Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Went today to stretch the legs and it was lovely – snack bar was better than most and there was a lovely breeze that kept us all cool. They are strict about what you’re allowed to do but the walk and the water was very nice.

First time at Bayard and it was simply, beautiful. I hope to come back when all the flowers boom. I definitely enjoyed my saturday afternoon here. Walked the trails that were by the water, had coffee and some pie at the Hidden Oak Café — delicious. I think my pictures will do a better job explaining its beauty.

Couldn’t be happier that I choose to throw my sister’s baby shower at The Hidden Oak Café. We had a party over 30 guests and were able to use the Annex room, which was very great. We went with the tea party which every one loved. The price was reasonable. Staff was amazing from beginning to end. I will highly recommend T.H.O.C. to anyone throwing a shower or small event.

We had my sister’s bridal shower at the Hidden Oak Café, specifically afternoon tea in the Library Room which can host 18 – 28 people. I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out! Danielle was our main contact person and was very accessible by phone, very professional and helpful. They were able to accommodate all of our requests including a vegan sandwich order and a high chair. The Library Room is so beautiful that we really didn’t need much in the way of decorations. Our server on the day of was Katie, and she was unbelievably kind and so helpful! She anticipated some of our needs and took care of them before we even realized! Even though the café was also super busy and she was splitting her time between the café and the Library, we never felt like our party was neglected in any way. It was such a beautiful day and I know my sister, family, and loved ones had a wonderful time. It’s such a hidden gem in a sea of generic, overpriced bridal shower places across Long Island! Thank you so much to everyone who helped make my sister’s day so wonderful.

Being a fan of the beautiful arboretum, I decided to have my daughters baby shower in the Library room of the Hidden Oak Café. Everything was wonderful! Danielle was very helpful from beginning to end, with suggestions for seating, decorating and party planning. Victoria was our hostess that day and she was friendly and helpful, answering questions about Manor House, while clearing the tables and serving us a delicious lunch! If you’ve ever eaten at the café, you know that the salads and sandwiches we chose were as fresh and tasty as they were pretty to look at. My quests enjoyed our shower and the Hidden Oak experience.

I’ve been coming to bayard for years, picnics, hikes, events, it’s a beautifully preserved spot. They grow veggies and hops! The dahlia garden this year I felt wasn’t as amazing as in the past, but the grounds are really great.
They have a few free concerts here and there, the snack shop is good and people always seem to enjoy it.
It used to be old golf and polo grounds if I remember right but go learn the history for yourself.
Good trails, wildlife, and the water was looking clean this year which makes me happy, $ 8 to park In season I think. Worth it.
I once walked around the entire arboretum with a curious little butterfly on my finger, she never strayed, only liked me, it was shocking really.
Last week a buddy and I were about to walk back to the car when we saw the ground moving… Yeah, it was a gopher or a chipmunk or some sort of burrowing animal I wish we witness pop out of his little mounded trail. Would of been awesome!
Anyway yeah, have a picnic with the lady or just enjoy nature.
An oasis of quiet, let’s keep it that way, and clean too!

My husband & I LOVE it here… Absolutely beautiful !! This is now our home away from home!!! Just paid for our tickets for the Christmas Holiday Tour in December !! Can’t wait !!

This place is a beautiful gem! My daughter and I love it here. Be sure to check out the Dahlia Garden!

Peaceful. The sign upon entrance says «An oasis of quiet» and it lives up to that statement. Paths wind through unusual trees and flower beds each marked with their names. Walks along the river and through pine forests with benches scattered about so you can sit and soak up the calm. Bring a camera.

I was expecting morr diversity in flowers and plants (not the same as planting fields arboretum) but I guess coming in October, everything has already bloomed in spring and summer. There were some nice trees I liked, and even one you can enter into like in Pocahontas haha. (But its not a wheeping willow) come by for a nice walk by the river and some good coffee and (mediocre) pie in the oak café. (Maybe order their cookies and cakes instead.)

