Open Days Schedule

Open Day 

Title:

Onondaga County Open Day

When:

09/18/2011 

 

Garden

1. Sycamore Hill Farm and Gardens     10:00 am - 4:00 pm (Website)
   2130 Old Seneca Turnpike
   Marcellus, NY 13108
   Sycamore Hill Gardens covers thirty acres of former hillside cropland and is located sixteen miles west of Syracuse in New York State’s Finger Lakes Region. At an elevation of 900 feet with recorded low temperatures in the minus twenties, 120-plus inches of annual snowfall, and strong winter winds, the gardens are a solid Zone 5. The garden has spread from the environs of the house and barn to former cow pastures, hay fields, and cropland. Due to the size and continuing expansion, they have no irrigation and only first year plantings and visibly stressed second year trees are watered. Varieties that continue to struggle after a second season are left to fend for themselves or are removed. Since 2000, when our always-humid summers seemed to become increasingly hot as well, we have focused more attention on high temperature and drought tolerance. Consequently, we believe that if a variety is successful here, it will be successful in any Zone 5 setting. After initial years of trial and error our goal is to create sustainable, low-maintenance plantings through thoughtful selection and experienced placement specific to our zone and the microclimates of our garden. Sycamore Hill has more than 500 varieties of trees and one million spring and summer flowering bulbs, 200-plus varieties of flowering shrubs, and thousands of perennials. Our mission is to have Central New York residents and guests tour the grounds, eat picnic lunches, feed the koi, enjoy a garden experience with family and friends, and benefit charity in the process. With two miles of gravel road the gardens are accessible to everyone. There is ample parking for more than 100 vehicles including buses with a circular drive to allow “drop-offs” for those needing assistance. A seven-passenger golf cart tours the garden every twenty minutes leaving from a pleasant seating area at the entrance. All guests receive a garden map and plants are labeled. Rest rooms are available and accessible.

    

   Directions: From Marcellus, drive west on Main Street. Halfway up the hill the road forms a “Y,” take the right fork onto Old Seneca Turnpike, less than 1 mile from the village of Marcellus. There is parking for more than 100 vehicles on right, marked with signs. A circular drive allows for dropoffs for those needing assistance. Restrooms available.