An Autumn Visit to the Steinhardts
This past weekend, I visited my friends, Michael and Judy Steinhardt, who live on an amazing piece of property near my home in Bedford. The beautiful landscaping is an ongoing project of Jerome and Carole Rocherolle, of Shanti Bithi Nursery in Stamford, Connecticut. You may recall from previous blogs that the Steinhardts keep a rather large menagerie of exotic animals. Many of those animals were bred by the venerable Don Shadow, who is also one of America’s leading growers of trees and shrubs in Tennessee.  Don was also visiting the Steinhardts for the weekend and it’s always great spending time with him, absorbing his vast knowledge of animals and horticulture. Enjoy these photos taken at this exotic wonderland.
1 My trainer, Mary Tedesco and her son, Mikey, went with me to the Steinhardts. Neither had been there before.
2 Mikey, Jerome, and the host - Michael Steinhardt
3 Don Shadow provided these columnar gum trees. They have a lovely slender silhouette and the Steinhardts have planted a couple groves of them.
4 This stand of gum trees had not yet turn red.
5 Don Shadow bred this camel - a Bactrian, having two humps - her name is Dolly.
6 Dolly is very well-cared for - very happy and friendly.
7 This is Lucy, Dolly's dromedary friend. Lucy looks quite different, and she has but one hump. Dromedaries come from the Arabian Peninsula, while Bactrian camels originated in the steppes of central Asia.
8 These are trumpeter swans - the largest native North American bird - and just one pair of swans swimming in the ponds at the Steinhardt's farm - so very beautiful.
9 This is a capybara - Native to South America, it is the largest living rodent in the world, weighing up to 140lbs (65kg). The Steinhardts have several who munch on grass, eat grain, and seem very happy.
10 Another capybara eating its breakfast
11 This beautiful medium-sized spotted cat is a serval - native to South Saharan Africa.
12 A rare albino wallaby was very happy on this crisp autumnal day. Wallabies are members of the kangaroo family and are smaller than their cousins.
13 This is an emu, the largest bird native to Australia. This one walked regally in the same pen as the wallaby.
14 There is also a flock of pink flamingos, which are pink from carotenoid proteins in their diet of animal and plant plankton.
15 Jerome Rocherolle 'planted' these Chinese stones in one part of the garden.
16 A great pinetum, or arboretum of pine trees, is being planted on one of the high, rocky hills - this planting is all blue.
17 It looks as if this giant oak tree is growing right out of an even bigger rock!
18 This rose-like pine cone is one of Don's favorites.
19 Jerome has just planted many winter-hardy camellias at the Steinhardts.
20 Camellia - Korean Fire has large, flat, bright-red flowers with yellow stamens and blooms from March through May.
21 It's funny, but Mikey was really more interested in the trees and shrubs than with the exotic animals.
22 You may remember my blog from a couple of years ago about the Steinhardt's Japanese maple grove. It is magnificent with its red Japanese-style bridge!
23 How beautiful the bright red leaves are against the autumn sky.
24 Each and every maple is clearly identified. There are more than 400 cultivars in this grove.
25 Here I am with Zeny and Melanie, two lovely Filipino ladies who prepared lunch for us.
26 Carlos kept Francesca and Sharkey happy, while waiting for me, in the parking area.
27 Another wonderful visit to the Steinhardts
Martha, your friend's place is gorgeous, but not quite up to yours. But...I don't think many places are up to yours. I realy like the rocks and pines in picture #16.
And, the Chineses rocks are strange looking, but I like them, also. I just like rocks.
Thanks for taking us along, Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 am
PS Lucy's mouth looks almost like a cotten boll. Gloria G!!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 am
Martha,
How lovely! The Emu is also on the Australian Emblem along with the Kangaroo, as it can only walk forward and not backward, and therefore represents a people that are always looking to the future and progressing. I found these photos delightful!
Posted by: Courtney Blunsdon | November 2nd, 2010 at 1:02 am
Love the pictures as always. Was wondering what the name of the columnar gum trees are and if there is a place around Jersey to get them and also what the name of the evergreen is with the 'rose like' pine cone?
Posted by: Meghan Petty | November 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
Hi Martha,
Looks like there will be another gardener or maybe an arborist in your ‘extended’ family named Mikey. Wouldn’t that be nice!
