Stepping Out

Spring pleasures around Long Island

Welcoming some signs of the season

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We’re finally able to put winter in the rearview mirror. The weather is no longer a topic of daily conversation and at long last we can venture outside without all the layers.
It’s definitely time to enjoy these early days of spring. Here are some ideas to welcome the season – and Earth month – at some of the area’s favorite spots to savor the season.

Old Westbury Gardens
Spring is certainly in the air now at Old Westbury Gardens, which is open weekends throughout April. The renowned Gardens embarks on another season ready to delight visitors with its glorious grounds and a busy schedule of programs and activities.
“We are especially looking forward to this season after the long winter,” said Old Westbury Gardens’ Vincent Kish.
Kish encourages visitors not to wait until summer to explore the Gardens, noting that late April to early June period has much to offer.
“There are always a bunch of different things in bloom here, from early April right through the end of October,” Kish says. “Spring is my favorite season here, by far. This year in particular, perhaps because the months of cold and snow made this past winter seemingly endless, the arrival of the warm spring is that much more welcomed and appreciated. Just getting outside and enjoying the simple act of walking around and getting some fresh air on these wide open spaces and along tree-lined paths is great.
“But when the flowers get going — cherry blossoms, tulips, wisteria, lilacs, and dozens more — the experience becomes something really special. Because it was so cold for so long, some of the plants will need an extra week or so to catch up with their normal blooming cycles. But, one way other, all the flowers that regular visitors to Old Westbury Gardens have become accustomed to seeing, and smelling, will be here to enjoy.”
The cherry blossoms are becoming visible, along with fruit trees and other trees and shrubs that will soon bloom in an array of delicate colors.
Looking ahead, families are invited to Old Westbury Gardens annual Arbor Day event, on Sunday, April 27. Nature’s grandest treasure — the tree — is honored during a Spring Tree Walk, at 2 p.m.
Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury. For more information, contact (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Adventures at Garvies Point Preserve
Enjoy a spring trip to this fascinating preserve, which offers varied activities for the family as the school vacation period winds down. Take a stroll along the shoreline at Garvies Point Preserve and see why beaches are among the earth’s most interesting habitats. Also explore the museum’s ongoing exhibits to learn about the region’s birth and changing geology, and take a look at Native American culture. Hike the trails, meadows and shoreline, during a spring nature walk, on Friday, April 18, at 11 a.m. Kids can also take part in a nature mosaic craft workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., along with a film showing of “All About Animal Adaptations.”
The weekend also includes Dinosaur Day, on Saturday, April 19, 11 am.-4 p.m. Families can explore the prehistoric world of dinosaurs through hands-on activities that include examining fossils, a “fossil dig” and creating a fossil to take home, along with the film “Bizarre Dinosaurs.”
Garvies Point Museum & Preserve, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove. For more information, call (516) 571-8010 or www.garviespointmuseum.com.

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