Fairfield & Westchester County Open
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The Garden Conservancy's OPEN DAYS PROGRAM Fairfield & Westchester County Open Day Sunday, September 18 | times vary FAIRFIELD COUNTY garden of six acres is most joyfully experienced along left onto Clapboard Ridge Road. It is second driveway; the “Golden Path”, a granite dust pathway that leads turn before white mailbox marked “146.” GREENWICH from the main house and formal terraces on top of SLEEPY CAT FARM the hill out into the native New England landscape. WILTON 146 Clapboard Ridge Road, Greenwich As it winds through the oak and beech woodland, the PIXIE PERENNIALS 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. path engages a rose and wisteria arbor, a small fruit 200 Nod Hill Road, Wilton The thirteen-acre gardens of Sleepy Cat Farm have orchard, fountains, statuary, an iris garden traversed 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. evolved over the past eighteen years through a close by a Japanese spirit bridge and planted with 10,000 Terraced perennial gardens with a wide variety of collaboration of the present owner and Virginia-based Siberian and Japanese iris, and, finally, a rustic stone unusual plants surround a 1740 homestead set on landscape architect Charles J. Stick. The most recently grotto and fish pond, the source of the woodland four acres overlooking a reservoir, home to mature developed portion of the landscape which borders stream which is bordered by native azaleas and a col- and specimen trees. A small rock garden tucked into Lake Avenue includes an extensive greenhouse and lection of spring flowering trees and bulbs all planted the exposed ledge leads to a fish pond. A frog pond is potager. The newly constructed “Barn”, distinguished for enjoyment throughout the year. The most recent nestled in between rows of flowers. The property fea- by its half-timbered French Normandy vocabulary is additions to the property include a Limonaia used for tures peach trees, an old leaning apple tree, fig trees, surrounded by thyme-covered terraces which provide the winter storage of citrus trees, a new fruit orchard, kiwi, blueberry bushes, strawberries, raspberries, and an elegant stage set for a fine collection of garden and a sacred woodland grove which is enjoyed from a a vegetable garden. The kitchen courtyard garden ornament, sculpture, and boxwood topiary. The visi- series of pathways that radiate from a newly planted room hosts shade plants: hellebores, brunnera, heu- tor’s experience of the garden unfolds as pathways meadow. The southern expansion of the property chera, ligularia, shaped boxwoods and other varieties lead from garden room to garden room in a carefully over the past two years has added a new dimension to of perennials that live nestled under a giant maple orchestrated series of discoveries. The central portion the overall landscape experience of Sleepy Cat Farm. tree. Peonies border one length of the paddock fence of the garden is distinguished by two parallel garden 2014 | I leading you to the lilac bushes. A back garden built spaces, the first is dominated by a long reflecting pool, Ü From I-95 north, take Exit 3 in Connecticut. At around the exposed stones showcases tall plants that terminated on the north end by a wisteria-covered ar- bottom of exit ramp, turn left onto Arch Street (if can be seen from the house. In late summer a stand bor and on the south end by a pebble mosaic terrace traveling on I-95 south, turn right). Go under railroad and fountain basin. One of the great surprises of the overpass. The next traffic light is Railroad Avenue. tour is the adjacent garden space. Bordered by a pre- Go through light and take next left onto Sound View cisely clipped serpentine hornbeam hedge, the green Drive. At top of hill turn right onto Field Point Road. Go u Parts of garden are handicapped accessible architecture of this room is meant to frame the view through light at West Putnam Avenue, crossing Route NEW Gardens opening for first time to the Chinese pavilion (Ting) positioned on a small 1 between Chase bank and library onto Dearfield 2014 Most recent year garden island in the middle of a pond teeming with koi. The Drive. Go through the rotary, taking second exit onto was open north end of this garden is terminated by an impres- Lake Avenue. Go through another small rotary and I Photographs permitted sively scaled statue of Atlas. The heart of the original pass over a narrow bridge, warned by a sign. Turn Robert Welsch of Westover Landscape Design, has cre- of perovskia creates a blue backdrop for fall flowering York state. Town of Lewisboro and village of Vista are ated a series of stone paths