There is a reason that the first native artistic fraternity of painting in America was the Hudson River School, known for natural landscapes. The same views and plantings you can see in many public gardens of the Hudson Valley today inspired their work. As spring arrives and more flowers burst into sight each day, it is the perfect time to visit one or more of our exquisite gardens. There is no better way to spend a warm spring day than combining gardens with history. The Hudson Valley of New York is one of the best places to find both.
Plan a getaway and pick the most alluring destination. We are happy to help you plan your trip if you cannot decide. Here are our favorite public gardens of the Hudson Valley.
Stonecrop Gardens
81 Stonecrop Lane, Cold Spring NY
Stonecrop Gardens was originally the home of well-known horticulturist Frank Cabot and his wife. They had a strong interest in alpine plantings and, at one point, had a mail-order catalog from the site. Today, the gardens are public, and the grounds have been somewhat diversified, but they are a true pleasure for the serious gardener.
There are woodland and water gardens, a glass conservatory, rock gardens, and an English flower garden. The website has a bloom calendar to tell you which plants are at their best. If you plan to visit on the weekend, you must schedule a visit in advance.
Boscobel Gardens
1601 Rte 9D, Garrison NY
Boscobel House and Gardens is a 68-acre property with a historic house that is open for touring. Multiple gardens and spectacular views of the Hudson River, West Point Academy, and the Constitution Marsh exist. You can stroll through a mile-long forest trail or examine the sculptures in the Hudson River School Artists Garden.
Available as a wedding venue, the Pavilion is located near the Herb Garden and Orangery and a few steps from the apple orchard. Make sure you look at the events calendar, as there are Chamber Orchestra events in the season.
Orange County Arboretum
211 Rte 416, Montgomery NY
Located inside the Thomas Bull Memorial Park, the Orange County Arboretum has several themed gardens open for exploration. You can choose between the Dr. William M. Lynn Water Garden in the Alpine Garden, the Asian Tea Garden, the September 11 Memorial Garden, and the John Mazur Memorial Garden.
Admission is free, and it is open year-round. The 35-acre site concentrates primarily on the display of tree collections.
Kykuit
381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow NY
Kykuit was the home to four generations of Rockefellers. As expected, the views are stunning, and the gardens are unique examples of the Beaux-Art style of landscape artist William Welles Bosworth. You will also find sculptures by famous artists like Alexander Calder and Henry Moore on display in formal garden settings.
There are tours available for the interior and the grounds. Make sure you take the time to visit the Rose garden and the Italian Garden.
Bellefield Mansion
409 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park NY
The gardens at Bellefield Mansion are part of the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, and the mansion was home to the early 1900s state senator Thomas Newbold. Beatrix Farrand, a female horticulturist in the early 20th century, designed these gardens. They are one of the few remaining of her design.
She designed the gardens so that the mansion’s French doors opened to a terrace leading to over 3,000 square feet of hedges, walled perennial borders, walking paths, and a wild garden.
Plan Your Garden Visit
Start planning now to visit our favorite public gardens of the Hudson Valley! If you cannot come and revel in the glory of spring, there will still be many examples of horticultural mastery visible throughout the year.
Your tranquil room at the Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast will be the hub for you to explore all the Hudson Valley’s activities. Start the morning with a homemade from-scratch breakfast, and let us help you plan your adventures.
