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For my March birthday, a friend gifted me with an early Spring visit to Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay on the North Shore of Long Island NY. Big bonus: no parking fees until May 1st so it was a frugal outing!
Planting Fields Arboretum is a New York State treasure. Previously owned by the wealthy Coe family, this Gold Coast estate was deeded to New York State in 1949 and is now managed as part of the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation system.
Planting Fields is a 409 acre site with incredible landscaping by the Olmstead Brothers, who also designed Central Park. It boasts several formal gardens, spacious lawns, woodland trails and two greenhouses that shelter a diverse horticultural collection. It’s been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
The estate’s original residence was the grand Byrne House, begun in 1906 by property owners James and Helen Byrne. The Byrne House was conceived by Grosvenor Atterbury and constructed in a ‘modern picturesque’ style.
The Coe family, English immigrant William Robertson Coe and his wife Mai Rogers Coe, purchased the land and its manor from the Byrnes in 1913. William rose from humble beginnings to become chairman of a large marine insurance company, while Mai was the heiress and daughter of Henry Huttleson Rogers, a partner and president of Standard Oil. The Coes enjoyed only a few summer seasons living and entertaining in The Byrne House before it burned down in 1918.
Ground was broken for its replacement almost immediately. The even grander Coe Hall is a 65-room Tudor revival mansion envisioned by architects Walker and Gillette. It was completed in 1921 during the Roaring Twenties economic boom. This commanding edifice dominates the park.
The grounds of Planting Fields Arboretum also contain a number of impressive outbuildings, such as a tea house, a mushroom cellar and a hay barn, in addition to the already mentioned greenhouses, renowned for their wide variety of botanical specimens — notably hibiscuses, orchids, succulents and palms. Some fascinating plants from the main conservatory, Hibiscus House, are showcased in photos below, as are a few of the site’s other prominent attractions.
This odyssey was sandwiched between the tail end of Winter and the first hint of Spring, so the ‘bones’ of the site — those elements that provide structure and add interest to the gardens and horticultural collection — were completely exposed. I thought perhaps they could serve as inspiration for your own gardens since some features could easily be incorporated as scaled down versions.
Also always keep in mind that you don’t have to wander far from home to find wonders of all kinds. Beauty is everywhere.
Get ready now and roll up for the tour...
Arbor complex at the entrance to Planting Fields Arboretum with my friend strolling on in. Hibiscus House is in the background to the right.
The Hay Barn. Mews connect to the barn on either side. It’s currently a conference center.
Bronze statue of Orpheus and Eurydice by Ray Johnson on a garden path.
Great Laurel about to burst into bloom along same path.
The Tea House overlooking The Italian Garden, which features a sunken concourse that protects plants from wind, a central fountain (tarped) and pair of outdoor side rooms. The entire space was used for garden parties.
The Tea House. Note the simple, but elegant brickwork pattern which is integrated throughout the estate. Structures that display this style of architecture are legacy bits and bobs from the time when the Byrne family owned and occupied the property.
Interior view of The Tea House.
Interior view of The Tea House shot through a window, with a reflection of an arbor near the ceiling.
Outdoor room on the western side of The Tea House, with trellises and bench.
Bench with Shepard Plaque in an outdoor room on the eastern side of The Tea House.
Trellis alley leading to the Main House, Coe Hall.
Entrance to Coe Hall. Check out that brickwork!
Bench in the entry courtyard to Coe Hall. Notice the repeating brickwork pattern. This bench and the wall behind it were originally part of Byrne House.
Espaliered tree in the courtyard leading to Coe Hall.
View of Coe Hall from the courtyard. Reconstruction is underway.
Sundial above the West Portico entrance to Coe Hall. Might double as a rainspout.
West Portico, the main entrance to Coe Hall. The path leading up from the courtyard is in the background. A recessed Meditation Garden is to the left.
Coe Hall with reconstruction and climbing vines. North facade bordering the Great Lawn.
Hidden Meditation Garden tucked under the south walkway of Coe Hall.
View of Coe Hall from a woodland trail. The Great Lawn is beyond.
This means YOU!
Snapped this photo of a couple seated on a bench upon The Great Lawn.
Hibiscus House, the main greenhouse. A few specimens harbored inside are highlighted below.
Red Laceleaf
White Laceleaf
Vireya Rhododendron
Planter molded and carved from plant fibers.
Something you don’t see every day — Daffodils blooming on the First of March alongside Birds of Paradise!
Bird of Paradise
Bench among Daffodils and Ferns.
Detail of Bench Seat.
Cacao tree
Cacao pods
Hatchling Kinfolk
Venus Slipper
Orchids
Orchids
Orchids
Orchid
Orchid
Epostoa Melanostele
Mammillaria
Buddha Belly
Mushroom House, the last building before the exit. It was used to store mushrooms that were harvested on the property. Now it’s just a storage shed. There’s that brickwork again.
The west side of Mushroom House showcasing circular window, domed shutters and brickwork.
The back of Mushroom House with attached long bench. Brickwork is on display to full advantage. A fitting end to a lovely visit.
Hope you all enjoyed my local travelblog!
For more information on Planting Fields Arboretum, visit: plantingfields.org
Happy Gardening! 🌱
Remember always: Teach Love. Live Love. Be Love ❤️
