Sunday, May 6, 2012

KYKUIT
THE ROCKEFELLER ESTATE
Such a wonderful day to spend strolling the home and gardens of Kykuit. 
This hilltop paradise was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, beginning with the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. His business acumen made him, in his day, the richest man in America. Now a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this extraordinary landmark has been continuously and meticulously maintained for more than 100 years.



Oceanus Fountain


 Over the period from 1935 to the late 1970s, more than 120 works of abstract, avant garde and modern sculpture were added to the gardens and terraced grounds from Nelson's collection, including works by Pablo Picasso ('Bathers'),Constantin BrâncuşiKarel Appel ('Mouse on Table'), Jean ArpAlexander CalderAlberto Giacometti,Gaston LachaiseAristide MaillolHenry MooreLouise NevelsonIsamu Noguchi ('Black Sun'), andDavid Smith.














 Climbing Rocks and exploring the foliage
 The boys are all buckled up for their bus ride back to Philipsburg Manor
 Nap please


After a long day, the boys are relaxing with a nice cool Mai Tai .... yummm!!!

Friday, May 4, 2012


~ BOSCOBEL ~ 

What to do on a beautiful Sunny day in May?
 Of course, stroll through the Historic Gardens at Boscobel 

Boscobel is conveniently located in the heart of the Hudson River Valley, ( Garrison, N.Y.) 

Boscobel is a restored Federal-period house built between 1804-1808 with magnificent period interiors and gardens. The site is recognized nationally for its quality as a historic house museum, its exquisite collection of furniture and decorative arts, and its breathtaking views.
http://www.boscobel.org/explore/the-house/
All my friends and blogger followers, you must take a day trip and visit this beautiful Home and Gardens.  The views of the Hudson River are absolutely breathtaking and the stroll around the gardens will leave you feeling relaxed and peaceful.


The Hudson Highlands are mountains on both sides of the Hudson Riverin the U.S. state of New York, between Newburgh Bay and Haverstraw Bay, which form the northern region of the New York - New Jersey Highlands.
The Hudson River enters this region in the south at Dunderberg Mountainnear Stony Point, and from the north in the vicinity of Storm King Mountainand Breakneck Ridge near Cornwall, New York. These highlands played a significant role in America's military, cultural and environmental history

Constitution Marsh Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary is a unique and beautiful 270-acre tidal marsh managed by Audubon as a wildlife sanctuary since 1970. It is located in Putnam County, New York on the east shore of the Hudson River, just south of the village of Cold Spring. http://constitutionmarsh.audubon.org/




 My Stars look who decided to join me on my garden adventures.  That's right!  It's Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare ~ And I must say they look absolutely SMASHING  as they lead me through the orange and pink tulips.




imagine my surprise when they offered to be my garden travel partners.  I feel  honored to have these two marvelous poets by my side. 

 In front of the mansion, William and Edgar take in the views of the Hudson River, the Hudson Highlands, Constitution Marsh, and the West Point Military Academy. 


Human Beauty


"No pictorial or sculptural combinations of points of human loveliness, do more than approach the living and breathing human beauty as it gladdens our daily path."



His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world, THIS WAS A MAN!
William Shakespeare:

Planted and maintained by the Philipstown Garden Club, the herb garden features a variety of plants and trees that would have played an important role in daily life of early 19th century. Plants such as sage, rosemary, lemon verbena, sweet woodruff, oleander and flax and fruit-bearing trees including pear and quince, were valued not just for their use in cooking but also for medicinal purposes, fragrance, and for making coloring and dyes.
Since States Dyckman owned many fruit trees that could not have survived New York winters, it is most likely that an orangery was among the outbuildings of the original Montrose property. Today, Boscobel’s brick and clapboard orangery harbors a variety of warm weather plants throughout the winter. 

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.

                                 William Shakespeare:




Time for a little nappy poo on a warm rock ... life is good after this wonderful day in the gardens

RrR

s
Remembering Dreams:
"Arousing from the most profound of slumbers, we break the gossamer web of somedream. Yet in a second afterward, (so frail may that web have been) we remember not that we have dreamed."
Edgar Allan Poe:


Saturday, April 28, 2012

The Beautiful Vanderbilt Mansion ~ Hyde Park, New York
Today was the my first Volunteer day of the season ~ getting the beds ready for Spring plantings and soon we will be preparing for the Memorial Day Plant Sale 




 Always ready for her photo shoot " Barefoot Kate" poses once again.  Looking Marvelous !!!!
The beds have all been cleaned and ready for a new season.


 A few more beds that I prepared today ~ Spit Spot !!!

The Trees and their Glorious Colors

Sunday, April 22, 2012

My Garden in spring time and ready for the summer season to come


Azaleas are beginning to bloom, the Fern has sprouted and I just adore my two "tulips" peeking out of the garden bed.   All of this together with the tranquil sound of the water makes for a perfect little garden.