For me, it's always enjoyable to get together with friends, take time from busy schedules, and tour my gardens.
This week, I had the pleasure of hosting three passionate gardening experts for an afternoon at my farm - plantsman, author, horticulturist, and nurseryman, Dan Hinkley, and Dennis Schrader and Bill Smith, the owners of Landcraft Environments, Ltd., a pre-eminent wholesaler of tropical, tender perennials, shrubs, bulbs, and uncommon annuals. It was a brief visit, but we had just enough time to drive around the property, see the gardens, and take a short walk through my living maze. That evening, we all attended the 2025 Wave Hill Gardeners' Party in New York City honoring its founding director of horticulture, Marco Polo Stufano.
Enjoy these photos.
Soon after arriving, I gave Dan, Bill, and Dennis a personal tour to see the gardens, groves, and allées. Here we are approaching my living maze in my off-road Polaris Ranger.
This was the first time the three had seen my maze. I explained how I thoughtfully and carefully designed it to include a large variety of plants, shrubs and trees laid out in a maze rather than a labyrinth. Do you know the difference between the two? Labyrinths have one continuous path which leads to the center. Mazes have multiple paths which branch off to various options and dead ends, with only one successful route to the finishing point. Those who dare can get lost in my maze.
We all remarked how wonderful the privets, Ligustrum ovalifolium, are doing. These privets, along with many of the other plantings in this maze, including the London planes, yews, boxwood, and the American sweetgums, are from Select Horticulture in nearby Pound Ridge. All of them are beautifully rooted, strong, and in excellent condition.
Here are Dennis and Bill looking at how large the maze is. The entire space is three acres… and it is well more than half complete.
We passed by the row of Hick’s yews with dense, glossy, green foliage that naturally form a narrow habit.
Right now they are showing off berries, or red drupes, which come out in late summer and persist through fall.
The holly is ‘Ruby Colonnade,’ Ilex x crenata ‘RutHol5’ PPAF. It is a versatile evergreen shrub with a naturally pyramidal form. The holly is also showing off lots of berries.
I shared how unsure I was at first about having these hydrangeas here, but they are doing so well.
Their blooms add such wonderful color to the maze.
Planted in between sections of the hydrangea row are camperdown elms. Camperdown elms slowly develop broad, flat heads and wide crowns with weeping branch habits that grow down toward the ground. This tree has already lost some its leaves for the season.
This is one of several Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ trees, American sweetgums, planted in my maze. As these mature, they will maintain their erect, columnar form, growing up to 50 feet tall and only about four-feet wide.
Dan, Dennis, and Bill noticed the growing ninebark. This variety is Little Devil Ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May.’ These shrubs are also thriving here in the maze.
This ninebark has burgundy leaves and features small pinkish-white spirea-like flowers in late spring followed by subtle reddish fruit, and interesting peeling papery bark.
Here is a selection of Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ trees, also known as London planes.
I planted these trees in early November 2022. They are planted in a rectangle with two long rows and two short rows and an open space in the center. These trees are large shade trees with broad open crowns.
During our walk, I also mentioned how much my horses enjoy going through the maze – it’s great exercise for them to turn and navigate the various pathways.
And here we are back in the Polaris to finish the tour before heading into New York City.
Wave Hill is a 28-acre estate in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale in the Bronx. It includes public gardens as well as a cultural center overlooking the Hudson River with views of New Jersey.
The evening event included cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a plant sale, a silent auction, and dinner al fresco.
Dan was among the speakers asked to speak about this year’s honoree, Wave Hill’s Founding Director of Horticulture, Marco Polo Stufano.
Dinner included autumn vegetables with toasted sunflower seeds, carrot-elderflower purée, and apple blossoms.
The entrée was grilled branzino with tomato braised cauliflower, fingerling potatoes, cerignola olives, basil, and a garnish of edible flowers.
And here I am with the honoree, Marco, who with his innovative ideas, creative vision, dedication and determination, inspires the thousands who visit Wave Hill every year. It was a beautiful event and evening on the grounds of this world-renowned public garden.
Have you heard the buzz? It's finally here! I'm so excited to share my new skin care brand with you - Elm Biosciences. My products are now available to shop!
After five years of hard, behind-the-scenes work and endless hours of research, co-founder dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, and I, developed Elm Biosciences with an innovative and unique lab-to-patient model offering a science-backed inside-approach to graceful aging and skin longevity. Our two anchoring products include Inner Dose, a daily supplement designed to strengthen the skin's foundation, and A3O Elemental Serum, an antioxidant rich formula that helps smooth, brighten, and firm the skin. You're all going to love them! Click anywhere on this highlighted link to buy your Elm Biosciences beauty set right now!
Earlier this week, we celebrated our launch with a party at The Twenty Two in New York City. Enjoy these photos.
I am thrilled to share my new Elm Biosciences products with you. I’ve been taking the Inner Dose supplements and using the A3O serum every day and my skin has responded so beautifully. You really need to try them! Both are available to order right now!
