Bayard Cutting Arboretum
PO Box 466
Oakdale, NY 11769 (mailing address)
440 Montauk Highway
Great River, NY 11739 (location)
(516) 581-1002
www.bayardcuttingarboretum.com/

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum was donated to the Long Island State Park Region by Mrs. William Bayard Cutting and her daughter in the memory of William Bayard Cutting "to provide an oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest, and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty; and to bring about a greater appreciation and understanding of the value and importance of informal planting."

This beautiful landscape was conceived by the noted landscape architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmstead. It contains a wide variety of species of trees and plantings, including fir, spruce, pine, cypress, hemlock, yew, and other lesser known conifers. Also found are dwarf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas, hollies, and oaks. Wildflowers and daffodils are featured in many native woodland locations.

Adjoining Heckscher State Park, the Arboretum is home to a broad range of land and aquatic birds, and visitors occasionally see foxes, raccoons, and other small animals.

The former Cutting Residence contains magnificent fireplaces, woodworkings, stained glass windows, and a small Natural History Museum featuring an extensive collection of mounted birds.

Concerts, meetings, classes, and exhibits by horticultural and performing arts groups are often presented here. Contact the Arboretum Director for information on these programs.

The Arboretum definitely fulfills its purpose of providing a beautiful, quiet place for visitors. Educational Programs for individual adults cover subjects relating mostly to horticulture, with others on history, cooking, ecology, etc.

Guided Tours of the Arboretum are offered to School Groups, and are probably best for older children studying horticulture or botany.