Condon’s garden is situated in an old apple orchard with a view of the Shawangunk Ridge. Serpentine stone paths take the visitor past metal artworks by Condon’s husband, sculptor and Rock and Snow owner Richard Gottlieb, and to an Akebia-draped pergola, recessed patio and stone fire circle. Asked for the most striking feature of her garden, Condon says it’s probably the use of color and plant combinations. She likes to make offbeat choices and plant things in an unusual way, like putting castor bean in pots; a plant that will grow 12 feet high in the ground, says Condon, but when contained becomes somewhat of a bonsai plant. “I like its foliage,” she says. “I like to play with unexpected plant combinations.” This is the fourth year she’ll participate in the Open Days program. Usually the visitors to her garden number between 50–100, Condon says, and they come for different reasons. “Some are homeowners and some are designers. Some are people who are interested in horticulture. I really like it, because I get to meet great people and talk about gardens all day.”
One of her visitors was noted garden writer Tovah Martin, who ended up writing an article about Condon that appeared in the spring 2013 issue of a Better Homes & Gardens special publication, Deck, Patio and Outdoor Living, available at Barnes & Noble on the Nook e-reader, Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Condon says she’s inspired by garden history, and remembers fondly a trip to England she took a few years back with her mother where they went on a garden tour. “I love that in England gardening is so important,” she says. “Everybody knows all the history about every piece of property.”
For more information about The Garden Conservancy and its Open Days program, visit www.gardenconservancy.org or call (845) 424-6500. ●
