Main Greenhouse- Spring Display Grounds & Gardens - Azaleas & Rhododendron Walks, Horse Chestnuts, Bluebells, Flowering Crabapples, Lilac Border, Spiraeas, Ornamental Cherry Trees, Dogwoods, Tulips, Tree Peonys Everything seems to be bursting into bloom everywhere in the month of May, and Planting Fields is no exception. Prepare for a long walk if you want to see the many flowering trees, shrubs, and herbs that grow here on the grounds. A good place to start is with the SYNOPTIC GARDEN which you can enter from the BEECH DRIVE, opposite the first parking lot. This garden, developed early in the 1960’s, was an innovative idea in garden design. Many ornamental deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs that will grow well on Long Island are planted in alphabetical order by scientific name, from Abelia to Zenobia. Hundreds of new trees, shrubs, perennials, & bulbs have been added over the years. Some artistic license is taken for the sake of the composition of a particular bed, so you may find a few plants out of their proper alphabetical order. The plants are labeled with their scientific and common names, plant family, and country of origin. When no country is listed, the plant is a hybrid. Planting Fields is best known for its collections of Azaleas and Rhododendrons, most of which will bloom this month. Across from the SYNOPTIC GARDEN is the newly renovated Rhododendron collection. Horse chestnuts, Aesculus parviflora, white, Aesculus pavia, and Aesculus carnea cv. Briotti, both red, are also in bloom nearby. Shadbush, or Serviceberry, Amelanchier species, also nearby, is handsome with its dainty white flowers. As you proceed, look for Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles species, with their showy red, pink, white, and salmon blooms; also, the Redbuds or Judas trees, Cercis species, with pinkish red flowers. ‘Forest pansy’ has deep maroon leaves all summer. Fothergilla species has flowers shaped like white bottle brushes, while Enkianthus perulatus has clusters of tiny white bells. There are so many flowering plants to enjoy that we cannot mention them all, but don’t miss the Hardy Orange, Poncirus trifoliata, with the familiar fragrance of the sweet orange blossom we know, though its fruit is very bitter. In the same general area, see the Lilacs, Syringa species, the Spiraeas, with their graceful arching branches, and further back the many different kinds of Viburnums. The blue and white flower spikes you see in such profusion on the ground are Spanish and English Bluebells, Scilla campanulata and Scilla nutans. Don’t miss the Flowering Crabapples Malus species, on the lawn as you continue on your way. They are so spectacular that we have several kinds planted in several areas throughout the grounds. Many new varieties of crabapples are planted behind the MAIN GREENHOUSE. If you follow the path through the newly renovated DWARF CONIFER GARDEN and the HOLLY TRAIL you will pass the RHODODENDRON SPECIES TEST BEDS. The CONIFER TRAIL lies just beyond on the way to the HEATHER GARDEN with its fish pond.English Bluebells are growing on the bank above the heathers and heaths where they were planted by Mr. Coe. The south exit from the HEATHER GARDEN is a great place for a scenic view of the WEST LAWN. Notice the many large specimen shade trees, particularly the Beeches and the Oaks. Turn left and walk up the hill through the CHERRY COLLECTION. There are many varieties of ornamental cherries here including prunus serrulata ‘shirofugen’ with double, light pink flowers. Find the path that leads to the ROSE ARBOR and follow it until you see the display of Tree Peonys, Paeonia suffruticosa, to your left. Many of these valuable plants were a gift from Dr. David Gurin of Great Neck. The road at the other end of the ROSE ARBOR is the MAIN DRIVE. A right turn will take you down the hill to the BIRD SANCTUARY and WILDFLOWER WALK, and eventually through extensive plantings of rhododendrons and azaleas to the CARSHALTON GATES. If you turn left you will pass the AZALEA WALK on your way to the ARBORETUM CENTER and the MAIN GREENHOUSES. The seasonal display in the HIBISCUS HOUSE will resemble an English Spring Garden, featuring Hydrangeas, Foxglove, Delphinium, and Martha Washington Geraniums. The resident collections of Bromeliads, Orchids, Cactus and Succulents, Ferns, Begonias and House Plants are all on display in the usual places. Arboretum Highlights can be found in the Visitor Center located at the Main Greenhouse.