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Thanks for another tour of the Steinhardt’s property – the Japanese maple grove with the little bridge is as beautiful as ever. Even the ground has a pink hue to it in picture #22. I’m sure everyone had a fun time with Don Shadow and his anecdotes. I remembered him so I looked up your blog, (April 5th of this year), about your visit to his nursery with rare plants. Trish
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P.S. I wish I had an iPad so I could get your new cookie app on sale today but thanks for the coupon you made available to get $1.00 off your Holiday Cookies magazine. I’ll use it!
Posted by: Trish | November 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 am
Thanks Martha for this one your da best!
Posted by: KLBrown | November 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
Love the gum trees. I have one that our developer had planted in our front yard...the leaves are now a bautiful soft golden and i am waiting to see if they turn red. I am enamored by the columnar shape.
Posted by: sherey | November 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 am
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for this beautiful, breathtaking photo tour of the Steinhardts farm again! This is like a triple blog with the terrific websites of Shanti Bithi and Don Shadow included! All of these photos are stunning and it sure looks like you and F.&S. had a delightful weekend! How cool to see the camels, trumpeter swans, capybaras, serval, albino wallaby, emu and pink flamingos on their beautiful farm! It's like visiting a zoo and an arboretum right near your fabulous farm there in Bedford! You certainly have fun things to share with all of us! Since you were at the NYC Public Library last night, you probably didn't see the special SNL Women's show on NBC last night. There she was-the lady who made fun of you during a Christmas time back in the early 2000's. Loved your TV Shows again and waiting for today's show. Have another great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am
I love that pinecone! I collect pinecones but have never seen anything like that. I also love the mighty oak on the rock, the red maple leaves. Isn't nature so amazing? Thanks once again for some wonderful pics! Of course the animals are beautiful too!
Posted by: Frances | November 2nd, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Dear martha
I am from dominican republic, an her we do not have those autun picture because we are a tropical country, but for peole like me who love the nature this is a real gift.
Posted by: cleopatra caro | November 2nd, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Don is an old friend and one of our growers. He is so passionate about his animals. When I visit him to discuss plants, it usually turns to what's new in his "animal kingdom". It's so easy to talk to him for hours on his favorite topics - animals and plants.
Enjoyed the article and pics. Even mentioned it in my blog, too. Thanks.
Posted by: Cheryl D. Jones | November 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
What beautiful outdoor photos! It's amazing you are always on the road and were in LA two days later. What a striking difference in the natural environment. I hope your enjoying the Holiday season around the country!
Posted by: YouAreBeautiful | November 4th, 2010 at 8:26 am
In reference to Meghan’s question about the identity of the columnar Sweetgum, I believe it is Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ – one Mr. Shadow was responsible for introducing to the market. Pleasant Run Nursery in Allentown may be able to suggest a local source.
Posted by: Kenny Pierce | November 4th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I love their property!!! Wish I was there!
http://www.PacificCoastPlants.com
Posted by: Brian Deniz | November 8th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Hi Martha;
I live in Cypress, TX and for the first time I have read your blog.
How interesing! Love the views and the thought that you are so busy and still have the time and energy to move around the country.
I love your show and always record it to watch at night, after my husband watches his shows.
He is a WWII Vet and is 88, I am 75 an feel 88..haha. I love to watch your shows in peace without him asking what is that and that? etc. too much talking and not enough listening for me.
So it is now 1:30am and just finished watching your Turkey 101 show and enjoyed it so very much.
Thanks for teaching me 'new ways' to fix the turkey. We are invited out for Thanksgiving, but it has always been my favorite meal to fix.
I have not done the Thanksgiving dinner for several years now and really miss it.
I have two children, my second marriage and my husband has no children, and also have 2 GREAT Grandchildren, 6 and 3 yrs, what a hoot they are and so much fun to be around.
Sorry to make a letter out of this, but I wanted you to know how much I enjoy watching your shows and don't miss a one that's why I record all of them.
Martha, where can I buy a silpad? they look really nice and have not seen on aruond my area, and when I ask around, no one knows about it? Would love to have one of them.
Thanks for any information you can give me.
Take care and GOD BLESS YOU!
You are my idol!
Kindly,
Jean Carnes
Cypress, TX
Posted by: Jean Carnes | November 11th, 2010 at 3:40 am