Our November ’24 program was a narrated slide show of the Hudson Valley Garden Tour taken in the fall of 2023 by members of the Driftwood Garden Club. Thank you to our valued member and past-president, Ginny von Rueden, for creating and presenting the program. This was an opportunity for all of our members to share some of the glorious gardens and gilded-age mansions of the Hudson River Valley. Delicious appetizers and sweet treats were provided by our gracious hostesses for the evening.
The tour began with a gourmet lunch at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. After lunch was a tour of the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion, followed by a guided tour of Beatrix Farrand’s private garden. Beatrix was a woman trailblazer in gardening and landscape architecture in the first half of the 20th century and defined American taste in gardens.
Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY, home of Frank Cabot and his wife Anne, was built in 1958 and opened to the public in 1992. It is alive with woodland plants and stunning flowers, and is renowned for its collection of alpine plants.
Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, NY, offers stunning views across the river to West Point Academy. During the American revolutionary era, it was home to both patriots and loyalists. Falling into disrepair during the 1950s, preservationists rebuilt and restored it to its original grandeur, including 68 acres of lush gardens and trails.
The stained-glass windows of Union Church of Pocantico Hills in Tarrytown, NY, were a favorite stop on the tour. The Rockefeller family commissioned the magnificent glass masterpieces in memory of family members. Nine windows were created by artist Marc Chagall. Union Church is especially meaningful to Ginny, as she and her husband, Rick, were married there!
The tour of Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown included the opulent mansion and access to the spectacular grounds. The views of the Hudson River were gorgeous, despite the overcast day.
Even on a rainy day, the New York Botanical Garden is a magical place to visit. Members enjoyed touring the outside gardens as well as the Conservatory, containing plants from around the world.
The group then visited Kykuit Estates in Sleepy Hollow. The estate, with sweeping river views, was home to four generations of Rockefellers. The gardens, stone hardscape, sculptures, and outbuildings were spectacular, and our members said they would love to return some day.
Driftwood Garden Club 