Lasdon Arboretum
Lasdon
Park and Arboretum is a magnificent 234-acre property consisting of woodlands, open grass meadows and formal
gardens that offer a picturesque area to view various
tree, shrub and flower specimens from all over the world.
Lasdon is the site of the Chinese Friendship Pavilion
that was a gift from the People's Republic of China
to the citizens of Westchester. The park is also home
to four inspirational memorials and a museum honoring
Westchester veterans.
Situated off Route 35, Lasdon is bounded
on the south and east by New York City watershed property,
the Amawalk River and the county's own Muscoot Farm,
and on the west by the 20-acre Mildred D. Lasdon Bird
and Nature Sanctuary.
Originally called Cobbling Rock Farm,
the Lasdon estate was purchased by William and Mildred
Lasdon in 1939. Know for establishing a major pharmaceutical
company and for their philanthropic endeavors, the Lasdon
family used the estate as a country retreat and had
a full-time staff to maintain its buildings and grounds.
William Lasdon had a keen interest in horticulture and,
through his world traveling, imported many tree specimens
to his estate.
In 1986, Westchester County purchased
the property from the Lasdons for $4.2 million as part
of the county's continuous effort to obtain and preserve
open space. During that summer, the motion picture "The
Secret of My Success" was filmed within the formal
gardens, pool and main house. Much of the formal grounds
remain as they were originally designed, and Westchester
County has been developing and embellishing the collections
on the property.
Today, Lasdon Park is the horticultural
hub of Westchester County. The Colonial Revival-style
pavilion main house provides office for groups such
as the Ninth District Federated Garden Clubs and the
Westchester Tree Protective Association, and is home
to the Lasdon Horticultural Library. The house also
consists of meeting rooms for horticultural workshops
and botanical art classes, a gallery for art exhibits,
and serves as the headquarters for te Friends of Lasdon
Park and Arboretum volunteer organization. The pool
house has been converted into the Shop at Lasdon, an
information center and plant shop that offers plants
and gardening-related items for sale, and is staffed
by members of the Friends of Lasdon.
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The arboretum consists of woodlands,
open grass meadows and formal gardens that feature a
variety of tree, shrub and flower specimens from all
over the world. Among the most beautiful planting in
the arboretum are the large azalea garden, the yellow
magnolia grove, and extensive lilac and pine collections,
and a flowering tree grove. Surrounding the arboretum
is a pond and 200 acres of woodlands that contain many
specimen trees and plantings that provide habitat for
deer, coyote, fox, wild turkey and other native mammals.
- The
Azalea Garden and Formal Gardens - Among the
most beautiful plantings in the arboretum is the large
azalea garden with hundreds of red, white, pink, magenta,
yellow and lavender azaleas that create a hillside
of color in the spring. Nestled among the azaleas
is a series of small ponds and waterfalls creating
a natural setting, with a trail leading to a small
gazebo. Next to the azalea garden is a dwarf conifer
collection containing a variety of pines, spruces,
firs and cypress. The arboretum is also home to a
variety of magnolia species, including several rare
yellow specimens which were the first of their kind
to be developed in the world at the Brooklyn Botanic
Garden in the 1950's.
-
The Famous and Historic
Tree Trail - The Famous and Historic Tree Trail
features species that commemorate historic events
and famous Americans from our country's past. At each
station, one can read about a famous person or event
to which the original parent tree was witness. The
trees were grown from seeds of the original trees
provided by the American Forestry Association.
- The
William & Mildred Lasdon Memorial Garden - The William and Mildred Lasdon Memorial Garden site
is a one-acre garden created in memory of the Lasdons
and made possible through a donation by their daughter,
Mrs. Nanette Laitman. The Lasdon Memorial Garden is
composed of three distinct areas: an entrance court
with a fragrance garden, a formal garden and a synoptic
garden.
- The
Chinese Friendship Pavilion and Cultural Garden - This four-acre garden and pavilion symbolize the
close bonds between Westchester County and its Sister
City, Jingzhou, in the People's Republic of China.
The Friendship Pavilion, a gift from that city, is
the focal point of the garden. The classic Chinese
structure was constructed in China, disassembled,
and shipped to the United States, where it was installed
by several craftsmen from China with the assistance
of park staff. The pavilion surrounded by a developing
culture garden with such native Chinese plantings
as bamboo and Kousa dogwood, overlooking a picturesque
pond with a stone dust pathway for meditation.
-
The Westchester Veterans
Memorial and Museum - Lasdon is home to four
memorials and a museum that honor all Westchester
County servicemen and women who have served their
country in various branches of military service. They
were funded through the efforts of the Vietnam Memorial
Committee and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Westchester
Chapter 49.
- The
Mildred D. Lasdon Bird and Nature Sanctuary - This 22-acre preserve was donated to the county
in 1976 by William Lasdon and named for his wife.
A self-guided trail affords views of many species
of birds, and as many as 20 distinct types of warblers
can be observed there during migration.
Hours:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Daily
Admission:
FREE |
