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Beautiful Memories of Bellefield

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Bellefield and the Walled Garden that is part of its history has only made me a bigger fan of Beatrix Farrand. Beatrix Farrand is the reason behind my amazement with the world of horticulture from the viewpoint of a Landscape Gardener. To visit a garden designed by her,  maintained by a volunteer staff along with our National Park Service and still available for public viewing was absolutely amazing.  To see the infamous Walled Garden at Bellefield with my very own eyes – AH-Mazing!!20160514_171638.jpg

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A restored gate as you enter the walled garden….
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Standing in the middle aisle and looking at the rear of the garden…

The Walled Garden at Bellefield, located on the grounds of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home and Presidential Library, in Hyde Park, New York now serves as a Regional National Park Service Headquarters.  Once the home of Beatrix Farrand’s cousin’s – Thomas and Sarah Newbold – this garden consists of near perfectly restored colorful  displays of horticultural splendor that precedes a backdrop of not only walls but evergreens in the forms of manicured Hemlock hedges.

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Viewing the gate and side gardens while on the porch of the Mansion on the grounds of Bellefield, that now serves as the Regional Park Service Headquarters.

The family sold the property to our National Park Service in 1976 and the gardens were in near total disrepair.  Although the 18th-century mansion was restored by the architectural firm, McKim, Mead and White, it took a group of truly passionate gardeners to assist the National Park Service in bringing back the elegance once found behind these walls.  With the support of the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, The National Park Foundation, The Garden Conservancy, as well as The Garden Club of America, by 1994 the gardens were not only restored, but are maintained and considered historical in their presence.  Even the metal work on the gates was reproduced by an Eagle Scout.  Imagine how Beatrix would feel to be shown such love for her work.

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Looking towards the Mansion at the spent tulips begin their summer’s rest and the army of Columbine and Summer Snowdrops begin their blooming period that will lead us to summer….
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Trellissing along the outer walls in the garden at Bellefield, will draw the eye up, as the blooms transition from season to season…

The National Park Service, being true Stewards of this Land that they are, maintain three sites in this region.  The home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Val Kill – Eleanor Roosevelt’s home/personal space and the Vanderbilt Mansion and Grounds.  Maintaining this kind of intricate beauty, on different sites that have different needs, as well as styles of gardens simply has to be a challenge.  However, there are opportunities to volunteer as well as support financially towards the maintenance of this trio of abundant beauty.

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Bodacious peony blooms that caused me to stop in my tracks. They were huge and quite lovely…
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The wider view from within the Walled Gardens at Bellefield, restored design by Beatrix Farrand…..AH-Mazing!

Beatrix Farrand always made sure that folks knew she was a Landscape Gardener.  Although scoffed at by her male counterparts – including Frederick Law Olmstead – as well as having a determined spirit to find out what she did not know, Beatrix was listed as one of the founding members of The American Society of Landscape Architects…AT AGE 27.  Talk about honing your craft  and working your way to be respected by your male peers in the 1800’s – this was and continues to be one FIERCE LANDSCAPE GARDENER! I could go on and on about Beatrix Farrand, but I would rather spend time exploring ways to visit some of her other gardens that are still in existence like Harkness State Park (formerly known as Eolia), Garland Farm, Three Rivers farm, Princeton, Yale, Thuya Garden, Asticou Azalea Gardens….as well as Dumbarton Oaks in nearby Washington, DC.  I can’t spend enough time mindlessly wandering through the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks,  one of the best ways to escape from it all, as it is a retreat within the City.

Thank you, Beatrix Jones- Farrand for your vision, your connectivity with the earth and your gardens that still inspire Landscape Gardeners (like myself) today.

Click here to find out more about the Gardens of Beatrix Farrand in Connecticut

Click here to find out more about the mindset and ecological practices of Beatrix Farrand

Click here to find out more about the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Museum and Presidential Library

Click here to find out more about Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kil

 

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Bold Beautiful Gardens of Beatrix Farrand

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IMG_9552The words bold, beautiful, and Beatrix Farrand can easily be used in the same sentence. Beatrix Farrand is one of the Women in Horticulture that has left an impact on my commitment to creating beauty naturally.  Developing an admiration for bold, beautiful memorable gardens, Beatrix left a legacy reflective of her passion for us to enjoy.

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Bellefield, National Park Service Headquarters.

With an Aunt like Edith Jones Wharton to help steer her interest, Beatrix Farrand’s talents evolved. Her love of beautiful gardens turned into a career of a lifetime. The introduction to unique people of wealth made a difference in her formative years. These introductions contributed to a successful career in horticulture for Beatrix. Professor Charles Sprague Sargent, the first Director of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston realized this early on.

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The restored gate in the walled garden at Bellefield. Flanked by perennial plantings – this was simply gorgeous.

Professor Sargent suggested that Beatrix study Landscape Gardening. Keely aware of the beauty that surrounded her in the homes and gardens that she visited.  The Sargent’s allowed Beatrix to live in their home as she studied horticulture. Urging her to travel while studying the great gardens of Europe, Beatrix returned and shared this knowledge by creating great gardens. One of these gardens is Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC.  With my interest piqued, I simply had to see what other gardens of note this Landscape Gardener had created.20160514_171638.jpgThe Garden at Bellefield is part of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites., found in Hyde Park, New York. From DC, it is approximately a 5-hour drive to Hyde Park. Bellefield is the Headquarters for the National Park Service of Hyde Park, N. Y.

All of this can be found on the grounds of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Historic site which includes the FDR Presidential Library, also known as the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Educational Center, Springwood and of course The Garden at Bellefield.  These grounds are all uniquely beautiful and speak to the serenity of the area.

