Last updated on May 15th, 2016
I did not open my gardens to the public last summer. Why? Well, I was busy writing recipes and taking photographs for my cookbook (it’s coming — I promise!), and there was precious little time to pull weeds. But this summer will be different. I’ll be open twice! Here are the tour dates, along with pictures of the gardens you’ll visit:
Open Day #1. Saturday, June 25, 10 AM – 4 PM.
Open Day #2. Saturday, August 20, 10 AM – 4 PM.
For tickets, contact the Garden Conservancy.
As promised, here are pictures of some of the gardens you’ll visit (click highlighted text for more pictures and information):
The Boxwood Garden. Would you believe this formal, boxwood- and yew-framed garden was previously an asphalt parking lot? ‘Tis true. I grew most of the boxwood from cuttings, as described in this tutorial.
The Herb Garden. This small, semi-formal garden is located behind the Music Room wing of the house. It’s a terrific place for sipping cocktails on warm summer mornings. I mean evenings. How I designed this oasis on a shoestring budget.
The Serpentine Garden. Have a steep hill on your property? Do what I did, and create a garden there.
The Serpentine’s third terrace is a spectacle in spring, when the phlox subulata and dwarf lilacs are in bloom. How (and why) I designed this garden.
The Kitchen Garden. The twelve raised beds in this garden serve as my “living supermarket.” In June, the plants will begin their careers. By August they’ll be teeming with fruit. Unless a woodchuck comes to call. The garden’s design details.
The Woodland Garden. This is my favorite place to visit when the weather turns hot and humid. It is filled with Primulas, Polemonium caeruleum, Astilbe, and oodles and oodles of ferns. How I designed this shady retreat.
If you live in or around New York’s Hudson Valley (my home is just 2 hours from NYC), or if you are willing to take a train, plane, or private yacht to get here, I hope you’ll stop by for a visit. The plants and I would love to meet you!
Enjoy this feature? Get my email updates. And don’t forget to post a comment below, even if you can not attend the tours.
More fun:
Fast Food My Way: Chicken with Herbes de Provence
Scrumptious Egg Crepe Manicotti
Crusty Sourdough Boule
Mary in Iowa says
This isn’t the year–55th class reunion Aug 20, and in May I will be in a manic frenzy ripping out and planting the 700 sq ft parking strip in front, as well as planting the vegetable beds and re-doing and sprucing up several other areas for those who want to tour my garden during the reunion weekend. One of these years, though, I’m going to pop in and see all this magnificent beauty in person. One of these years. HA! It sounds like I’m wearing the tee shirt that proclaims, “I plan to live forever. so far, so good.”
Is it okay if I copy and paste the lilacs and phlox subulata photo just to look at and dream, not to use anywhere else?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Mary – Copy and paste away! In late spring, the lilac terrace is my favorite place for meditating. And for drinking gin martinis.
Deborah says
I’d love to renew my wedding vows( silver anniversary!) in those gardens! But I’ll have to make do with the Allegany Foothills as my venue. Hope a bear doesn’t crash the party!! Love the gardens. Makes it nice to see something so magical. I already have my archway picked out for this planting season for my little piece of garden. I’m going to grow something viney like beans or squash on it.
Rosie S says
DARN, my yacht is being refurbished this year, otherwise, I would SO be there! 🙂 But what a wonderful opportunity for those who can get there…wish I lived closer! But you will post plenty of pictures, right??!!? Happy Gardening in 2016!
Durf says
I live in northern CT. Which date would you suggest?
Carly says
I may have to visit this summer! I may also have to get your book when it comes out!
Camellia says
I hardly think you did any of this on a “shoestring budget” when you talk about your “Music room wing of the house.” Geez.
Laurie Ann says
I had the pleasure of touring your lovely gardens the last time they were open. You were kind enough to share your secrets for boxwood propogation. So glad to hear they will be open again.
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
When the Garden Club put my place on the tour in 2014, my husband and I worked our fingers to the bone getting ready for the late June event. It was completely worth it.
Baby wrens in the gourd birdhouse stole the show with a noisy racket from dawn till dusk, calling for their parents to continue delivering all manner of squirming insects to the 4 open mouths. Visitors were enthralled observing the nestlings as well as strolling the many “garden rooms”. There was a long line of avid plant lovers waiting to ask me a question. I rode high on the wave of compliments, a banner day. And you are going to do it two times in one season! Take your vitamins and wear sunscreen and a big hat. Wish I lived closer.
Joan says
Visited the last time you had the gardens open for visitors. Can’t wait to see them again this year.
Brenda says
Besides the woodchuck, do you have any trouble with pesky animals in your gardens?
Fighting the deer here in the Poconos is exhausting. Would love any suggestions.
Katherine says
I will be away in May but hope to visit on your Aug. Date. I pass your lovely home most every day. I also hosted Open Days for 4 years when I maintained the gardens for the Fitzpatricks in Stockbridge. I know the work that goes into it but also the pleasure in sharing.
Gail says
Oh my gosh Kevin, your garden is absolutely beautiful! My eyes can’t stop leaking from all that beauty. A beautiful garden and your beautiful home. You are a very blessed and talented man. I know you have done a lot of hard work working on your projects. Boy has it paid off! Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! I enjoy your blog and all that you share. Thank you
Paula Beattie says
Hi Kevin,
Do you have an overhead view of your garden either a photo or a sketch? I would love to see the layout. Also, what is the size of your garden?
It looks beautiful, well done.
