Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ardens
Ardens
Ardens
T
he spirit of the Hudson River Valley lives not only in art and legend
but also in the delicate balance of natural and human forces that
have shaped the land. Together they create a special place where
gardens and landscapes are both inspired and inspiring. Here you will find
the views and vision that stimulated a national artistic movement, a model for
land conservation practices, and historic gardens that shaped the American
landscape design profession.
Kykuit, the Rockefeller family’s Gilded-Age landscape at Sleepy Hollow Garden and landscape photos by Mick Hales unless otherwise credited
The Natural Environment countless visitors to the valley’s natural Working Landscapes Settlement patterns followed early
Millions of years of dynamic geologic wonders. English social reformer Harriet Early land-use patterns shaped land- agricultural developments and natural
forces have stimulated human encounters Martineau gazed upon the Hudson in scape gardening practices in the Hudson landforms. In the 1700s, roads were
with the landscape. The mountains, River Valley. The same land that the laid down, buildings constructed, and
valleys, ridges, and plateaus framing the American Indians cleared for cultivation forests substantially cleared for agriculture
Hudson River create one of the most would one day become open space and timber. These early developments
spectacular landscape settings in the features of the region’s foreground vistas. established the spatial organization and
world. circulation patterns that helped shape
landscape gardening in the 1800s.
Since the beginning of its exploration,
the valley environment has cast its spell Fieldstone walls crisscrossing the land-
upon those who ventured here. Henry scape, acres of orchards like those
Hudson arrived in 1609 seeking a north- marking the entrance to Montgomery
ern passage to Asia but found instead “a Place in Annandale-on-Hudson, and
pleasant Land to see.” Two centuries transcendental delight: “I experienced large farming fields now preserved
later, Washington Irving described a walk a sensation which I have often heard of, as open space recall the valley’s rich
along the Hudson as “a continual reverie.” but never quite believed in; the certainty agricultural heritage and how it shapes
that one has awakened in another world.” the way we experience the land.
Others could not escape the Hudson These mystic qualities in the natural Poets’ Walk (above), a picturesque landscape at Barrytown
River Valley’s bewitching effect. The environment remain today at the heart Montgomery Place (far left), a Romantic landscaped view
published journals of European travelers of the region’s distinctive landscapes of the Hudson River, Annandale-on-Hudson
following the American Grand Tour drew and gardens. Untermyer Gardens (left)
Manitoga, a celebration of nature restored, Garrison Boscobel, a Romantic and classically inspired Mohonk Mountain House, formal gardens in a Vanderbilt Mansion, a country place era Innisfree, a blending of graceful Asian art forms, Millbrook Albany Rural Cemetery, an example of a
landscape in Garrison Charles Lyle natural setting, New Paltz landscape in Hyde Park 19th-century picturesque cemetery, Menands
Romanticism and well-ordered European-style gardens Romantic landscapes are still a prominent The Country Place Era The architectural relationship between
A.J. Downing in favor of picturesque gardens. feature of the region’s character. They Rising industrial fortunes during the house and garden is brilliantly demon-
Inspired by the valley’s Gracefully written and handsomely exist in the wisteria vine-clad walls of decades following the Civil War paved strated by Francis Hoppin’s terraced
natural scenery, artists, illustrated, this book became an Irving’s cottage at Sunnyside, the vistas to the way for new patterns of landscape garden for Blithewood at Annandale-on-
writers, poets, and land- immediate success, and Downing’s water’s edge from the Vanderbilt gardening rooted in country and resort Hudson and Beatrix Farrand’s walled
scape gardeners of the principles established a national style Mansion in Hyde Park, and the views life. Family names like Rockefeller, garden at Bellefield in Hyde Park. The
19th century developed for landscapes and gardens in harmony crafted from the landscape by Vanderbilt, and Astor were behind garden at Wethersfield in Amenia is a
an American version of with nature. artist Frederic E. Church at the second celebration of landscape modern example of this strict adherence
A.J. Downing
Romanticism. They favored By Calvert Vaux, Olana in Hudson. “I can gardening in the Hudson River Valley. to order and symmetry.
simplicity, naturalism, and Century Association Downing had a profound influence on make more and better The clipped arborvitae
emotion over 18th-century preferences Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert landscapes in this way,” While landscapes essentially maintained walls, reflecting pools,
for classicism, order, and rationale. Vaux, designers of Central Park in New Church said, “than by their Romantic character, gardens built marble ornament, and
York City as well as other important tampering with canvas and between 1890 and 1940 were more struc- statuary are trademark
A native of the Hudson River Valley, parks across the country. As a tribute to paint in the studio.” tured to complement palatial houses features of country
Andrew Jackson Downing was the most their mentor, Olmsted and Vaux created built by American millionaires. Terracing place gardening design.
influential landscape gardening expert in a park in Downing’s name for Newburgh.
