Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program kicks off Sunday in Lewisboro

Every April, Shelby White kicks off the Open Days garden-touring season in the Lower Hudson Valley by throwing open the gates of her phenomenal 45-acre woodland estate in Lewisboro. This year, the White Garden will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, April 27.

If you like daffodils -- as in more than 500,000 of them scattered among the rolling lawns and wooded pathways -- this is a great way to discover how great the Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program can be.

(TJN file photos)

Also on Sunday, Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These are two terrific gardens, and I highly recommend a visit to either, or both if you have the time. Spring has finally kicked into gear, and both properties should be waking up and looking swell.

Originally the home of Frank and Anne Cabot, Stonecrop became a public garden in 1992 under the direction of Caroline Burgess. Frank Cabot is also the founder of the Garden Conservancy.

The display gardens at Stonecrop cover an area of about 12 acres and incorporate a diverse collection of gardens and plants, including woodland and water gardens, a grass garden, raised alpine stone beds, a cliff rock garden, perennial beds and an enclosed English-style flower garden.

It's easy to spend a couple of hours exploring the White Garden. Nearest the house, the gardens, which were designed by Patrick Chasse, are classically inspired, including a nymphaeum, pergola garden, labyrinth and theater court. The statues and sculptures here are incredible.

Two giant ponds dominate the landscape in front of the Greek Revival-style house. Additional hidden gardens include a conservatory "jungle" garden and an Asian-inspired moss garden. Native plantings dominate in areas outside the central gardens, and there are plenty of pathways for exploring.

Be sure to visit the Temple of Apollo on an island in the main pond. Head gardener Eric Schmidt, who is truly a master, will be on hand for questions.IF YOU GOWhat: Open Days are rain or shine and no advance reservations are needed. For more information, including driving directions and descriptions of the gardens by their owners, visit

www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays

or call 888-842-2442 weekdays.

Where:

The White Garden is at 199 Elmwood Road in Lewisboro. Admission is $7, cash or check. Stonecrop Gardens is at 81 Stonecrop Lane in Cold Spring (www.stonecrop.org). Admission is $5.

Photos:

To see galleries, with dozens of photos of the two gardens, go to lohud.com/livinghere.