Spring pleasures around Long Island

(Page 3 of 4)
Looking ahead, families are invited to Old Westbury Gardens’ annual Arbor Day event, “A Tree-Mendous Celebration,” on Sunday, April 28. Nature’s grand treasures – the tree – are honored during a busy day highlighting how the tree contributes to our world. Examine the basics of tree biology, learn how trees influence our everyday lives, with crafts and plant giveaways, among other activities.
Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury. For more information, contact (516) 333-0048 or www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Rabbit Show at Old Bethpage Village
It wouldn’t be spring without a visit from prize rabbits – in all colors and sizes – at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. The Long Island Rabbit Breeders Association (LIBRA) Show makes its annual appearance on Saturday, April 13, as the restored village welcomes over 1,500 rabbits to compete for best in breed and best in show, among other categories.
The popular and family-friendly show is a longstanding tradition at OBVR. It showcases a variety of breeds, approximately 30 in all. Rabbits – that harbinger of spring –appear in all their many variations: Mini Rexes, Netherland Dwarfs, Belgian Hares, English Angoras, Holland Lops, New Zealands, and the enormous Flemish Giants, among others. The show takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the 8,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall, an accurate reproduction of the original exhibit hall built at the Queens County Agricultural Society Fairgrounds in Mineola in 1866.
The only event sanctioned by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) on Long Island, the show attracts some 300 breeders from through the northeast, according to Carol Doukas, a former breeder, and LIBRA member. “People come from all over to show their rabbits,” Doukas said. “It’s a busy day and we welcome the public to get acquainted with our show and the breeders. We are happy to share our knowledge of rabbits and spread the word about these wonderful animals. They make great pets.”
Page 3 / 4