Innisfree Garden in Millbrook
There are two types of people in the Hudson Valley: those who think Innisfree Garden is awesome, and those who have not yet visited Innisfree Garden. If you retain nothing else from what I write here, remember this: Go To Innisfree. Got kids? Take them to Innisfree. Got company coming in from out of town? Bring them to nearby La Puerta Azul for lunch, then go to Innisfree. Wish you took pictures that actually look good? No problem, take your camera to Innisfree. I can practically guarantee you that absolutely anything you point and shoot at will result in a gorgeous photo. There’s a reason for that: the entire space consists of small space cup-garden “rooms” that relate to each other: small-scale individually, but large-scale as a whole. Innisfree is “a distinctly American stroll garden.” Its 185 acres features a path that takes you around a large glacial lake, through rolling hills, beautiful trees, rustic rock formations, and peaceful water elements. The couple that owned this land, Walter and Marion Beck, worked with landscape architect Lester Collins to create the public garden and study center that it is today. My kids love that it feels natural at Innisfree, and there just happens to be something interesting to look at every several steps. The walking bridge and the fountain mist are their favorite parts. Innisfree is now open for the season through Oct. 20. Hours and admission rates are Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $4 for ages four and up; and weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $5 for ages four and up. Innisfree Garden is located at 362 Tyrrel Rd. in Millbrook. For more information, call (845) 677-8000 or visit www.innisfreegarden.org.
Stonecrop Garden in Cold Spring
I had heard of Stonecrop Garden for years and finally visited with the kids. It is absolutely fantastic. First of all, in case you didn’t know, Stonecrop is not a reference to rock formations, it is a type of plant. We began our walk at the entrance pavilion, where we saw posters for announcements, information, and pictures of the resident snake, Blackie. We walked along a path that passed by a gorgeous pond, complete with huge bullfrog tadpoles, adult bullfrogs and koi. We meandered our way through the conservatory, a glass house filled with plants, with little porch lookouts over the pond. As we gazed around each room, I may or may not have made a joke about accusing Miss Scarlet with the wrench. We found ourselves at the office reception area where I paid my admission and we received a map of the garden along with a list of flowers in bloom that week. I was informed by the staff that Stonecrop Garden specifically does not promote or tailor its experience to children, although kids under 12 are admitted free. I imagine they are concerned about noise levels, respect for the plant life, and safety issues around the ponds, so just be extra mindful with your children of any age. Stonecrop is fairly compact, and it took me a while to understand the distances we were walking with their locations on the map. We had such a good time looking at the flowers, navigating the narrow greenhouse, strolling along the bamboo path, sitting in the gazebo next to the giant monkey sculpture, crossing the awesome stone bridge, and looking in all of the ponds for Blackie. We didn’t find any snakes, but we spotted some sunning turtles and the biggest bullfrogs any of us had ever seen. Benches are thoughtfully placed throughout the garden. Of the three gardens I mention here, this one is my kids’ favorite. They loved the size, the variety of scenery, and the up close glimpses of wildlife. They also greatly enjoyed our stop for ice cream at Moo Moo Creamery afterwards, just down Rt. 301 along the river. There’s a terrific plaza there with benches and a replica of a Parrott rifle cannon, which were originally made in the nearby West Point Foundry, and perfect views of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands. Stonecrop Garden is a delightful experience for all ages and all senses, and it made for an incredibly lovely afternoon with my family. Let me know what you think of it. Stonecrop Gardens is located at 81 Stonecrop Lane in Cold Spring. For more information, call (845) 265-2000 or visit www.stonecrop.org.
