My large “iced terrace” at Skylands, my home overlooking Seal Harbor, is planted for the summer!
Every year, I like to spend Memorial Day weekend up in Maine planting all the large outdoor urns, pots, and troughs. It is quite an undertaking, but it's become a fun tradition especially with the friends and colleagues that accompany me every year. Many of the tropical specimens we use are stored in hoop houses at my Bedford, New York farm during winter, and then carefully loaded onto a trailer and delivered to Skylands for the summer months. As soon as I arrive there, I design the layout of where things will go and we all get to work.
Enjoy these photos.
It’s among my favorite traditions – going up to Maine for a spring weekend with good friends to plant the terrace. Rain or shine, we always get it done. Here I am with this year’s group – Douglas Friedman, Hannah Milman, Ryan McCallister, Kevin Sharkey, and the “Lady.”
Here is my handsome Chow Chow Emperor Han guarding his ledge – the dogs love to go up to Maine with me too.
Look at all the planters waiting to be filled. And this is not even all of them…
I have all different sized planters. They are put away for the winter or covered in place and then displayed around the terrace when I arrive.
These trays of succulents were propagated over winter in the Skylands greenhouse. Before we start planting, I make sure all the supplies are ready – the urns, the potting mix, and of course the plants.
My greenhouse at Skylands cannot accommodate a lot of plants, so many are wintered over at my farm and then brought to Maine. Here are some of the plants that came up the day before. I decide where each plant will go before they are moved – staying organized saves lots of time and energy.
Peter Grub, a member of my Skylands crew, is young and strong! He’s carrying one of the potted plants, a bird’s nest fern, from the front driveway to the west terrace.
One of the first meals was a hardy early morning breakfast. I used my delicious farm fresh eggs and scrambled them in butter and then served them with croissants I got from New York City’s Ladurée.
Then it’s planting time. The containers and plants are carefully positioned in or close to where they will be displayed for the season. The small pieces of wood are shims which will be placed under each pot. This is a Lunaform vessel. Lunaform is a coastal Maine studio where beautiful handmade garden containers are made.
To protect the rather porous and fragile pots, I like to line them with garbage bags, so the pots don’t soak up too much water. The garbage bags have drain holes at the bottom and are neatly tucked inside the pot, so they are not visible. It’s also easier to clean up after the season.
Here’s my gardener, Wendy Norling, moistening the potting mix in this long trough. I bought this stone trough at Trade Secrets in 2013. It has worked perfectly here at Skylands.
The trough is planted with something different this year – succulents and ornamental grasses. In less than a month, this trough will be so full of gorgeous growth.
This planter is filled with small succulents and then top dressed with pink granite gravel stones. Everyone takes turns doing everything – from moving and preparing the plants to moistening the potting mix, to filling the pots, to planting.
Another one is filled with dark burgundy succulents.
And once planted, the shims are put in place. Elevating the pots helps to prevent drainage holes from getting blocked. It also allows better air circulation and looks more aesthetically pleasing on the wall.
More succulents and agaves are planted in these containers. The antique faux bois planter on the left is extremely heavy – about four to five hundred pounds.
Agaves are long-leafed succulents with shallow roots and showy, spiked leaves. A little extra care should be taken whenever working with such sharp plants – always protect the eyes and face when handling agaves. This is an Eric Soderholtz pot – a deceptively simple turned pot, with Soderholtz’s scarab trademark impressed on the side.
I am fortunate to have such a good crew up in Maine who can care for all these plants when I am not here.
Many of the urns are also planted with ground covers that will spread and fall over the sides of the container.
For lunch on this day, we enjoyed smoked salmon, fresh brioche, mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar, cucumbers, and refreshing orange slices from my orangerie.
The terrace looks excellent after all the hard work – I can’t wait to see it all filled out the next time I return.
I am an avid horseback rider and love to go out for rides on my trusted Friesians.
A crucial part of riding is making sure the horse has a well-fitted saddle. An improper fit can cause a rider's weight to be distributed unevenly resulting in pressure points, rub marks, and soreness on the horse's back. The right saddle improves the horse's comfort, prevents injuries, and ensures a pleasant riding experience for both horse and rider. Recently, I purchased a new saddle from Freedman's, a multi-generation family-owned Toronto-based saddlery business that has been making quality harnesses, saddles, bridles, and other leather goods since 1910. I've been using Freedman's products for years and have always been pleased with the fine craftsmanship and quality materials.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This is Bond, one of the 10-equine residents in my stable. He is a Friesian. The Friesian is most often recognized by its bold black coat color. They have long, arched necks and well-chiseled, short-eared, “Spanish-type” heads. They also have powerful, sloping shoulders, compact, muscular bodies with strong hindquarters, and low-set tails. Bond needed a new saddle that was better-fitting for his body shape and comfort.
I’ve used Freedman’s saddles for years. This is an older model saddle. It is at least 15-years old and is still in excellent condition.
In my saddle tack room I keep other equipment – bridles, saddles, collars, and harnesses – also made by Freedman’s. This bridle has the symbol of my farm on it, the great sycamore tree.
All of this equipment is custom made for carriage riding. Everything is always ready for the next ride.
A horse’s body changes through the year. During warm weather, horses are outdoors grazing on fresh grass. In winter, with a change in diet, they sometimes lose body mass. And, there are also muscular changes that occur from time to time. When a saddle no longer fits a horse properly, it can rock and wobble, and make the horse very uncomfortable. This saddle does not fit Bond well. He needs a narrower tree, or saddle structure, to fit his shoulders better.
This is Bond’s new Freedman’s saddle. It’s made with super grip leather to ensure no slip comfort during the ride.
