Signs of spring at Old Westbury Gardens

The days are getting longer and warmer weather has arrived. It’s time to venture outside and enjoy these early days of spring! Here are some ideas to bring on the season.

Old Westbury Gardens
Spring is in the air at Old Westbury Gardens, which is open weekends in April, beginning Saturday, April 10. The renowned Gardens embarks on its 51st year ready to delight visitors with those glorious gardens and an array of programs and activities.

The first signs of the season are beginning to appear. “We are really looking forward to the season,” said Old Westbury Gardens’ Vincent Kish. “With the economy in the doldrums, people are taking mini ‘staycations’ and we are happy to provide a venue with a full day of experiences.”
Kish urges visitors not to miss out on the late April to early June period. “It’s especially beautiful in mid to late spring when there are so many things blooming,” he said.
But, meanwhile, for those who have already caught the spring fever bug, the Gardens holds a certain appeal.“Visiting the Gardens in April is a special experience,” said Kish. “The weather is still a little brisk and invigorating during long walks on our many trails. You’ll be able to see the last of the wildflowers and tulips are getting ready to open.”
Visitors can enjoy it all quietly by themselves or on a guided tour.
Poetica Musica, Old Westbury Gardens’ chamber music artists-in-residence, presents its first performance of the 2010 season, on April 10, in Westbury House’s Red Ballroom. The ensemble – cellist Eugene Moye, Barry Crawford, flute, pianist Maria Antonia Garcia, and guest artist pianist Natasa Mitrovic – performs “From Russia With Love.” The program includes Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major by Sergei Prokofieff, The Sonata in D minor, Opus 40 by Dmitri Shostakovtich, selected Preludes for solo piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and works for piano four hands by Gavlin and Rachmaninoff.
Admission is $25, $20 students and seniors. Registration is required. The fee includes admission to the house and grounds and a meet-the-artists reception after the concert. A pre-concert talk is offered at 7:30 p.m., with the concert at 8 p.m.
Looking ahead, the Gardens’ always popular Dog Days return April 17-18. It’s an opportunity to enjoy the Gardens with your faithful companion and visit with other dogs and their owners. The main day, April 17, features agility demonstrations, games and contests, sponsored by the Ladies Kennel Association, including a dog treat hunt and the Canine Good Citizen Test. Animal welfare and rescue groups also take part.
Old Westbury Gardens is located at 71 Old Westbury Rd, Old Westbury. For more information, contact (516) 333-0048 or visit www.oldwestburygardens.org.

Rabbits on display at Old Bethpage Village
It wouldn’t be spring without a glimpse of prize rabbits of all shapes and sizes. The Long Island Rabbit Breeders Association Show makes its annual appearance during Old Bethpage Village Restorations’s opening weekend, on Saturday, April 10. Visitors will see 1,500 prize rabbits compete for best in class, best in breed and best in show.
The popular and family-friendly show – a tradition at OBVR – showcases a variety of breeds, including Belgian Hares, English Angoras, Holland Lops, and New Zealands, among others. It 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.
“After a very long winter, we’re pleased to begin our programming with this unique and colorful Old Bethpage Village tradition,” said Jim McKenna, OBVR site director and curator. “It’s a terrific event for families, and lots of fun for kids, but we find that people of all ages have a great time viewing the incredible variety of rabbits and either reacquainting themselves with the village or discovering it for the first time.”
The sight of all those rabbits – ranging size from tiny, little creatures to some that are the size of small dog – delights kids and adults alike. “Everyone who comes by is fascinated by these gorgeous rabbits,” said McKenna. “It’s a great way to welcome spring.”
Families visiting the restored village can also attain first-hand experience about what life was like during a simpler time, through OBVR’s “History Alive” program, on Sunday, April 11.
Kids – and their parents – can take part in the everyday chores of 19th-century life, including churning fresh cream into butter at the Powell Farmhouse, carding wool at the Benjamin House, assisting in making a hat, and sweeping the porch at the General Store with a handmade corn broom. Families can also play 19th century games, one of which involves rolling wooden hoops beside the Noon Inn, among other experiences from bygone days.
The History Alive! program takes place on April 11, 18 and 25 and May 2, 9, 16 and 23, noon-4 p.m.
Visit the recreated 19th century village at Round Swamp Rd. in Old Bethpage. For more information, call (516) 572-8400.