A June Garden Tour
June is such a wonderful time for a garden tour.
Most of the garden tours at my farm are conducted in the spring and early summer. Yesterday, I welcomed a group of winners from an auction run by Wave Hill, the charming non-profit 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, New York. Despite cloudy skies and light showers, the guided walk took them through my various gardens, groves, and allées. They learned a bit about the history of my farm, the many changes I've made over the years, and about the plants and trees they saw along the way. Following the tour, we all gathered for a pleasant lunch al fresco.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Every now and then I agree to guided tours of my farm to show guests what is blooming in the gardens. Here I am with Linda Walker, Ruth Melillo, Director of Horticulture at Wave Hill Cathy Deutsch, Michele Logan, Janet Mavec, and Clelia Biamonti.
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- The day was cloudy, but the temperature was pleasant and many of the gardens were filled with early summer growth. The tour started on my terrace parterre outside my Winter House kitchen where I welcomed the small group of six and started with a little introduction about the history of the farm and how it has evolved over the years. I also gave them a brief rundown of what they would see during a guided tour.
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- The group loved my weeping katsura. I have three of these beautiful trees around my Winter House. The weeping katsura is a deciduous ornamental tree known for its cascading branches, heart-shaped leaves, and vibrant seasonal colors.
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- My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, lead the morning tour. Here he is with Cathy and Janet.
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- One of the early eye-catchers was the climbing hydrangea on some of the sugar maples. Everyone was inspired by the beautiful flowering vines – which, if planted correctly, do not hurt the trees.
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- Ryan walked the group through my half-acre vegetable garden. They admired all the growing vegetables. Everything is doing so well.
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- They stopped at the brassicas and loved the lush green kale. I always grow such beautiful kale.
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- Ryan also led the group to my long Boxwood Allée. Some stopped to say hi to the donkeys in their pasture. This view is of my stable complex and courtyard, where I always display large potted plants during the warmer months. The trees on the left and right are horse chestnuts.
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- And no tour is complete without a stop at the bird enclosures. Here are two of my peacocks – with one perched showing his lustrous tail feathers.
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- Every garden tour is different depending on what looks best at the time. The group also stopped at the flower cutting garden down by chicken coops to see the Martha Stewart hybrid tea roses. My rose has large pink blooms, dark green foliage, and a most wonderful and sweet fragrance.
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- Ryan stops at various locations to point out specific plants and trees. He also answers many gardening questions. Here he is pointing out the climbing hydrangea on another tree.
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- This energetic sextet also walked under the weeping willows all the way to my pond.
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- Ryan guided the group through the Pin Oak Allée, Quercus palustris, which looks so full with its distinguishable lower, middle and upper branches – such a lovely collection of trees. Thee group could not believe I planted them when they were just about five feet tall.
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- The tour walked to the pool, where guests saw my antique staddle stones. Staddle stones were originally used in the 17th and 18th centuries as support bases for granaries, hayricks, and game larders.
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- Under my pavilion, I hang staghorn ferns during spring and summer. I grew them myself from pups and they’ve matured so excellently.
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- I always serve refreshments during my tours. It’s a nice break for my guests and a good time to answer any questions they may have about my farm. The handmade yew table under my pavilion was set for lunch. We had some light rain, but the cool breezes were comfortable and perfect for our light meal. Some asked what I do with all the flowers I grow. Aside from using them for various video and photography shoots, I always cut fresh flowers whenever I entertain.
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- Our lunch was prepared by Mast Market & Cafe, a local, organic grocery and café in Bedford, New York. It included green salad with a side of fresh avocado mash.
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- There were also fresh chicken salad sandwiches with freshly baked bread.
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- This is a plate of spring kale salad.
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- And for dessert, fresh watermelon slices.
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- … and of course, for everyone’s sweet cravings – cranberry oatmeal cookies and traditional chocolate chip.
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- It was a fun tour with a very fun, enthusiastic, and curious group of gardeners and garden admirers. Please visit the Wave Hill web site to learn more about its beautiful garden and how you can support it.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
