And Now for Something Completely Different
One of my longtime favorite summer activities is visiting gardens. Often towns will organize a garden tour through several private gardens in the area and you pay one price and go from garden to garden in that town. Once, about 25 years ago (omg I’m old!), my sister and I went to Martha Stewart’s East Hampton garden. That was exciting!
The Garden Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that has made it possible for the general public to visit some really amazing private gardens. You can check their Open Days calendar to see if there are any gardens in your area. There is a small fee (usually between $7-10) for each garden, and the money goes towards saving and sharing outstanding American gardens for the education and inspiration of the public.
For a little summery change of pace, I thought I would share with you a delightful garden I visited last weekend. This is the garden of Connie Cross in Cutchogue, NY, which is a rural-ish and waterfront hamlet on the north fork of Long Island’s east end. Connie Cross is a garden designer and owner of Environmentals, a wholesale nursery. Her 23-year-old, 5-acre garden has been featured in magazines.
The garden is my favorite kind, full of shaded winding paths, little ponds and waterfalls and many separate intimate areas. Lots of small charming buildings acting as pool house, play house, chicken coops, etc., were delightful finds as you came upon a bend in the path or around a planting of hydrangea. The natural pool was magnificent…and on as hot a day as it was, hard to stay out of! And I’m a sucker for a charming vignette.
But rather than me blah-blah-blahing you to death, I’ll just let you enjoy pictures from the day….
I wish my sister could have visited this garden with me, as well.
Jay e
What a lovely garden! I do enjoy looking around other people’s gardens. Here in the UK we have the National Garden Scheme which is a similar plan where people open their gardens for charity and there is usually tea and cakes too!
bettyewp
I will pass along the suggestion to The Garden Conservancy: tea and cakes 🙂 This one did have the nice jug of fruit infused water, but it’s especially nice when they offer a little snack to go with it.
Diana H
Your photos truly bring the beautiful of the garden to us! It makes me feel like I was with you on your visit! Love this!!!
bettyewp
Oh, that makes me feel so good, Diana! I’d hoped you’d feel like you were having a little peaceful time in a shady garden.
jodie filogomo
Not only is the garden gorgeous, your photos are just so amazing. I know, I’ve said it before, but your photography skills rock!!
If you love gardens, you should put Butchart Gardens on your bucket list. It’s SO amazing along with the history of it.
XOXO
Jodie
bettyewp
Thanks, Jodie 🙂
Yeah, Butchart is on my list if I ever get to Canada!
Marceline Miller
This is wonderful! Thank you so much!
bettyewp
My pleasure, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Tina von Tinaspinkfriday
So many stunning pictures Bettye❤️
bettyewp
Thanks, Tina! I do love photographing gardens.
Susan
What gorgeous gardens! I adore those stepping stones, and have wanted them in my side yard since I moved here. Of course, I wouldn’t object to a pool either.
Great photos, Bettye!
bettyewp
I also love stepping stones, but man are they hard to get just right! I didn’t get a picture of the little stone bridge going over a small brook. So charming.
Iris
Oh my – beautiful!
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
It really was. So many little lovely spots.
Sarah
So beautiful!!! My dream is to have a garden like this one… Gorgeous photos Bettye, thank you for showing us something so amazing.
bettyewp
Yours and mine, sister 🙂
Monica Sors
Very relaxing place.
xx
Mónica Sors
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bettyewp
Oh, it was, Monica. I was dying to just slip into that pool and hope no one noticed me!
Andrea Kenner
Beautiful!
bettyewp
Thanks so much!
julia
Beautiful and fun!