It’s also manufactured with reinforced straps and a strong saddle tree for durability and proper rider positioning.
Here is the new saddle tested on Bond. This saddle fits perfectly between the back of the scapula, or shoulder blade, and Bond’s last rib.
Before going out on a ride, Helen grooms Bond. Grooming a horse does more than just clean the animal. It is also a good way to assess the horse’s skin and coat for any abnormalities that may necessitate veterinary care. A horse’s face should always be kept as clean as possible.
Grooming can be very soothing, and for many horses, it helps stimulate circulation. For young horses, it’s a good time to practice standing still, being patient, and being touched. Here, Helen wipes down his coat. Bond is secured to cross ties for safety.
Helen also combs the legs. Because all the horses are groomed every day, they are quite used to this process.
Cleaning a horse’s hooves is also very important. They should be picked daily. A hoof pick is used to remove dirt, stones, and other debris – particularly in the grooves beside the frog. Regular hoof cleaning can prevent thrush, a foul-smelling bacterial infection.
Now to get Bond ready for a ride. This is the saddle pad, which cushions the horse’s back under the saddle and protects it from the weight of the rider. This pad is from Mattes and has built in pockets for a cell phone and treats.
Next, Helen places the new saddle on Bond.
This Freedman’s Hunter SG saddle has a low cantle profile, which is the back of the saddle seat, making it easier to swing the leg over when mounting.
The front of the saddle should sit behind the shoulders, allowing good swing motion. The back of the saddle should also be the right length. And the saddle itself should rest nicely on the back.
The girth strap is also an important piece of equestrian equipment. It is attached to the saddle and encircles the horse’s underside securing the saddle in place.
The girth strap is secured with these leather strips called billets.
The straps should be secured equally on both sides of the horse, so the saddle sits centered on top.
The new saddle also has a custom name plate.
Finally, Helen puts on Bond’s halter. This leather halter fastens onto the horse’s head to make leading and handling easier. He is ready for a good, comfortable ride around the farm.
Here’s Juan on Geert and Helen on Bond. The fly masks keep the pesky bugs from biting. A well-fitting saddle gives the horse freedom of movement without any discomfort. It also helps the rider sit correctly.
Afterward, Bond and the rest of his herd are brought out to their paddock where they can graze, roll, and frolic.
It's that time of year when my herbaceous peony garden is blooming!
I’m always amazed by the dazzling display of these beautiful flowers - it’s one of the most anticipated sights at my Bedford, New York farm. Friends and family love the peonies as much as I do and rush to see them in all their splendor. When I first planted this garden, I knew I wanted many, many peonies in one large area. I chose a location across from my home, where there's lots of room and full sun - a spot where I could see the floral show right from my window.
Enjoy these photos.
Of all the flowers at my farm, one of the most anticipated is the sight of these blooming herbaceous peonies. Everyone is always so excited to see this peony garden explode with color.
By mid-April my herbaceous peony bed is filled with knee-high stems and dense green foliage.
Before the flowers appear, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew put up stakes, so the peonies are well-supported as they grow. We use natural twine and metal uprights I designed myself for this purpose.
Then the buds begin to appear.
Not long after, one can see hundreds of buds atop their stems. When I first planted my peony garden, I focused on pink varieties, and planted 11-double rows of 22-peony types. I chose the varieties for their colors, their forms and their long blooming periods.
By the third week of May, the blooms appear. One of the reasons these peonies thrive here at my farm is because of the soil. It has a pH of 6.5 to 7.0, which is ideal. It is also amended with superphosphate and Azomite, a natural product mined from an ancient mineral deposit in Utah. These natural additives improve root systems and overall plant vigor, resulting in this fantastic profusion of blooms.
Look at the transformation – rows and rows of gorgeous blooms.
The peony is any plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America.
There are approximately 33 to 40 different species of peony.
The leaves of the herbaceous peony are pointed with a shiny, deep green color.
Peonies are one of the best-known and most dearly loved perennials – not surprising considering their beauty, trouble-free nature, and longevity.
Herbaceous peonies grow two to four feet tall with sturdy stems and blooms that can reach up to 10-inches wide. We spaced the plants about three to four feet apart to avoid any competing roots.
Peony blooms range from simple blossoms to complex clusters with a variety of petal forms.
The peony’s fragrance can vary, but most have sweet, clean scents. And, do you know… pink peonies tend to have stronger fragrances than red peonies? Double form white peonies are also very aromatic.
Semi-double peonies are those which have single or double rows of broad petals encircling more broad petals and an exposed center crown.
Flower colors come in pink, white, yellow, red, and coral and the various shades and tints of each.
The majority of peonies are hybrids and classified as herbaceous, or as deciduous tree peonies. The peony is showy, frilly with tuberous root systems.
Peonies are considered northern flowers – they tolerate and even prefer cold winter temperatures. They are hardy in zones 3 through 8 and need more than 400-hours of temperatures below 40-degrees Fahrenheit annually to break dormancy and bloom properly.
For the most part, peonies are disease resistant. They do, however, take some time to get established, so be patient. And if you happen to see ants crawling on your peonies, don’t worry. The insects are attracted to the sugary syrup produced by the buds. Once the flower opens fully, and the sucrose has been finished, the ants disappear.
Among the varieties in my collection – ‘Elsa Sass’, ‘Victorian Blush’, ‘Fringed Ivory’, ‘Martha’, ‘Madylone’, ‘Lullaby Coos’, ‘Vivid Glow’, ‘Angel Cheeks’, ‘Miss America’ and ‘Flying Pink Saucers’.
The only disadvantage of peonies is that each field yields one crop of cut flowers for a couple of weeks only once a year, and then that’s it – until the next season when they bloom with splendor once again.
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