This morning my parents, family friends and I decided to go to Bayard Cutting Arboretum. I’ve had this placed bookmarked for months now. and I’ve heard it’s beautiful! Woke up today and saw it was a very nice day, not too warm, plenty of sunshine. Perfect! :D
The morning started off nice! Upon arrival, beautiful place. Lots of tall trees, right by the Connetquot river, and a nice pond. The large manor house of the Cutting family was maintained very well. with plenty of antique furniture. After a 20min tour of the manor house, we proceeded back outside to walk the trails.
***Here’s where the experience at Bayard Cutting turns wrong***
FACT: On average, there are about 10 pints of blood in the human body.
WHY am I mentioning the above fact? well. it ties in perfectly with what I have to say next!
27 reviews on the Bayard Cutting Unilocal page. 25 stellar reviews and 2 haters. But what I found disappointing was. NOT ONE OF THE 27 REVIEWS SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MOSQUITOES!!!
And it’s not just a few mosquitoes flying here and there. THEY ARE RAMPANT!!! They were everywhere!!! In every trail! By the river side! I even found a mosquito sucking on my blood inside the manor house! WTF!!!
In 20mins, I had killed at least a 50 mosquitoes! Not even kidding though. I went IP Man on those f**kers! I had my own blood. smeared on several parts of my legs. Legit looked like I just crawled out of a battle field. T_​T Reminded me of a scene in the movie Blade 2, where that guy gets invited to a club, full of vampires. LOLL Here’s a link to that scene:
—– Fast forward to 2:25
Anyways. Why am I giving Bayard Cutting 4 stars? Cuz it deserves 4 stars! Besides the awful experience with the mosquitoes that cut our visit short. It truly is a gem in the middle of nowhere in Long Island. I am definitely coming back in Autumn with my camera, when the trees turn color and the weather is cooler!
***FEW TIPS***
— Don’t come in LATE SUMMER (August to mid September)
— Bring plenty of bug spray
— Don’t wear flip flops/​sandals
— Buy an electric tennis racket on Amazon (in case the bug spray doesn’t work)

Probably the nicest part of the south shore of Long Island. Stunning gardens everywhere, wonderful sights, smells, viewpoints and vistas. You could easily spend a day here walking or just sitting. If you tire of that view move to another. Secret gardens and paths everywhere. Stop by the huge garden, which is actually a working csa. To be able to walk through the rows of fresh veg then see chickens is not something you can do in most public spaces. On Sunday’s in the summer there are concerts preceded by walking tours. If you are local not sure how you could miss it! You are not allowed to picnic here but the café offers great baked goods, high tea and brunch. Speaking only of the baked good, pretty good! This place is a gem.

Absolutely beautiful!
We try to visit at least 7 – 8 times each year.
In the spring it’s nice to see the baby ducks, baby geese, and baby swans.
In the summer the dahlias are typically in full bloom. The dahlia garden is quite large — about ¹⁄₃ acre
The little snack shop is great. One of our favorite things is the spinach quiche. It’s very rich. Almost like a spinach alfredo. It’s really delicious! Perfect with a slice of one of their homemade pies.
I think our very favorite time of year at Bayard is late July through Labor Day. If you’re patient you will see hummingbirds. Last summer we went about 3 weekends in a row and they were there each time. Today we saw two so we know they are back on Long Island.
For an amateur photographer the hummingbirds are pretty difficult to capture but if you’re lucky you’ll get at least one really good photo and it’ll all be worth it.
There are free concerts throughout the summer.
In December there is a tree lighting.
It’s a really beautiful spot! Do check it out and be sure you bring your camera! :-)

Beautiful and peaceful arboretum located in Great River along the Connequot River. Perfect for an afternoon stroll or a picnic on the lawn behind the historic mansion which does tours. You can even stop in for pricey snacks and drinks or even high tea. There aren’t many flowers here, it’s mostly a tree park and the variety is great.

