How does your garden grow? If you’re looking for inspiration — or just a lovely spot to pull off the road, celebrate the season and get a little fresh air on your way from here to there — these (mostly) North Fork gardens are where you will find pretty peonies, luscious lavender, fragrant herbs and community-grown produce. No shovels or thumbs are required.
Lavender By the Bay
3536 Middle Country Road, Calverton, 631-381-0730
Technically, it’s a farm, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Lavender By the Bay. People hit refresh daily for updates on whether the blooming season has started as late spring approaches. The English lavender comes first, typically in June, and right now the French lavender is hitting its early July peak. Don’t be fooled by the name — lavender comes in multiple colors, including white, pale blue, pink and various shades of purple. Go see for yourself on 1.5-hour tours (tickets are required and go fast).
Landcraft Garden Foundation
4342 Grand Ave., Mattituck, 631-298-7216
Found between Long Island Sound, Mattituck Creek and Peconic Bay, Landcraft Garden Foundation’s coastal surroundings allow it to produce a longer growing season. From May through October, visitors can tour the 17-acre grounds and see rare exotic fauna, peonies, lilies and more. Sculpture and yoga in the gardens provide more opportunities for zen.
Hallockville Museum Farm
6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-298-5292
At Hallockville Museum Farm you can choose your own garden adventure, with grounds that are home to multiple gardens. Heirloom and heritage gardens showcase perennials, vegetables, greens and herbs common in the 18th and 19th centuries. The community garden, where folks can rent plots to grow their own vegetables, flowers and other pleasing plants, is all thumbs on deck. Public tours take place from May through October, with private and group tours offered year-round.
Southold Historical Society
55200 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-5500
Located in the back of the 1700s Thomas Moore House on the Maple Lane campus, Southold Historical Society’s herb garden recreates the ones Colonial-era North Forkers needed to survive. There’s an educational and community aspect in these parts, and Suffolk Cornell Cooperative Extension has an annual Master Gardener Volunteer program that’s open to gardeners of all levels. Tours are self-guided and buildings are open from 1 to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through mid-September.
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
3 Old Country Road, Quogue
Just off the North Fork, find ecologically rare Dwarf Pines, seven miles of trails, a butterfly garden and greenhouse and wildlife healing from injuries at this spacious 305-acre refuge. Stroll along the brick walkway and see pollinators that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. You may also say hello (from a polite distance) to resident tortoises Mortis, Riga, Spike, Cactus and Red-Foot.
Sylvester Manor
80 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-0626
When you’re not traveling back in time via the 1600s farm home to the Manor house, walk through the gardens. The initial garden, thought to be planted in the 1650s by the Sylvester family, was likely a site of veggies, herbs and fruit trees. Today, the two-acre garden resembles Cornelia Horsford’s vision for a Colonial revival. Spot American Pillar Roses climbing porches and daffodils aplenty.
