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July 2026
July 2026
Through the Garden Gate
The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield
Programming in the Garden
BOREAL performing in the Beatrix Farrand Garden during their June 14 Brazilian Bossa Nova concert.
Tuesdays, July 7–Sep 1 | 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Growing Gardeners: Story & Craft Program (Ages 6–9)
Join us for a weekly story and craft program designed for children entering grades 1–3. Presented in partnership with local libraries, each session combines nature-themed stories and hands-on creativity.
Saturday, July 11 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Harvest & Arrange: Techniques for Natural Arrangements
Join Christine Fontana of Peony Design Studio for a demonstration on harvesting flowers and foliage from the garden and transforming them into loose, natural floral arrangements that celebrate texture, movement, and seasonal beauty.
Friday, July 17 | 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Golden Hour Plant Walk
Experience the Wild Garden at its midsummer peak during a guided evening stroll with BFGA Horticulturist Ashley Gamell. Learn about native plants, garden design, and the ecological value of this dynamic demonstration landscape.
Sunday, July 19 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Capturing the Beauty of Plants and Pollinators in Watercolor with Pen and Ink
Join artist Cara Hochhalter for a hands-on workshop exploring native plants and pollinators through watercolor and pen-and-ink techniques. Suitable for all experience levels.
Saturday, July 25 | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Growing Together: A Tour of Mid-Hudson Gardens
Explore eight remarkable historic and community gardens throughout the Hudson Valley during this free, self-guided regional garden tour. Visit one — or all eight — and discover the rich horticultural heritage of our region.
Saturday, August 1 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Small Space, Serious Veg: Techniques from the Roosevelt Home Garden
National Park Service Horticulturist Anna de Cordova shares practical techniques for growing abundant vegetables in even the smallest spaces, drawing inspiration from the Roosevelt Home Garden. Free for BFGA members.
Saturday, August 15 | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Tiny Garden Wonders & Annual BioBlitz
Discover the fascinating insects and pollinators that keep our gardens thriving with Ashley Gamell, then join our annual BioBlitz to help document the remarkable biodiversity found throughout the Garden using iNaturalist. Fun for all ages.
Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Rhythm & Nature: A Day of Music & Nature
Children ages 9–12 are invited to join the morning drumming workshop or the afternoon nature workshop, or make a full day in the garden. From 9am to noon teaching artist Spero leads an energetic drumming workshop. From 1–4 pm, Pamela Brown introduces young naturalists to gardening with hands-on projects.
Saturday, August 29
Artists in the Garden | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Celebrate the Garden as a place of artistic inspiration during this free day of creativity featuring two special events. Browse a Juried Exhibition at the Wallace Center showcasing paintings, photography, pottery, and mixed media inspired by the Beatrix Farrand Garden, then stroll through the Garden to watch local artists at work. Visitors are welcome to ask questions, observe the creative process, and even bring a sketchbook or art supplies to join in.
Chamber Music Concert: The Azkana Trio | 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of chamber music featuring the acclaimed Azkana Trio, whose members have performed and taught around the world. Performed in the garden's unique setting, this concert offers audiences the opportunity to experience world-class musicians up close in a relaxed and inspiring outdoor environment. Families are invited to arrive at 5:45 for a 20-minute Kids Up Front segment — a fun, interactive pre-concert introduction to the instruments and musicians.
Exciting News: Four New Grant Awards
Executive Director Pamela Brown receives grant from Arts Mid-Hudson.
We're excited to share that BFGA has been awarded nearly $55,000 in new grant funding to strengthen the Garden, expand public programming, and plan for its future.
National Park Foundation ($30,000): Supporting new interpretive signage, educational materials, website improvements, and other visitor experience initiatives.
Hudson River Valley Greenway McHenry Grant ($19,000): Funding long-term planning for our Garden Rejuvenation Initiative, including preservation, accessibility, and visitor experience. This matching grant was made possible by the recent generosity of Design Lecture sponsors. We were especially honored to learn that the Beatrix Farrand Garden held a special place in founding chairman Barney McHenry's heart.
Dutchess County Partners in the Arts: Supporting Artists in the Garden, expanding live artist demonstrations and exhibitions this August.
Arts Mid-Hudson Arts & Culture Grant: Supporting our free Azkana Trio chamber music concert and interactive Kids Up Front pre-concert experience.
We are deeply grateful to these organizations for investing in the Garden and helping us preserve, interpret, and share this remarkable place with our community.
Garden Tours on July 25
Join us on Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Growing Together Garden Tour, a free, self-guided exploration of eight remarkable Mid-Hudson gardens.
From historic estates to thriving community gardens, each participating site offers a unique story, mission, and connection to our region's rich horticultural heritage. Friendly guides will be on hand throughout the day to share insights, answer questions, lead activities, and help visitors discover what makes each garden special.
Whether you visit one garden or all eight, you'll enjoy a day filled with inspiration, beauty, and hands-on fun, including garden demonstrations, DIY projects, giveaways and handouts, photo opportunities, and activities for all ages.
