As you travel along Montauk Highway in Great River, you will find Bayard Cutting Arboretum, a 200-acre “oasis of beauty and quiet.”

Whether you are a plant or wildlife lover, or just out to enjoy a walk along the shores of the Connetquot River, you are sure to find something wonderful here.
My favorite time in the Arboretum begins in March, when the amazing ospreys return from South America to breed and raise their chicks in the same nest used in previous years. These massive nests can be up to six feet wide and weigh up to 2,000 pounds! In September, the ospreys begin their migration to South America, where the young will spend two or three years until they mature and then make an incredible journey back to the area in which they were born. How many of us can travel anywhere without our navigational equipment? Yet this spectacular bird makes a migration to another continent and returns to its breeding grounds.

On a visit to the Arboretum, you might have the opportunity to view these birds circling overhead and then diving into the water to catch a fish, or the egrets standing quietly along the shoreline plucking fish from the river.

You will not be disappointed by the variety of trees and plant life. The Long Island Dahlia Society plants, designs and maintains a large dahlia exhibit. A dahlia contest is held twice a year, but you don’t need to be a competitor to enjoy the variety and splendor of this flower.

There are plenty of benches and resting spots so you can relax and take in the sights, or you can bring your own blanket and chair and lounge on the grounds. There are walking trails throughout the Park, and if you find that you need some refreshments, just head to the Bayard Cutting Mansion where you will find a café.

Once you experience the beauty of Bayard Cutting Arboretum, I am sure that you will return many times. For more information about the Arboretum, visit its website or the New York State Parks site.

Have you visited Bayard Cutting Arboretum? Tell us what you love about it!

Is another of Long Island’s beautiful parks your favorite? Please share your recommendations!