A tour of my property
I always thought it would be fun for my television crew to film a garden tour at my farm in Bedford. I looked on my calendar and noticed that The Royal Oak Foundation was scheduled to pay a visit in early June. This is a very interesting organization and it just so happened that I was free on that day, as well. Founded in 1973, the Royal Oak Foundation is the American affiliate of The National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The foundation supports the preservation and conservation of extraordinary natural spaces, historic properties and monuments, and homes and gardens in Britain. Membership to the Royal Oak is open to the public and includes free admission to more than 350 historic sites throughout Great Britain.
The group came last Thursday and the weather reports were not promising, calling for heavy rain and clouds throughout the day. But it isn't nice to rain on a garden tour and, as if on cue, the sun started to shine and the sky turned blue, giving way to a very pleasant morning. You'll be able to see this segment during the next season of my television show.
Photos By Martha Stewart and Eliad Laskin
can't wait to see..
Posted by: Carrie | June 8th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Hi Martha!
I am sure they had a wonderful day at your farm and a great tour. For sure your presence made it more interesting and informative. Wish you can post some pictures of the event.
Good Luck and God bless
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 8th, 2009 at 2:26 am
This blog is on my "daily reads". I wish I was on that TOUR to get a personal tour from you and hear little anecdotes oof the how's and when's, etc. Thanks for Sharing!
Posted by: Roderick | June 8th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Looks like a splendid day. What a treat to have you narrate the tour. You're a natural born teacher. Some day you should have your very own school of horticulture erected on that farm, Martha. Like Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, your land brings such inspiration.
Posted by: Julie | June 8th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Martha, thank you so much for posting these great pictures. That was so nice of you to give a tour of your property. What a beautiful place. It really is too wonderful not to share. I love reading the blog!
Posted by: Kirk | June 8th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Everything looks beautiful. Love the flowers and your vegetable garden looks so healthy and fresh.
It shows from the pictures that it was a very pleasant morning.
Bless you Martha
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | June 8th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I love touring gardens--thanks for the pictures. My gloves are on and I'm ready to work in my garden today. Think I'll take digital photos so I can share the garden with my mother when I visit her later today. I got that idea from you Martha, thanks again!
Posted by: Cathy-by-the-river | June 8th, 2009 at 9:39 am
.
Smiling ... smiling ... smiling.
.
Posted by: andreaandweims on twitter | June 8th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Beautiful.
Posted by: Paramendra Bhagat | June 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I love the closeups of the flowers especially. The yellow columbine is so beautiful this time of year. Everything looks so green. We've had lots of rian in Colorado this spring with no let up in the cloudiness, so I'm hoping the tomatoes survive!
Posted by: Sewfordough | June 8th, 2009 at 11:14 am
How lovely and generous of you to afford this group your time and attention. The gardens are so interesting...not just the plants but the structures as well. Martha...you are a great teacher!
Posted by: sherey | June 8th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hi Martha,
I'm always up to one of your garden tours. Such beauty and all those who get to visit your property are so lucky! I’m happy for the pictures though so thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing the filmed version next season. I am off to wash windows. Trish
Posted by: Trish | June 8th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Why does one of your donkeys wear blinders?
Posted by: Sarah | June 8th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Ah, Martha, what a treat. I like you wearing an orange coat so everyone can see or find you. The explanation of the weather and how all was well made me smile. We love the rain, wet ground and smells AND sunshine.
Thanks so much. I was running my weed wacker, had to stop to unload a grass drill and....well returned to flood the motor. Life of the planter gardener. I was able to visit your blog in the interm to going back to work.
Posted by: Sarah | June 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
hi martha..i'm from malaysia,...
Posted by: Tieny | June 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Hi Sarah - To answer your question about what my donkey is wearing on his head - it is a mask to keep biting spring flies away from his eyes and ears. The other two donkeys should be wearing masks, but they somehow manage to remove them from their heads.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | June 8th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Dear Martha,
Thank you for the e-tour. Your Allium are so lovely, as are your eggs.