winding up and down the perennials. The garden is a work in progress, ever- first signs encountered. Go past Vista Fire Department slope, and planted with waves of color and texture. At changing from year to year. The party barn boasts about 0.25 mile. Just after shingled Episcopal church each curve, a new collection of plants beckons: rare quarter sawn oak floors, and hosted town dances dur- on right, Route 123 bears left and Elmwood Road rhododendron and aralias, cryptomeria, huge mature ing Prohibition. Home-grown perennials and shrubs bears right. Go about another 0.25 mile just over a oak leaf and limelight hydrangea, and a hillside will be for sale on the back patio and adjacent areas. hill. At beginning of a gray stockade fence on right is interplanted with hundreds of sun-loving caryopteris, There will be a pop-up boutique in the “party” barn driveway at #199. agastache, red hot pokers, and salvias. Several “land- featuring wonderful items for sale by local artisans. ing pads” are built into the paths and planted to 2015 | I NORTH SALEM provide a calm focal point for visitors to sit and relax. Ü It is 0.9 mile up on the right from the intersection DICK BUTTON—ICE POND FARM The garden also includes fanciful oversized window of Route 33/Ridgefield Road and Nod Hill. 115 June Road, North Salem boxes and container plantings, and a serene bubbling 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. fountain spilling over a Balinese jar. Well planned, the WESTCHESTER COUNTY Forget last year and my hopes to do a tribune to garden has an organic, natural, and exuberant feel. LEWISBORO Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods”...will hopefully This is an inspirational garden for those who have a get in a few trees to start the woods…The real change small yard and want to fill it with year-round beauty. THE WHITE GARDEN is a border along the pool. I noticed last year no one 2013 | I 199 Elmwood Road, Lewisboro looked at the border underneath the circle garden Ü From Connecticut or White Plains, take I-287 to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in fact I didn’t either...it had gotten too messy. So, I-87 (stay to right, highway changes names to I-87) to The native oak-hickory forest provides a being enamored with the materials used in a Japanese last exit before bridge, Exit 9/Tarrytown. Turn left at “sacred grove” setting for the modern Greek Revival- garden…water, gravel, rock, clipped box, Japanese end of exit, then right onto Route 9/Broadway. Go 1 style house. The gardens were designed by Patrick maples, rhodies and Ilex, (but not with a full Japanese mile (four or five lights, to 7-Eleven on left and Wa- Chassé, ASLA, and completed in 1999. Nearest the garden...too difficult to create with effective authority) chovia Bank on right), turn right onto Neperan Road. house the gardens are classically inspired, includ- I ripped out all but the lilacs Page Dickey suggested I Go up hill to #149, on left, yellow house with green ing a nymphaeum, pergola garden, labyrinth, and plant years ago and started. Hope you will come and wooden fence and shutters. theater court, and additional hidden gardens include a jeer or cheer! 2015 From New York City, take West Side Highway North perennial ellipse and “annual” garden, a conservatory Ü Going south on I-68 Hardscrabble Road and go to Saw Mill River Parkway North to Tarrytown exit and “jungle” garden, and an Asian-inspired moss garden. east about 5 miles to Old Route 124/June Road. Turn turn right at end of ramp onto Route 119 heading Several water features accent the landscape, and na- right onto June Road and go 0.75 mile to #115. Going west toward Hudson River. Go to end and turn right tive plantings dominate in areas outside the central north on I-684, take Exit 7/Purdys. Take Route 116 east onto Route 9/Broadway. Proceed as directed above. gardens. Many sculptures enrich this landscape and for about 3 miles to North Salem. Turn left onto June From Nyack or Rockland County, take I-287 across one can visit a Temple of Apollo on an island in the Road/Old Route 124. Go 0.5 mile to #115. Please park Tappan Zee Bridge to first exit after toll booths, Exit main pond. In spring, over 300,000 daffodils bloom in in the field as directed. 9. Turn right at light at end of exit ramp onto Route 9/ the woodland. Woodland walking paths weave over a Broadway. Proceed as directed above. meandering brook and through a shady dell. Several TARRYTOWN glasshouses can be seen, including a new state-of- the-art greenhouse that supports the gardens. Head WESTOVER ON HUDSON gardener Eric Schmidt, who ably orchestrates the rich 149 Neperan Road garden plantings throughout the property, is on hand 10 a.m.