Paula
Molly says
The ultimate before and after. Beautiful!
Sheri says
Good for you! I’ve watched several garden owners here on the island get into these garden tours and go just a bit “batty” with the show. Make a list, keep to the list and don’t knock yourself out……except if you do appetizers…..got bat crazy on those! Oh! Maybe an entry display and follow-up list about your cookbook?! Cheers!
Muffin Malherbe says
Oh Kevin how I would love to visit your garden —– Cape. Town is a little far. —— maybe one day. So enjoy your blog. The garden looks gorgeous
Linda says
You inspire me to imagine greater things for my garden, thank you for sharing.
Della Humphrey says
Hmmmmm, Kevin….I just got a grand idea for your SECOND book!
Need an agent?
Judy Hines says
Kevin, how I want to attend one of your Garden Conservancy Days! I so look forward to your Sunday newsletter. Am sharing this link with our Seattle adult children (+16 mo old Gabriella Riva Hines) because several of your gardens could serve as models for them — like the serpentine path down the hill. Do they ever have a steep hill! And the raised beds. Will look forward to your book! It’s very cold here in Central Illinois but that is good because it kills the Japanese Beetle larvae!!!! Did I tell you, our Theuret tomatoes did not do well this year and others did not do well except for those amazing yellow Sugar Honeys. Byzies! See you on Twitter….Happy New Year!!!
Mary Beth says
You are so gracious to share things with others. Love all of your newsletters. Hope your book comes out soon. Wish I could come and see your gardens and meet you. Hope all goes well.
Julie says
I’m feeling a mixture of awe and jealousy….what do you have in your strawberry pot? I usually have hen and chicks, with a sprinkling of portulaca, but would love a new suggestion.
Susan Golden says
Positively, absolutely, no doubt about it, I AM COMING this year!!! I am opening my new plant nursery, “Golden Gardens” in the Spring, so May is out, but they will find a closed sign on August 20, because I will be communing with your Boxwoods that day! I’m so excited and I can’t wait to finally meet you in person, even though I feel as though I know you just from reading your wonderful blog! I don’t know when I’ve ‘met’ a more down to earth, interesting, energetic, clever individual! You just brighten my day and offer so much information on …. everything! I would sure love to find a huge pile of your cookbooks for sale at the end of our tour! See you then!
Merry Mindy says
We’re hoping to visit August 20, and we’re attempting to figure out how to get the tickets. Yay! Thank you!!
Lillian plummer says
Hello Kevin, if I lived closer to your neck of the woods or were visiting US at that time of the year I would be there with bells on. Love boxwood plants, your garden looks fabulous.
Best from Hong Kong, Lillian.
Ana says
Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing this on a very cold,windy and snowy day in Michigan. Looking at this makes me happy and excited about the seeds I will soon be ordering. I am hanging on to one purple petunia which has bloomed and is in my window due to your urging back in September when I could have cared less. Thank you.
Naomi S. says
I am hopeful that this may be the year I’ll be able to come to see the gardens in person, Kevin. We’ll see. I’d like to come in May as I am so in love with lilacs and it would be awesome to catch the scent of yours!
Anne in Vermont Zone 4/5 says
Hi Kevin,
I thought your garden was open last year, but perhaps it was the year before. Time flies. Anyhow, the May date won’t work for me as that is the day of the Middlebury (VT) Garden Club Plant Sale which I chair with my friend Anne Collins, so I will have to hope for August, both that I have no visitors and that the weather is not beastly hot. Won’t it be strange for you to have to give hugs to so many people who feel they know you, but whom you don’t actually khow?
Looking forward to my hug,
Anne
Paula Wolff says
Thanks for the invitation to tour your gardens in 2016. Last time they were open, my neighbors and I had a wonderful time viewing them. And thanks to your tips, Kevin, I’m raising my own group of young boxwood cuttings here in my garden now.
Every time we passed your house on the way to Great Finds, I told my friends what great gardens you have, so I’m looking forward to seeing your gardens again this year.
It take a lot of work to get gardens ready “for show” (kind of like getting a dog ready for Westminster), so I appreciate all your efforts to make it a wonderful experience for all of us.
Christine says
Hi Kevin,
I live in the Hudson Valley and would love to see your gardens this year. But I’m having trouble finding where to purchase tickets on the Garden Conservatory site. I can’t find your Garden Tour there. Do you have a direct link I can connect to?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Christine – Would be wonderful if you can attend. I don’t think the Garden Conservancy has published their directory yet. But you can reach them toll-free at 1.888.842.2442, or email [email protected].
Sue Eagleson says
The house wife’s of Nairn, just may have to take a road trip from Canada to see these gorgeous gardens. We had fun making kale pesto one afternoon!
Chris says
Hi Kevin,
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Thinking green, I would love to come visit your gardens on Open Day, 8/20/16. I would be traveling up from the Philadelphia region. Any thoughts on a nice B&B or Inn in the area (Columbia County that is) you might recommend staying at for a few days? It will be my husband’s and my August Anniversary holiday getaway weekend and it would be fun to stay somewhere romantic and quaint. We’ve ventured as far as Hyde Park in the Hudson Valley in the past but, no further north. Any suggestions of places to stay you could share with us would surely be appreciated.
Back to St. Patrick’s Day. I have your Beef Stew with Beer & Chocolate recipe on the stove cooking as I write this. It smells wonderful! I can’t wait to share it with my family for dinner tonight. My guest are going to be so impressed. Thanks Kevin!