A Garden Tour: Sycamore Hill Farm...Part II

This is Part II of my tour of Sycamore Gardens in Marcellus, NY. 

To see "Part I"click HERE.

I wish I knew the history behind this structure. I know they were disassembling it and using the stone in the gardens but I recently heard they were rebuilding it. It's a mystery to me! One of the things that I like about this tour is that we were free to roam around the garden by ourselves but I did notice a small tram driving patrons around and I heard the driver telling some of the history. I guess I should take the ride at least once.

The Dragon Pegoda Garden features a Japanese style pavilion. 

The pavilion is surrounded by traditional stones, carvings, and various ferns. 

Crossing the water by way of the stepping stones is always fun. 

Just one of the never ending surprises that you find around each corner.

Water lilies in the Koi Pond.

It was very relaxing to sit by the pond for a few moments, take in the landscape and watch the koi fish. No two were alike- each had its own unique markings in the most beautiful colors!

Another photo from the back of the Hanford's home.

...And another!

More Koi fish- the photos just don't do them justice though.

In the middle of the pond is a spire of water that shoots up ...oh, I would guess at least a hundred feet!

The spray hits you as you are crossing those stepping stones I showed you earlier.

One last little garden area that we explored was right in the very front of the house, near the road. It was a very shady area with a water garden in the center. There is a tall shrub border that shields the garden from passing cars.

...and of course a large statue in the middle of the water feature.

This garden was filled mostly with ferns and hostas.

This little garden really felt like an outdoor room- a little secret garden!

The entrance of the home. Everything is just decorated so tastefully.

Visit the Sycamore Hill website to find out about upcoming tours and events.

 I hope you have a chance to visit this truly exquisite garden!

A Garden Tour: Sycamore Hill Farm...Part I

I went on a garden tour over the weekend with my mom. I have taken this tour twice before but both times on Mother's Day. On Mother's Day, the gardens are filled with spring flowering trees, tulips and thousands of emerging perennials. It was absolutely spectacular to see the gardens in June!

Hundreds of Hostas were just bursting. Every kind of Hosta that you can imagine- amazing! The morning that we went, it was a bit drizzly, which made everything look so lush!

This is the stately home of the Hanford family. 

The Hanford's own Sycamore Hill Garden. It is nestled amidst the rolling hills of Marcellus, New York.

 

The gardens cover more than twenty five acres. We were there for three hours and did not make it to every border that we wanted to see. 

How did this get started?

The story that I heard is that on Mother's Day, (I don't know how many years ago) Mrs. Hanford's wish was that she could just spend the entire day in the garden planting and doing work. This became a tradition and every year the gardens grew in size and scope. Now, they generously open the garden for certain fund raising groups to do tours on Mother's Day. A few years back, they added a Father's Day tour (which is now called the Summer Solstice tour and is held a couple of weeks after Father's Day).

Starting this year they are offering a tour in the fall. That will be just as spectacular and I can't wait to go!

They have collected over eighty bronze statues from all over the world.

This "Iron Tree" was magnificent.

Every where you went, there was a place to sit and take in the view. They encourage you to bring a picnic.

I took almost two hundred photos! It's a photographers dream.

Even an amateur like me did okay with my camera phone!

I would love to show you every single statue- each one was so unique and every garden setting that they were placed in was just breathtaking

Marcellus is a small town of about 6000 people southwest of Syracuse, New York. It's very hilly which made for some gorgeous long range views.

The row of Arborvitae that you see in the distance is the perimeter of the Maze!

Here are some pictures from inside the maze. When we first came here years ago, the trees were only to our knees!

 Now they stand over ten feet high and you can actually get lost in the maze. We did (just a little)!

If you make it to the middle, this is what greets you! I can't even show you the Minotaur from the front- you would surely blush :)

This picture does not do this justice. These weeping trees practically bring tears to your eyes!

The way they are lined up makes such a statement- they truly looked mournful!

 Tomorrow I will show you some more of the pictures that I took or you can check out the album on my Ispirato Design Facebook Page. I've added many more there and will eventually put all of them in that album.

TTFN (TaTa For Now)

I hope you enjoyed the tour so far!

Ornamental Kale: A Fall Beauty in the Garden

Okay that's it... I am planting these next spring! Is anyone else in awe of these stunning fall beauties? Around CNY, this time of year, Ornamental Kale is one of the few plants in the garden still putting on a show but you have to have enough foresight in the spring to plant them! 

I think fall is a good time to look around your landscape and actually take notes or make a list for the following spring. What do you want to remember to plant? Is your landscape as interesting in the fall as it is in the spring and summer? What do you need to plant in the spring to extend the beauty of your landscape well into the cool months of autumn? When spring finally does roll around we want instant gratification! NEXT SPRING when your at the nursery comparing beautiful plants about to burst into bloom and scraggly little purple stems with a couple of leaves..... THINK FALL!