My launch day started with a segment on Today with Jenna & Friends, hosted by Jenna Bush Hager joined by Rosie Perez. Here I am on set in my Veronica Beard jacket. (Photo by Hunter Moreno)
Next it was straight to the executive Marquee Brands headquarters to record a podcast with Elm Biosciences co-founder Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, and advisory board dermatologists Dr. Raja Sivamani and Dr. Saranya Wiles. (Photo by Hunter Moreno)
My podcast covered everything from what motivated our new system of skin care to the science behind graceful aging and some of the most exciting advances in regenerative skin medicine out today. Be sure to listen to this informative and interesting discussion – look for it wherever you get your podcasts. (Photo by Hunter Moreno)
And then it was time to celebrate! (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here I am with Dhaval at the luxury hotel The Twenty Two. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
We reserved the hotel’s restaurant for our event – planned by the International Event Production and Design Agency, Hessney & Co. and Bird Experiential. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
The formal symbol of our skincare brand is the elm bonsai. The bonsai, when thoughtfully and carefully maintained, becomes more beautiful as it matures. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
New England Bonsai Gardens loaned us several bonsai specimens for this event. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Grammy award winning hip-hop recording artist and DJ Fredwreck was in charge of all the music! (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Small bites included a delicious oyster bar with caviar. We also offered caviar with potato, melba toasts topped with sardines, gougères, and short rib purse dumplings.
Among the specialty cocktails, my Gold Martharita made with Casa Dragones Blanco, cointreau, orange juice, lime juice and sparkling water. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
These Gold Martharitas couldn’t be mixed fast enough. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
More than 150 influencers, press, and friends of the brand attended. Here I am with Dhaval and John Demsey. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here’s a photo of Andy Yu and Chiun Kai Shih. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
And here’s Dhaval and Nicky Hilton. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here’s Dria Murphy trying to copy my “thirst trap” look. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
But no one compares… get tips on my social media video tutorial for creating the thirst trap – have you seen it? (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
And of course, everyone went home with a bag of their own products. Be sure to go online now and buy your Inner Dose supplements and A3O Elemental Serum. I assure you, there’s nothing like Elm Biosciences – just try it. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
One of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is to make sure all the major appliances are always in good, working order. Keeping household equipment clean and well-functioning not only extends their lives, but can actually help reduce the risk of fire.
Recently, I called in a team from The Butlers & Air Quality to service all the ductwork and HVAC systems in the buildings. According to The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, it is a good idea to have air ducts professionally examined and cleaned every three to five years - vents, and the air ducts behind them, attract dust, pet dander and a host of other particles that can affect the air quality in the home. This process can take several hours depending on the size of the structure, but it's a very important and necessary task.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
When was the last time your HVAC system was checked? Do you know where it’s located in your home? In most homes, they are set up in either the attic or the basement. Here is a view of one in the attic of my guest house studio building.
The Butlers & Air Quality in Yorktown Heights, New York, came out to the farm to service all the ducts and vents. This company is a family-owned and operated business that has been covering the area since 1982. I’ve been using this company for years.
This is a portable diesel fuel air compressor, which provides high pressure clean air to help push the airflow toward the vacuum device.
The vacuum collection device is used to gain airflow control in the ducts and then suction all the debris into its big tank.
This is the opening of the collection filter, where any dust and debris from the ducts ends up. Take a close look at how clean it is now before the ducts are blown.
The setup involves connecting a large suction hose from the air handler in the attic to the collection tank. A standard household vacuum isn’t powerful enough to clean deep into the crevices of the ducts, so it is always helpful to call in professional teams to do the job.
Here is the hose connected into the unit.
These air hoses run through the house from the outdoor air compressor.
The Butlers & Air Quality team is very neat and tidy – towels are wrapped around the hoses at various points, so as not to mar any of the walls or floors.
Moving blankets are also positioned in various areas to protect floors from moving equipment.
Meanwhile, all the air vent covers are carefully removed.
The air return covers are also taken down for the job.
Some vent covers are located closer to the floor.
The vents are inspected and wiped down, and any visible debris is directed toward the main duct area.
The covers are temporarily replaced with pieces of cardboard to allow for stronger suction power.
One by one, Hermes goes to each of the vent openings to snake the hose through and direct all the debris, so it can get picked up by the vacuum.
Any debris blown goes through the large suction hose to the collection tank.
This part of of the process takes two to three hours depending on the size of the home. It’s important to be thorough to get all the debris. Doing this regularly removes dust, dirt, and other pollutants that accumulate over time. It can greatly improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens and respiratory issues, and increase the HVAC efficiency.
The outside vents are also all blown clean.
Here, the vent covers are getting cleaned and wiped completely dry.
This is an atomization machine filled with antimichrobial that is sprayed into the ductwork to kill any potential, bacteria, mold, or mildew.
After each vent opening is cleaned and blown of debris, it is lightly sprayed with antimicrobial solution.
Once the top floor is completed, the vacuum and hoses are moved down to the basement, where they can be used to clean the vents and ducts in the downstairs zone of this house.
Hermes, who has been with the company for many years, opens the system’s air handler.
The vacuum hose is connected to the supply plenum, an air-distribution box attached directly to the handler and all the equipment that heats or cools the house – it is the heart of the duct system.
And the other end is connected directly into the vacuum collection device.
As the hoses are snaked through the air vents from above, Hermes holds the hose from the basement to control its movement and airflow pressure.
Hermes checks that the air handler is working properly and then cleans all the unit’s coils and the blower wheel.
And then sprays the coils with a protective oil.
All the vents are cleaned and the hose is removed from the vacuum collection device.
Look inside – so much dust and debris.
Once everything is cleaned, all the vent covers are carefully returned.
This house is done, but there are a couple more to go… onto my Summer House next. Thank you, Butlers & Air Quality!
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