Hopefully we can answer a few of your questions.
Please let us know if we've missed anything.
In Esperance, New York, a short drive – 30 minutes or so – from Albany and the Capital Region, nestled in the beautiful Schoharie Valley, and close to major but scenic roads including I-88 and Route 20.
An arboretum is a garden of trees, a place where trees and shrubs are grown for display and study. The Landis Arboretum has more than 200 acres of natural beauty, with old growth forests; collections of oaks, rhododendrons, crabapples, and native plants; perennial gardens; trails, ponds, and vistas; and MORE!
Pack a lunch and enjoy it at one of our picnic tables after a hike on your choice of 15 miles or so of trails. Pick up a trail map in our Welcome Center. Be sure to include our amazing Native Plant Trail, bog gardens, and the Fred Lape Trail, named after our founder. Leave a donation if you can.
George Landis was a plant collector and close friend of Fred Lape. After George passed away in 1950 and left most of his estate to Fred Lape, Fred established the Arboretum on the site of the Lape family home, the 19th century Oak Nose Farm. He named it after his friend George, “who had made it all possible both in life and in death.”
I’d love to bring my teenagers, but they are more interested in texting and checking their phones than in either history or the great outdoors. Any ideas?
Visitors with smartphones are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of many of the Arboretum’s attractions that use QR codes to provide audio information year-round.
Landis is open 365 days a year for your enjoyment. The beauty and stillness of a winter day can’t be underestimated. Look for animals and their tracks, and breathe in the crisp frosty air. Plus, you don’t want to miss our very popular Second Sunday Snowshoe program in the months of January through March. Spend the afternoon at the Arboretum, with your equipment or ours, and enjoy a hot chocolate and conversation afterwards. Even without snow, you can still enjoy a group hike in a spectacular winter setting.
Landis is a birder’s paradise, with deep woods, open fields, ponds and transition areas, and a diversity of plant life to attract and sustain birds. In fact, the Arboretum is part of the Route 20 Bluebird Trail and features nesting boxes throughout the grounds.
Landis hosts a music series on selected weekends in the spring through fall. Check our website for dates and performers.
And don’t miss the dark skies of Landis, easily enjoyed at a Star Party sponsored by the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers, who come to the Arboretum with world-class telescopes and lots of information to orient you to the wonders of the night. Star Parties are free (donations to the Arboretum gratefully accepted)!
Other night-time activities have included family-friendly nature programs like the Halloween Owl Prowl with Science Educator George Steele.
Science educators George Steele and Anita Sanchez and other Landis instructors offer a great variety of programs for both children and adults, focusing on the natural environment at the Arboretum, plant and animal life, crafts, and much more.
And, the Arboretum sponsors our own Boy Scout troop, another way for young people to learn about the outdoors right here in Schoharie County.
Yes, Landis is dog-friendly and welcomes well-behaved leashed dogs. Please be sure to clean up after your pets. Two waste stations with pick-up bags are located on the grounds for your convenience.
Absolutely. In fact, our trails are home to the annual Landis Forest Run, a 5K race second to none.
The Arboretum conducts plant sales twice a year, in May and September. We have a large selection of native plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables, and herbs, including many plants that are Landis-grown. Plus, we open up our used bookshop (a real treasure), sell homemade baked goods you can’t resist, and offer free accessible guided tours and mini-workshops.
Definitely. There’s always something new at Landis. We’ve added the Waterfall Trail, a moderate to difficult trail with plenty of elevation loss and gain. It begins at the furthest point of the Ancient Forest Trail, and ultimately brings hikers to the Charleston State Forest. This stunning,wooded trail includes several small waterfalls and a giant bitternut hickory tree.
Landis is once again a garden of sculptures. Check out our ever-changing installations by notable artists - and our resident “fearsome dinosaur” - throughout the Arboretum.
And, yes, we are continuing the renovation of the Meeting House. The views are as spectacular as ever, but the space is now the home of a seasonal music series and other performances, weddings, retreats, and other events, maybe even the site of your next family reunion.
Start with our website at LandisArboretum.org, where you’ll find loads of information about Landis Arboretum plus slideshows that highlight its beauty.
Become a member of Landis and reap the many benefits of discounts on programs and plant sales, special events, newsletters, reciprocal admission at other arboreta and public gardens nationwide, and so much more. Your membership is invaluable to the preservation of Landis Arboretum, a natural resource we strive to continually improve and sustain for you and your family, now and in the future.
Give us your email, and we will send you updates on Arboretum events, as well as the annual Calendar of Events and the quarterly Newsletter.
And, become a volunteer! We have many opportunities to get involved, whatever your interests and talents. We have committees, special events, and a wealth of ideas on how you can help.
Contact Susan Strangia, Volunteer Coordinator, at landisvolunteering@gmail.com or (518) 875-6935.