Calvert Vaux and axial arrangements are typical features
New-York Historical Society
19th-century America. He wrote dozens among gardens associated with the strict
Frederick Law Olmsted Beatrix Farrand
of articles for horticultural magazines John Singer Sargent, Biltmore Estate, Asheville
symmetry of the era’s formal architecture. University of California, Berkeley
and in 1841 published his first book,
A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of
Landscape Gardening, a rejection of the
Upper Hudson
32
Washington Park, three blocks west of Oakwood Cemetery, 50 101st St., Troy,
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Schuylerville
Empire State Plaza, Albany, washington- oakwoodcemetery.org—Oakwood exem-
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Victory
parkconservancy.org— Graveled walks plifies 19th-century rural cemeteries: stone
ill
tten K
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wind through knolls and swales in Albany’s monuments, statues, waterfalls, winding
SARATOGA
SPRINGS 22 “Central Park” designed by Frederick Law roads, ponds, arboretum, mausoleums and
4
Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The park chapels, and views of the Hudson River.
32
includes specimen trees, a six-acre lake,
ke
Cambridge
La
and gardenesque-style beds planted with
Saratoga
Ballston 50,000 tulips each spring to highlight Taconic State Parkway, Columbia,
Spa Albany’s annual Tulip Festival. Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester
counties—As head of the Taconic State
sic River
oo Albany Rural Cemetery, Cemetery Ave., Park Commission, Franklin Delano
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distinguished national figures. and mountain ranges.
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Mid-Hudson
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ites reflecting the region's landscapes and gardening traditions are
ha
an
shown on this map of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Ho Olana, 5720 Route 9G south of Rip Van Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 4097 Albany
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Area. For more information, use the websites listed with the site
Erie Winkle Bridge, Hudson, olana.org— Post Rd., Hyde Park, 800-FDR-VISIT
ic
Canal
ive
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SCHENECTADY Sculpting the landscape as if he were nps.gov/hofr— Century-old formal rose
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descriptions to the right of the map.For information about other sites
ver
890
7 Waterford Grafton Lakes
and hospitality in the valley,use this website: hudsonrivervalley.com Rotterdam Park creating one of his magnificent paintings, and perennial beds enclosed by a wall of
90 5
Frederic E. Church developed Olana’s clipped hemlock provide the setting for a
Oakwood Cemetery
Ne
Latham 2 grounds with a Romantic’s eye to composi- simple monument marking the burial sites
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2 tion, balance, and fidelity to nature. of the President and Eleanor Roosevelt. To
a te
Th understand FDR’s appreciation of the natural
ru Albany Rural Cemetery
20 ALBANY Opus 40, 50 Fite Rd., Saugerties, opus40.org— environment, visit his Top Cottage retreat.
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ay
9 TROY Sculptor Harvey Fite worked for 37 years
Schoharie 90 4
Cobleskill
St. Agnes Cemetery to create this six-acre masterpiece of stone Wethersfield, 214 Pugsley Hill Rd., Amenia,
E
Washington Park
88 145 30 paths, ramps, terraces, and fountains in an wethersfieldgarden.org—A splendid exam-
Thacher
abandoned bluestone quarry. ple of classical garden design in the United
G
at Park
ng P h
Lo 85 States, Wethersfield’s 10-acre garden was
443
Middleburgh Burden Blithewood, Bard College, Annandale-on- designed to draw visitors through room-
N
443 Lake
90 Hudson, inside.bard.edu/arboretum/gardens/ like enclosures and green corridors to hid-
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—Blithewood’s terraced garden, designed den recesses and elevated lookouts with
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9W
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k in the Italianate style by Francis Hoppin views of the 1,200-acre Wethersfield Farm
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East about 1900, is a classic example of country and surrounding mountain ranges
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oo
Nassau
place era design featuring ordered perennial
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30 Rensselaerville 20
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85 9 beds, terraced garden rooms, and a pergola Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies,
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Dormansville with views of the Hudson and distant 181 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook,
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Catskills. A.J. Downing designed the garden’s 845-677-5359—The Institute’s 2,000 acre
PITTSFIELD Romantic surroundings for a previous owner. campus features scenic trails, a perennial
N E W Y O R K Old Chatham 20 garden with educational display beds, a
Montgomery Place, Annandale-on-Hudson, native plant garden with activity sheets for
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Catski
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bard.edu—This historic site includes over children, and a tropical greenhouse with
23 90
Kinderhook
Schoharie Durham re
e 203 400 acres tended and shaped by one family over 1,200 plant species.
