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Holiday 2018
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Disponible en línea en español.
K
ath saw in a local paper that there was going to be a “garden
tour” at the Vanderbilt Mansion gardens. “Let’s go!!!” When I
worked as a Historic Hudson Valley tour guide in 2007-2008
(ten years ago: can’t be!!!) we walked the Vanderbilt grounds,
gardens, and hiking trails (we always walked down to Bard Rock
(Boating on the Hudson and Beyond, “Another Great Day On The
River”, April 2018, Page 29)) with it’s spectacular view up the
reach to Norrie, so I was really looking forward to this hadn’t-
been-there-in-a-long-time revisit.
It was a grey, kind of gloomy day. We parked by the Visitor
Center, where a Ranger told us it was “a two-minute walk” to
the Gardens. Having Been There Done That many many times
with my tour groups, I asked him if he was a competitive speed
walker... We joined a small group of other “garden tourers” by
the Tool House in the northwest corner above the gardens, and
our guide—a long-time Vanderbilt Garden volunteer—gave us a
detailed overview of the gardens and their history, and many
details, facts, and figures.
Here’s the story: Dr. Samuel Bard, who died there in 1821
(and who I would guess owned the place), first designed
the landscape, and planted exotic plants in the “European
picturesque style”(interesting aside: he “probably” planted the
Vanderbi l t Mans ion
Nat iona l Hi s tor i c
Si te Forma l
Gardens
by
Ralph J. Ferrusi