The bones of this garden still stand, even though the original plantings have disappeared. From the walls to the trellises to the trees, Beatrix Farrand created. Beatrix created this garden for her cousins, Thomas and Sarah Newbold. After Beatrix had practiced her craft for about two decades, this garden became a reality.  Currently, the National Park Service and The Beatrix Farrand Garden Association are passionate about keeping this walled garden alive.IMG_9515 In keeping with the concept that is a trademark of Beatrix Farrand, the beloved borders are planted by color and seasonal bloom.

There is an interesting bold, beautiful visual experience when you see how such a restrained border contains voluptuous plantings, as well as color.  IMG_9492Simply put, the beauty of Hyde Park is something that every gardener should experience.  am able to say that I have experienced the vision of Beatrix Farrand. IMG_9560

Click here to find out more about Beatrix Farrand.

Click here to find out more about The Garden at Bellefield.

Click here to find out more about the FDR Library found at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Educational Center.

 

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Springtime Tradition, A Jacket and Beautiful Gardens…..

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wp-1460013875893.jpegTradition can be expressed in many ways. Traditionally, Spring should come in like a Lion and go out like a lamb….but this week was a little different.  One of this week’s biggest stories has been how winter has made a comeback, causing Spring to do a backspin. The rain has caused casual water to sporadically pepper the DMV.   However, I have it on good authority that the weather was warm, the skies were clear and all was perfect in Augusta, Georgia where the unofficial start of Spring is being celebrated at the Masters.wp-1459938496638.jpeg

DON’T STOP READING…IT IS STILL TERI @COTTAGEINTHECOURT!!!  All who know me, are very much aware that I do not typically pay attention to things that are not about nature, plants or sustainability….UNTIL NOW!!!  Would you believe that the Masters Golf Tournament has all of these things and more….I know…NEITHER COULD I (TRUST ME)!!!

Held in Augusta, Georgia on the former grounds of Fruitlands Nursery, on land owned by a Belgian-born immigrant, Baron Louis Mathieu Edouard Berckmans and is son Prosper Julius Alphonse Berckmans, The Masters Tournament is a golfing tradition steeped in history, pimento cheese sandwiches, green jackets and horticultural beauty. The elder Mr. Berckmans was a horticulturist and purchased the 315-acre property to start a nursery which would have plants from all over the world.  After he passed away, the family sold the land to Robert Tyre “Bobby” Jones in 1930.  Mr. Jones developed  this gorgeous estate with all of its bodacious beauty into a very special place, that Georgia can be proud of.  With the help of Prosper’s son, Louis A. Berckmans, who planted noteworthy trees and shrubs at each hole and the architectural skills of Dr. Alister McKenzie, it is still one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country today.  Now that is a long time from when the first Tournament took place in 1934. The opportunity to play in the Masters Tournament is earned and the reward is …. a trophy ………andImage result for Free pictures of Green Blazers

a shamrock green jacket….with a logo that lets the world know … “YOU ARE THE BEST GOLFER” of the current year.  Unlike the jacket above, these prized shamrock green jackets are custom tailored to fit the winner…this is something that most serious golfers yearn to achieve.

There are some IMPORTANT facts that you need to know about The Masters Tournament:

  • 60 of the 61 Magnolia trees that line the driveway, often called Magnolia Lane were planted in the mid 1850’s. One was lost to extremely bad storms;
  • One of the traditional items on the menu is a Pimento Cheese sandwich. You just cannot have The Masters without Pimento Cheese sandwiches. Of course, there are other things offered on the menu, but tradition is King in these parts,
  • Two women were accepted to play there in 2012 – Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice,
  • The Big Oak tree was also planted at some point in the mid 1850’s,
  • The privet hedges are from rootstock imported from France and are the reason so many privet hedges can be found throughout the South. The privet you see today are descendants of the Mother plants,
  • A huge Wisteria found at The Augusta National Golf Club is one of the first  Wisteria plants in the United States,
  • A Loblolly pine tree and a presidential cabin, which are National Landmarks that are found on the property  that President Eisenhower can take credit for,
  • There are 18 holes, the first nine have been renamed, however, the tradition of naming the holes after trees and shrubs continue today;
  • You cannot use a cell phone, pager or other electronic device when on the course;

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  • Tea Olive, Ping Dogwood, Flowering Peach, Flowering Crab Apple, Magnolia,  Juniper, Pampas, Yellow Jasmine, Carolina Cherry, Camellia, White Dogwood, Golden Bell, Azalea, Chinese Fir, Firethorn, Redbud, Nandina and Holly are all along the 18 holes that make up this magnificent golf course ANDIMG_9365
  • The Gardens are meticulously maintained and absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

One would think that their environmental footprint must be minimal. However by using nature as it’s guide, the use of chemicals. pesticides and other items that are used elsewhere are minimally used at the Augusta National Golf Club. There are efforts by the members to reinforce the message of sustainability by Tree Reforestation Projects, mulching projects and a huge tract of land (55 acres) is currently being used as a Wildlife Preserve.

Yesterday was considered Par-3 Day.  A time to mingle with friends, family and great golf icons who no longer play.  From today going forward – the game is on and the beauty that surrounds this event is surely appreciated by all.  Why one could even wear the infamous jacket….

As this Duffer heads to the fairways of this day, I hope to have no sand trap slow me down. I can stay on par as I head to the nineteenth hole, admiring the beauty that surrounds this National Landmark….if only in my mind!.
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Click here to find our more about The Masters Tournament at the Augusta Golf Club

Click here to find more golf terminology

To find out if Teri ever plans on going golfing………..no clicks……………just subscribe and follow me. Stranger things have happened!

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