I
Reservoir 145
k
Chatham Lenox
for nearly 200 years. A.J. Downing provided
h COXSACKIE
Grand Gorge Long Pat advice on the gardens and landscape and Innisfree, 362 Tyrrel Rd., Millbrook,
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22
contributed plants from his Newburgh innisfreegarden.org—Inspired by Chinese
203 90
7 nursery. The early 20th-century gardens painting and landscape concepts, Walter and
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Prattsville Windham 23 Austerlitz are notable and extensive. Marion Beck designed something altogether
9W 66
Cairo 9H
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Stockbridge original in this lush 200-acre natural setting
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Poets’ Walk, River Road (County Road of garden experiences. Lester Collins bor-
ate Pa
296
30
23A
23
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MASS. 103), 0.6 of a mile north of Kingston- rowed from Japanese practices to incorporate
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S Rhinecliff Bridge, Barrytown, scenichud- individual gardens into a graceful art form.
HUDSON 217
A
oni
N 32
son.org, ext. 270—Follow the footsteps of
Catskill
Tac
I Great
Hunter Barrington Washington Irving and Fitz-Greene Halleck Locust Grove, 2683 South Rd. (U.S. 9),
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A Olana
T 23A 23
Hillsdale who took inspiration from this 19th-century Poughkeepsie, lgny.org—Artist-
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42 N Tannersville Palenville ive 23 picturesque landscape designed in part by inventor Samuel F.B. Morse created a
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Hans Jacob Ehlers. The path winds through 150-acre landcape garden here in 1852.
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Margaretville Taconic wooded dells and open fields with vistas This garden has been enhanced by flower
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Fleischmans 9
82 Park
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to the river. gardens designed in the 1890s and a
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9W Germantown
30 32 Copake Falls
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9G Lake heirloom vegetable garden.
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Park 7
Phoenicia SAUGERTIES Hyde Park, nps.gov/vama—A.J. Downing Vassar College Arboretum, 124 Raymond
212
Kill
nsen called this country place era site “one of Ave., Poughkeepsie, vassar.edu—
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Tivoli Taconic
Ja Park
C a t s k i l l
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the finest specimens of … Landscape More than 230 tree species comprise the
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Blithewood
9W 22
Annandale- 44
a 200-acre setting of pleasure grounds, campus, which includes a Shakespeare
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P a r k on-Hudson
Montgomery Taconic specimen trees, and an Italianate garden garden, a native plant preserve, and an
S
Hook 199
44
199
199 Pine James Greenleaf, a founder of the American
A
Ashokan
Reservoir Rest Road, New Paltz, mohonk.com—
RHINEBECK
KINGSTON k
Bellefield, 4097 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Founded by the Smiley family in 1869,
Rhinecliff
ree
serves as a National Park Service office, but Victorian flowering garden and views of
ing
9
82 the walled garden designed in 1912 by the Catskills and Hudson River Valley.
pp
209
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Reservoir 9G
ng
Cornwall
Rondout High Vanderbilt Bridge linking house and landscape but tempered 55 five miles west of Route 299, New Paltz,
Path
Falls 22
with Farrand’s characteristic unimposing nysparks.com—This network of 19th-century
Ecosystem Studies 44
ail
HYDE PARK
er
symmetry and softness of line. English-style carriage roads and trails leads day-hikers
Tr
s in
Kerhonkson
Home of FDR al
ac borders feature perennial plants in combi- through a diverse 20,000-acre landscape of
Innisfree
ive
S nations based on color harmony, bloom cool hemlock groves, rocky outcrops, lakes,
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Bellefield
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sequence, and texture. and waterfalls in the Shawangunk ridge.
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Tenmile River
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Lower Hudson
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New York
POUGHKEEPSIE Baird
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32 Vassar College Arboretum 202
44
Locust Downing Park, Carpenter Ave. at 3rd St., Hammond Japanese Stroll Garden,
Taco n i c
O Carriage Trails Grove 55 Red Oaks 55 Newburgh, cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/down- 28 Deveau Rd., North Salem,
Monticello 209
M 9 Mill ing-park—Frederick Law Olmsted and hammondmuseum.org—This Japanese-
87 9W
C O N N.
