Ellen Petersen

About

We had a clean slate when we moved here in 1981. Most of the trees were planted from quart-sized pots. A deer fence added in 2000 made a big difference in what could be grown. Every year the mowed area gets a little smaller. I’m experimenting with leaving many more plants standing over the winter to try to provide homes for native bees. Although I am very interested in native plants and seek out the species (not the cultivars) for greater plant diversity, I also love to collect rarities. You may be surprised to see a big red azalea, the native Rhododendron prunifolium, beginning to bloom as well as other native azaleas, all grown from wild collected seed. There is a beautiful, variegated Cornus kousa as well as other exotics closer to the house. There should be dahlias and phlox beginning to bloom, as well as other perennials. Because of plumbing problems, I had to remove my beloved Stewartia and replace it with a water garden in a horse trough. A meadow of Sporabolis heterolepis, prairie dropseed, frames “Windblown Couch,” a sculpture by Vivian Beer. Robert Murray’s “Willow” is next to the pond, and “Portal” by Carla Edwards may entice you to take the path up a little hill. The garden was included in Jane Garmey’s book, Gardens of the Hudson Valley.

This garden’s estimated size is 7 acres.

2025 Open Day:  Sunday, July 20

Hours: 10-4

Registrations are nonrefundable and nontransferable . Open Days are rain or shine events. Click here for FAQs.