Old Westbury Gardens
by Susan Schuler Nolan, Class of 1977
Old Westbury Gardens, by Spring, is by far the most unpredictable season for gardens. It’s hard to say what a “typical” spring even looks like anymore here on Long Island.
The Andromeda is currently in full bloom at Old Westbury Gardens, a historic estate where my husband and I have been volunteer docents for over 40 years. In previous years, it would have long faded by April. This uncertainty makes planning difficult for the gardeners, but it also brings a sense of
Japanese Andromeda Courtesy of Hicks Nursery excitement—every walk through the garden reveals something new, another sign of the season unfolding.
Two of my favorite spots in the garden in April are the Woodland Walk and the Primrose Path. The Woodland Walk is where 
Woodland Pathbirdsong is a constant companion, and early spring ephemerals flourish. Daffodils are everywhere. Snowdrops and Chionodoxa spread naturally year after year, carried by woodland creatures to unexpected corners. Later in the month, Trillium and Virginia Bluebells emerge, thriving in the dappled shade along the Lake Trail. There is also a lovely Japanese bridge you can cross and a Temple of Love by the lake.
Along the Primrose Path, the Primroses themselves are charming, but they share the space with Forget-me-nots, Anemones, and Azaleas, which line the brick path in a way that feels both natural and unstructured. Unlike the more formal Walled and Cottage Gardens—where the tallest plants stand neatly in the back and the smallest in front—the Primrose Path follows its own rhythm. A Foxglove might take root in the foreground, and the gardeners allow it to bloom where it chooses. Here, nature and the gardener work together in an ongoing, evolving collaboration, creating a space that feels a little
Lake Walk different every year.
That is what I love about the gardens. They are always changing. Although beautiful every season, I think they’re most thrilling in mid to late spring. As spring progresses, our huge rhododendron banks, alleles of trees, tulips, and roses all come alive with color.
It is no surprise this beautiful garden on Long Island has been used in so many famous movies and TV shows. Such classic films as North By Northwest, Love Story and Age of Innocence all filmed here, to name a few. More recently, some of your favorite TV shows can be seen filming here.
If you are on Long Island feel free to stop by some Sunday afternoon. I’d be happy to provide you a tour of the house and gardens. May even catch up on our memories of Hicksville High School. (I graduated 1977.) Hope to see you there. 
OWG House
Bridge with Sue Schuler Nolan
For more information check out oldwestburygardens.org.
OWG Temple of Love