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376 Calvert Vaux created this 35-acre urban inspired landscape of inner and outer win-
at
e Parkway
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Marlboro landscape park to commemorate their dows is set amid flowering trees, aromatic
re
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k New Milford
Falls Fi s h
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Wurtsboro 9D
Pawling
52
Storm King Art Center, Old Pleasant Hill Rd., Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Route 117,
G
r
ve
Orange
Mountainville, stormking.org—America’s Sleepy Hollow, nysparks.com—Carriage
Ho
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ll Lake 32
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Squantz leading sculpture park features more than roads built by the Rockefellers wind
ato
17
Montgomery
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Pond
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Basher 7 100 works by such masters as Alexander through woodlands, meadows, and fields
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Hudson River
Kill 52 ve
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r Calder, Mark di Suvero, Andy Goldsworthy, and past streams, rivers, and lakes. One
Downing Park Lake Brookfield
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New 9D
Lake
Carmel Candlewood and Louise Nevelson. road passes by an Olmsted-designed land-
22
Windsor scape with panoramic views of the Hudson.
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84
Stonecrop 84
Trophy Point, U.S. Military Academy, West
S
Middletown 301
r
ive
301
97
Washingtonville
Carmel 6 25 Point,—The Hudson bends around Trophy Kykuit, US 9, Sleepy Hollow,
kR
ai
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nt
Reservoir
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v at ou Art Center Boscobel Brewster DANBURY panorama celebrated by artists. Susan and gardens designed for the Rockefeller family
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84 Goshen Mountainville
Port Jervis 94 un 32 Garrison 22
Anna Warner maintained a garden on the include fountains, ornamental structures,
m s Trophy Point/ Bethel
ne Mahopac Hammond island that was the inspiration for Susan’s and a collection of contemporary sculpture
un
nd
6 17 Stroll
gh
Monroe
6 22 Perkins Drive and Tower, Bear Mountain
on
Perkins Drive 202 Yorktown State Park, nysparks.com—Located within Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at
ds
94
Peekskill 35 Ridgefield
and Tower the Palisades Park, Perkins Tower provides PepsiCo, Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase,
T r a il
Hu
35
s Lake
7 stunning views of Hudson River Valley icons, —PepsiCo’s headquarters features 168
nd
h ia n
New Katonah
a Tiorati Croton including Bear Mountain Bridge, West acres of lush lawns, ponds, fountains, and
hl Res.
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17A
Warwick
ig
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Point, Storm King, and Fort Montgomery. flower gardens created by English land-
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Lake Sebago
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Park 22
Greenwood Forest 202
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Lake Ossining
New
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Sleepy Preserve
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287 Valley
PI
Suffern NYACK
funded program created by Congress in 1996. The mission of the STAMFORD
Nanuet
Kykuit 95 Irving’s view of art, nature, and history
Heritage Area is to recognize, preserve, protect, and interpret 287
Pearl
87
287 TARRYTOWN Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, and represent one of the best-documented
9W Kendall Sculpture
the nationally significant cultural and natural resources of the River
Gardens boscobel.org—The Federal-era home of Romantic landscapes in America. Irving
Hudson River Valley for the benefit of the nation. The Heritage Piermont
287
Purchase N D
Lake Sunnyside GREENWICH States and Elizabeth Dyckman was relocated arranged the garden paths, trees and
Area and the National Park Service funded the production of this N.J. Tappan OU
ay
te P rook
S in the 1950s to its present 68-acre site. The shrubs, vistas, and water features to
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map and guide. Please send your comments or map revisions to WHITE
Sta rain B
287
ND
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classically inspired landscape features rose appear natural.
te Parkway
PLAINS
Hudson River Valley Greenway, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor,
ay (PIP)
22
LA
Sp
208
Ridgewood Hastings-on- Ri
Albany, NY 12207; call 518-473-3835; or Reservoir
IS
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Hudson so
hin ay RYE land trail, and vistas of the river and Untermyer Park and Gardens, Yonkers,
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email hrvg@hudsongreenway.ny.gov. ut Pa
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hudsonrivervalley.com Untermyer Gardens N
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PARAMUS YONKERS of Samuel Untermyer from 1899 to 1940.
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20 208 Manitoga, 584 Route 9D, Garrison, The Walled Garden is the finest example
Hudson River Valley
North
PATERSON 4 MT. VERNON
visitmanitoga.org—Industrial designer of a Persian garden in the Western
National Heritage Area NEW ROCHELLE
lisad
Englewood
L I
boundary 80
HACKENSACK Russel Wright transformed this former Hemisphere. The Vista is ornamented with
Pa
Glen Cove Huntington quarry and logging site into an ecological ancient Roman monolithic columns that
A
Appalachian Trail
ay
95 Oyster
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80 Bay Huntington gem. It includes Wright’s house, studio, are 2000 years old. The Temple of Love is a
P
95 Station
Long Path Caldwell Passaic 75-acre woodland garden landscaped with magnificent rocky garden with multiple
Garden State