One of the most beautiful natural spaces we have on Long Island. Many varieties of trees and flowers to see. Place is immaculately clean. Water fountains actually work and have clean cold water. Wonderful spot to visit.

Visit Date: April 11, 2015
Came here with hubby to walk the grounds. Everything is so pretty here! I can’t wait to come back in nicer weather to see the flowers blooming. There’s a few different walks available on the grounds, the river walk, a pine tree walk and a visit to the Dahlia garden. We walked through where the pine trees were and along the river. Everything was gorgeous and peaceful.
We also toured the mansion which was just as beautiful and we got to stalk a wedding party that was on the grounds for photographs!
We also had some snacks at the hidden oak café. The Kahlua cake was amazing, moist, delicious with a good burst of Kahlua flavor. I didn’t really like the coffee. Next time I visit the café I’d like to have the tea service with some friends.
Definitely worth seeing and you can see a lot in one or two hours.

A day will come in the not so distant future when present day billionaires will bequeath their properties and estates for public enjoyment. The Zuckerbergs and Buffets of the 19^th century made their money with railroads and real estate. William Bayard Cutting was one such 1%‘er with an estate found not on the North Shore Gold Coast but rather along the Connectquot River closer to the South Shore.
As the docents don’t tell you, Mr Cutting was a member of the Jekyll Island Club, a group and location that had an enormous part in ushering in the era of modern central banking with the Federal Reserve. (That was to end the boom and bust cycle forever.)
So relax and promenade through the well kept grounds that mercantilist money made possible. Compared to similar estates there’s quite a diversity of landscapes, with a pinetum, a former golf course, swamp and river walk. The small Breezy Island was man-​made, the result of dredging the very shallow Connectquot river. It’s like the work done in Dubai to build the Burj Al Arab 100 years later!
Unlike other state parks, the property is meant to be enjoyed peacefully and quietly, therefore picnicking and game playing is strictly prohibited. That didn’t stop the hoi polloi from throwing a football that struck a flower bed and repeating, capturing the whole snub your nose at authority ethos of 21^st century humans. What, the sign tells me I can’t do something? Screw that, I’ll throw my football and that’s that.
However, when populated by respectful people, the grounds are well worth walking through. We spotted several turtles and even a snake in the swampy, brackish waters.
Tours of the manor house are available but you can also examine the first floor unescorted. Be warned– the tour was nearly two hours so plan accordingly. Grounds shut promptly at 5pm and a boy on a jeep roamed around herding up the remaining guests.
The house also features a café for sandwiches, snacks, salads and soups. The café closes at 4pm.
I would return to the Arboretum when every single plant is in bloom. For a mid-​April visit, however, the grounds were pleasant enough as long as you ignore the true wildlife, the other visitors.

Beautiful, just beautiful. This is my favorite place to take a walk and relax close to home. Take a day or a few hours to explore trees and flowers from all around the world. The mansion is beautiful and has a nice little café inside that serves breakfast and lunch daily. You will not be disappointed. Staff is friendly and always working to keep the arboretum pristine. You will see a lot of wedding photos here on the weekends. The flower gardens are amazing and always updated and cared for. There’s also secret island here. Come explore and take pictures !!

Thank u fellow Unilocalers for helping me discover this gem! This park is located right off of sunrise highway, not far from the Bayshore mall. It looks huge. I was only here once this summer but hope to go back before the season ends. I wish they were open later than 5 pm.
When I was here we walked along the water and saw lots of ducks and also stumbled across a beautiful garden of dahlias! This park is very well maintained. It is very peaceful. They have benches all over the park so you can sit and enjoy the view. Dogs are not allowed here. My only complaint is that they close the gates at 5 pm promptly! We had to drive all over the park tryn to find an open gate to exit when we were here.

I can’t believe I was never here before yesterday! Such a beautiful amazing place! Great river walk beautiful trees, very relaxing. I definitely will be back here! It’s such a sweet gem on Long Island!