Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Another Bucolic Hudson Valley Town - Tivoli

On my recent travels to the picturesque village of Tivoli, I jogged just under two miles every day to the banks of the Hudson River, passing this magical house along the way. 


Numerous carriage roads wind through the scenic Olana State Historic Site that sprawls along the Hudson River. (It's just a short drive from Tivoli.) Among the myriad botanical species growing on this expansive property, the smoke trees with their cloud-like blooms were especially evocative.



The woodsy campus of Bard College is stunning, especially because of its abundance of gardens. (Many Bard students reside in Tivoli.) The walled Blithewood Garden that's set more than 100 feet above the Hudson River is the most spectacular.









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Sunday, June 27, 2021

A Spectacular Garden in Canada's Quebec Maritime Region

The Gaspesie Peninsula in Canada’s Quebec Maritime region is a year-round gem, whether you desire undeveloped sandy beaches, networks of hiking trails or an abundance of cross-country ski options in the winter when a thick blanket of snow coats the landscape. But horticulture fans will also want to visit this area that’s home to the unique and historic Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens. Here, it’s not just the thousands of botanical specimens that will delight, but also the avant-garde installations that are part of the annual International Garden Festival as well as the numerous sculptures dotting the property. I recently interviewed Alexander Reford, the director as well as great-grandson of the horticulturist and Reford Gardens' creator, Elsie Reford. Here’s my article for Forbes Life







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Tuesday, June 22, 2021

New York City’s New Green Space

Derelict Pier 54 in Manhattan has been reimagined as Little Island, a new Hudson River installation that adds an almost three-acre green space to the city.

On my recent visit, I found an abundance of stellar flora, though it seemed everyone else seemed to be captivated by selfies.




Spending just an hour climbing the undulating landscape of Little Island and concentrating my attention on the many-hued blooms is a rejuvenating experience.



I noticed dazzling blooms and creative hardscape structures everywhere, even along the stairs and beside the railings.







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Sunday, June 13, 2021

Nature-based and Creative Finds in Greenport, Long Island

Just two hours from New York City, Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island is a more low-key alternative to the scene in the Hamptons. 


Roaming around Greenport early in the day before high season started has many advantages, including finding artistic shapes outside restaurants that had not yet opened.




I found plenty of artistic inspiration in Greenport, Long Island even without visiting the myriad galleries.



In fact, not all the creative art in Greenport, Long Island is displayed in the galleries.




A short drive from Main Street, numerous shaded boardwalks zig-zag through the wetlands that provide abundant bird watching opportunities in the Arshamomaque Pond Preserve, which was renamed for an environmental champion, Paul Stoutenburgh.







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