Home > Recreation > GardeningPublic Gardens in the Finger LakesGardening is a popular activity in the Finger Lakes, despite the fact that the growing and viewing seasons are shorter than many would like. The gardens listed here are gardens open to the public (at least part of the year) and not necessarily "public gardens". Livingston CountyLinwood Gardens1912 York Rd. Pavilion, NY 14525 585-584-3913 Private tree peony garden of the late William H. Gratwick III open to the public on weekends in May and early June.
Spencer J. Roemer Arboretum1 College Circle SUNY Geneseo Geneseo, NY 14454 More than 70 species of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers on 20 acres on the South Campus. Monroe CountyDurand-Eastman Park1200 Kings Highway Rochester, NY 14617 Slavin's Arboretum in Durand-Eastman Park offers a wide variety of mature trees. Of special note is Pine Valley, a world class pinetum of many rare and unusual conifers, and Rhododendron Valley, planted with members of the Ericaceae family. Trails. Ellwanger Garden625 Mt. Hope Ave. Owned by the Landmark Society, this half-acre garden once belonged to noted nurseryman and horticulturist George Ellwanger of Mt. Hope Nurseries. The Victorian-style garden is an oasis of perennials, trees, and shrubs. Extensive collection of peonies. Genesee Country Village & Museum1410 Flint Hill Rd. A historic village with 57 19th-century buildings and 11 historic gardens. Vegetables, fruit orchards, herbs, and heirloom perennials. Events and tours. Admission charge. George Eastman House900 East Ave. On the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark, the Eastman House is maintained as an international museum of photography and film. Its 12.5-acres of grounds include a terrace, a rock garden, a sunken garden, and more than 300 varieties of historic perennials, bulbs, ground covers, trees, and shrubs. Listed by the National Geographic Society as one of the best public gardens in the U.S. and Canada. Special events and tours. Admission charge for the museum.
Highland Park180 Resevoir Ave. Rochester, NY 14620 585-244-8079 Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Highland Park is an arboretum with thousands of trees and shrubs, including the 1,200 lilacs that are featured during the Lilac Festival held in May each year. The park also includes the Lamberton Conservatory, the Warner Castle and its sunken garden, a shade border, a rock garden, a courtyard garden, a fern bed, a 13th-century herb garden, and classic and miniature roses. Maplewood Rose Garden28 Driving Park Ave. Technically a city park, Maplewood has over 3,000 plants of 300 varieties of both modern and classic roses in grouped beds on a 1-acre site. Peak bloom is the second week in June during which time there is a 3-day festival. Fountain with cascading water, benches, picnic area.
Rochester Museum & Science Center657 East Ave. The museum maintains 12 acres near the center of the city with stately trees, native wildflowers, a formal herb garden, and colorful annuals. Admission charge to the museum.
Sharon's Sensory Garden95 Douglas Rd. Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 585-256-5877 A sensory (touch, tear, smell) garden with raised beds, smooth, wide paths, and Braille and raised-lettering plant labels. Photos University of Rochester Arboretum612 Wilson Blvd. Located along the Genesee River, this campus-wide arboretum was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. It contains many old and large trees accented by native perennials and other plants. Webster Arboretum1700 Schlegel Rd. This 32.5-acre arboretum is a treasure trove of cultivated and natural landscapes, including a pond, woodland trails, a modern rose garden, an antique rose garden, an herb garden, a butterfly garden, a children's garden, as well as perennial theme gardens. More than 50 varieties of trees and shrubs.
Ontario CountySonnenberg Gardens151 Charlotte St. Now a state historic park, Sonnenberg was the Victorian summer home of Frederick Ferris Thompson and his wife Mark Clark Thompson. Its 40-room mansion was built in 1887. The grounds contain a conservatory, a Japanese tea house, a par terre, and many other garden features, as well as 4,000 roses, nine theme gardens, and many stately trees. Listed by the National Geographic Society as on of the best public gardens in the U.S. and Canada. Events and tours. Next to the Finger Lakes Wine Center. Tioga CountyTioga Gardens2217 State Rt. 17C Nursery, conservatory, and water gardens. Tompkins CountyCornell PlantationsOne Plantations Rd. Listed by the National Geographic Society as one of the best public gardens in the U.S. and Canada, the Cornell Plantations includes the 14 collections in the botanical gardens, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, and the more than 4,000 acres of natural areas (fens, bogs, gorges, glens, meadows, and woodlands) belonging to Cornell University. Make sure you visit their Web site. Brochures outside and in the gift shop. Events and tours. Ithaca Children's GardenCass Park 701 Taughannock Blvd. (State Rt. 89) Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-2292 A 3-acre site across from the inlet to Cayuga Lake whose main feature is a wetland habitat garden with a huge Turtle Earth sculpture.
Lavender GardenIthaca High School District 400 Lake St. Ithaca, NY 14850 274-2143 Originally a mound of dirt left over after a construction project, the Lavender Garden is located in the courtyard of the school district building just off the parking lot. The mound was converted by a talented local resident and now has stone paths past many plants, including roses, lavender, and some rock garden plants, that love a warm, sunny location. The end of June-early July is its peak period.
Wayne Myers' Gardens1071 Michigan Hollow Rd. Spencer, NY 14883 607-589-4572 The work of just one man, this is truly an amazing place. Here you'll find an mill, a covered bridge, a gazebo, a delightful potting shed, an enormous stone sundial and numerous gardens. In addition, on display is a rare fossil of an ancient sea creature that was found on the property. This is a private garden that is open to the public by chance or by appointment. Please sign the guest book while there. Al Wurster Memorial Rock Gardenentrance on Dey St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-2292 Maintained by the Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society in memory of a former member of the chapter, the rock garden logically incorporates a water feature among a wide variety of alpines and rock garden plants.
Updated 26 September 2008 |
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