planted with heirloom lilacs, underplanted with perennial geraniums and bulbs. This area looked like a great place for some lawn games!

The shade garden is overhung by a large flowering cherry tree. Planted along the brick wall were various Ferns and Hostas. Beyond the wall is another 20 acres of preserved land which contains a stream, pond and wetlands with rare ferns and wild orchids.

Each house on this tour was different but each beautiful in it's own right. I hope you enjoyed coming along with me!

Be sure to check out the other homes on the Garden Tour:
House #1: Centre Island
House #2: Lattingtown
House #3: Bayville