Here's something that might interest you. I have friends who don't believe that you personally reply to the comments on your blog. I thought if you like we could put their doubts to rest by your having me as your guest at Bedford for the weekend. Or weekdays. makes no difference. We could bake bread, feed the chickens, boil antique whites in lemon water, and make homemade potato print "I told you so" cards for me to take home to the disbelievers. What do you say Martha? Is that really you on the other end?
Cheers!
Sylvie
Posted by: Sylvie | June 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
wow, what an amazing property!
Posted by: French furniture | June 8th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Martha!
This was great! Another garden tour! And you were there to lead the way!
You and your mixing bowl of eggs! Made me smile. You always fit those eggs in everywhere you can! And boiled ones were perfect for this occasion.
The yellow is a Chinese poppy? Very beautiful and reminds me a little of certain types of columbine...but I'm no flower expert, believe me.
Loved, too, that everyone loved the donkeys. How great it is to have your beautiful farm so well loved and visited by all of these garden VIPs that you keep introducing us to. (But where, oh where were the Frenchys?)
Thanks, as always.
Posted by: tinay | June 8th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Martha: I used to run June & Myron's Gallery in Katonah. Glad that you have transformed that property so beautifully, and am sure in your mind that you've only just started!
Posted by: ELizabeth Larkin | June 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
What a tour......your guests must have really enjoyed themselves. Your garden is really healthy looking. We sure did have our share of rain & cloudy days here in the northeast. Now my garden is looking good after some sunshine & warmth! Thanks for the tour.
Posted by: Sherry | June 8th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Right now our land at Birch Hill is piles of dirt and building rubbish...I hope one day it will have some features like your property. I am especially fond of your rocks and donkeys!
http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com
Posted by: kerry | June 8th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I love garden tours and have toured several wonderful ones this year. I've also given a tour or two of my own.
I would SO love to tour your property too.
Looks like it was a lot of fun and very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
http://potsnpies.blogspot.com
Posted by: Clayvessel | June 8th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
This blog really make me close to you!
Posted by: Carey Chu | June 9th, 2009 at 12:05 am
Martha-thank you so much for sharing these pictures of your beautiful and unique gardens. It's wonderful what you've done with your land.
Posted by: Mox Rogers | June 9th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Franny takes the point,sun is out,sky is blue,
"Come on Martha must we wait all day for you?
You do the talking,"Franny says"I'll do the posing
"We'll both get compliments while Sharkey's squirrel nosing."
Martha,in her orange jacket,atop a mounting block
Viewing the terrace gardens from a chunk of quarry rock.
The land didn't always look like this,it had its needs
For excavating a change over,for overcoming weeds.
The pergola has 18thCentuary stakes,all the way from China
These granite posts have clemantis climbing,nothing could be finer.
The aqueligia or columbine are lovely and quite prolific,
The magenta peony,near the veggies,is also really terrific.
Allium and Chinese poppies are especially beautiful this year,
A gentle breeze fluffs them up, as the tour draws near.
At the veggie garden, "no squirrels here"says Franny,"veggies lookin' good."
In the cold frame,year round lettuce and herbs,as only Martha could.
Cold house kinda empty now,just a few carrots and such
But the five types of blueberries with hair nets,just a little much.
The splendid allee of pin oak trees are certainly growing fast,
Lots of photos of the donkeys,will help the memories last.
Giant hostas are spectacular when water covered, on this day,
Look like they've come from a galaxy,far far away.
Native orchid is spreading nicely,the guest house waits a friend
Oh poor Franny,her feet are aching,will this day never end.
Laura has some homemade cookies and her special herbal tea
Served by the Boss,with a chat,would certainly suit me.
Posted by: celia stock | June 9th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Oh I just love your Allium, I want to plant some, I believe they are part of the onion family correct??
I don't know anything else about them except I really enjoy looking at them
Could you perhaps give me some info...
Thank you Martha,
I am so glad the sun popped out for you and you had a nice day...
