The Great Escape: Take a Free Seminar at Martin Viette

Here's our weekly hourly getaway for moms and dads who may need some time for themselves.

This week's escape is truly an earthly delight, we are taking you to Martin Viette Nurseries on Northern Boulevard in East Norwich to enjoy seminars all year long to learn about gardening and landscaping.

Coming up on May 28 will be their always popular, Creating Beautiful Container Gardens. On June 11 come by to hear about Easy Summer Landscape Solutions and July 9 will feature Heavenly Hydrangeas for Long Island. 

Call ahead to reserve your free seat under the big green tent. Lectures start at 11 am on select Saturdays and often fill up fast. Some of their most popular workshops are orchid re-blooming, landscaping 101, and in November and December, centerpiece and wreath design.

During Saturdays in May and June from 9am until 11am this 42-acre garden center sets up a kids potting station where you can shop while your children can dig in the dirt and learn all about gardening and growing vegetables. They also get to take home a free seedling they potted.

Folks from all over the area converge at this nursery in autumn to enjoy the fall harvest festival. Marting Viette transforms into a farm with goats, sheep, piglets, cows, and ducks including the pumpkins, gourds, and apple cider. Amongst the bales of hay and corn stalks you can purchase pots of mums, pansies and ornamental kale and cabbage.

In November they hold a holiday reception to Benefit INN – Interfaith Nutrition Network. And during the harvest season, customers with a bumper crop can drop off their bounty which will be distributed through local Long Island food banks in cooperation with INN.

Check their website late August to find out about the next lecture series and make sure to join the free Garden Club for reward points and specials, applications are available at the cashier or see a sales associate.

Address:  6050 Northern Boulevard, East Norwich.

Phone:  516-922-5530.