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy :) | June 9th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Hi Martha, Thanks for this super tour of your magnificient property! This is the only way I'll ever be able to see your fabulous farm and I LOVE IT!! Everything looks fantastic! You mentioned the powdery mildew and I remember how horrible it was last year on my cucumbers and zucchinis. None has shown up so far this year and I sure hope it doesn't. I'll bet Lily really enjoys your Chinese poppies and the beautiful peonies. Loved your Ask Martha session today. Couldn't get through, so here is my question: How are bees able to pollenate the correct plants when they carry pollen from so many different plants when they move from one blossom to another? Is it just by chance that the correct pollen reaches the right plant? I've wondered about this for a long time. Thanks again for the tour. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 9th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I love the way the allium and Chinese poppies look together. So beautiful and whimsical!
Posted by: Patia | June 9th, 2009 at 1:19 am
.
Lots of wonderful thought went into that very viewable poem Celia!!!
ajs
.
Posted by: andreaandweims on twitter | June 9th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Where is Margaret Roach now? Is she still working for you? I am an old friend of the family. Thank you.
Posted by: Kate Wyckoff-Holmes | June 9th, 2009 at 8:59 am
For Kate Wyckoff-Holmes - You can catch up with Margaret by visiting her Web site @ margaretroach.com.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | June 9th, 2009 at 11:01 am
beautiful grounds
Posted by: carolyn palmer | June 9th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
A nice place to be....
Posted by: Carey Chu | June 12th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Hello,
actually I wanted to write to you Martha, but I haven't been able to figure out which email to use! Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm halfway thorough your book 'The Martha Rules', and I find it extremely interesting and informative. I was wondering why you haven't thought of publishing a magazine for women entrepreneurs,not necessarily about successful business women, but women who want to change their lives, or who have; a magazine about women not only as homekeepers, crafters and cooks, but also about their dreams of independence and how they go about achieving it. I haven't been able to find a magazine like that anywhere. Many women magazines run articles about this topic, but I feel that it's not enough.
Another thing, I wanted to congratulate you on one aspect of your life that I truly admire: you've managed to use and make a success of your varied interests instead of being distracted by them. You've managed to become an expert and have success in all the different fields you've researched. It certainly isn't easy, my whole life I've been a "jack-of-all-trades and master of none" with the result that I have nothing (materially speaking)to show for it. Good for you, It's a Good Thing.
Posted by: sandrina | June 12th, 2009 at 5:56 am
I do home management in the Philippines and I want to thank you for your Homekeeping Handbook. Its my manual. My clients have it too.
and now you can't imagine how happy I am to have discovered your blog. I don't have much time to follow you on TV and this blog is even better. Am I such a fan.. lol. I am now following you on twitter too.
I am saving up for a short home managment course in the US and how I wish I could have a tour of your castle too. Please make these tour some kind of seasonal please.. I wanted to be there this September, but the H1N1 is scaring me off.
Keep it up.. much thanks too..
Posted by: Libai | June 15th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hi Martha!
I recently purchased one of your Blue Enameled Iron Round Pot 7QT through Amazaon.ca from Macys as a Birthday gift for a friend. It was shipped to a US address and then forwarded to Canada. When the gift was opened, it was found to be defective with dents along the outer circumference of the lid. After numerous calls to Amazon and Macy's we are at a stail mate. I recognize the formalities but all we want is our blue Enameled Round. Can you help?
Kevin Bradley 604.605.0664
Posted by: Kevin Bradley | August 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Had to tell you...My sister is a driver for Airport Limo Service...when picking up passengers at Airport, people thinks she's Martha Stewart. Yesteday, she was trying to get a rider into a complex that required a code...gentleman called office and said, I'm standing here with Martha Stewarts Sister and she needs to deliver a passenger. Of course, lady on the other end...was estatic (guess she didn't know if Martha really had a sister). But everywhere she goes, grocery, restaurant, people walk up to her and say (Are You..and before they finish) she says no, I'm not. Just thought you'd get a kick out of having a twin sister (she is beautiful both in mind and body) just like Martha!
Posted by: Judy Johnson | October 21st, 2009 at 5:23 pm