Participating gardens are: Beatrix Farrand Garden, Blithewood at Bard, Clermont, Eden Share, Garden of Eatin', Montgomery Place, Pleasant Valley Community Gardens, and Wilderstein.
Membership Matters
We're delighted to share that we've already welcomed several new members this month, surpassing our membership goal! We're also encouraged to see more supporters choosing recurring membership, providing dependable support that helps us care for the Garden and plan for the future.
Longtime member Linda F. reflects on how far the Garden has come:
"Allelu recruited me in 2004, after I had retired, to become a volunteer 'weeder' at Bellefield, and there's been no turning back. In the beginning we even had to mow the lawn inside the walled garden! But look how we've grown! For years the Wild Garden was a plan, and that has been beautifully established. The film was another one of our major goals — and what a success that has been. We were known as the 'secret garden' because so many people, even locals, did not know where we were. After establishing more signage, offering lots of events and Garden Talks, the public is becoming more familiar with this gem of Beatrix's commissions."
Thank you to all of our members for investing in the Garden's future. Your support makes it possible to preserve this extraordinary historic landscape while offering educational, cultural, and community programs for everyone to enjoy.
Rejuvenation Update
The Wild Garden is exploding into bloom this week, with coneflowers, milkweeds, mountain mints, gayfeathers, skullcaps, and bee balms drawing clouds of butterflies and tiny native bees. Spend a few minutes on the east side of the Wild Garden near the towers of scarlet bee balm, and you'll likely see a hummingbird stop by.
Inside the Walled Garden, the two "white garden" areas that had been overtaken by bishop's weed — a beautiful but invasive plant — have now been cut back as part of our rejuvenation efforts. The bishop's weed will be treated before these beds are replanted. In the meantime, there are still plenty of pink, purple, mauve, blush, and cream flowers to enjoy!
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Whether they're tending the Garden, welcoming visitors, assisting at events, or working behind the scenes, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Their generosity, enthusiasm, and countless hours of service help keep the Garden beautiful and our programs thriving.
We're always looking to welcome new volunteers! We especially need volunteers to help in the Garden on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, as well as volunteers who can occasionally post event flyers at businesses near their homes or workplaces.
If you'd like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us at hello@bfgahydepark.org to learn more.
As a thank-you for all they do, our volunteers will enjoy our annual narrated field trip next month — a favorite tradition and a wonderful opportunity to explore another remarkable garden together.
Chefs in the Garden
Our burgeoning collaboration with the Culinary Institute of America brought a fantastic group of young chefs to the Garden for a tour and volunteer session. While learning about the Garden's history, pollinator plantings, and the culinary potential of native plants in the Wild Garden, the students especially enjoyed tasting bayberry and sweet bay leaves, both of which can be used as substitutes for Mediterranean bay. Many expressed disbelief that this beautiful garden is open for them to visit and enjoy anytime. We hope to welcome more aspiring chefs in the future!
"It is work, it is hard work, but at the same time it is perpetual pleasure... it seems to me all the arts are combined in this."
— Beatrix Farrand, speaking of her career
This living jewel of Arts and Crafts design was created in 1912 by Beatrix Jones Farrand. One of this nation's most important landscape designers, Farrand was a pioneer in her approach to design, education, and horticulture; professionalizing her discipline as a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (1899); and paving the way for more women to become professional landscape architects and designers.
Farrand's Hyde Park garden is open free of charge every day from dawn to dusk. It is located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Park at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center (see site map).
June 2026
June 2026
Through the Garden Gate
The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield
Beatrix Farrand Garden Plant Sale
There is some lovely new inventory left in our time-honored plant sale! Pick up some Farrand-approved annuals and perennials and bring a little piece of the garden home with you. The shop will close Thursday evening, June 11th so we can begin packing orders. Thank you for supporting the Garden with your purchases, and we can't wait to see you on June 14th for pickup!
Sea Lavender — This stunner makes a ground-hugging rosette of dark green, shiny leaves, then sends up a quivering cloud of tiny lavender flowers in late summer.
A Day of Happenings on June 14th
Sunday, June 14 · 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Artists in the Garden
Spend the day exploring the garden while local artists create works inspired by the beauty of Bellefield. Meet artists, observe their process, and enjoy a unique opportunity to experience the garden through an artistic lens.
Sunday, June 14 · 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Ikebana with Lin
Discover the art of Japanese flower arranging with instructor Lin. Learn the principles of balance, line, and seasonal beauty while creating your own arrangement inspired by the garden's blooms.
Sunday, June 14 · 6:30–7:30 p.m.
FREE Brazilian Bossa Nova Concert
Enjoy an evening of Brazilian music in the garden featuring BOREAL, an ensemble performing classic bossa nova and samba-inspired songs. Bring a picnic and experience the warmth and beauty of Brazil's most beloved musical traditions in a stunning outdoor setting.
Upcoming Programs
Saturday, June 20 · 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Wild Pollinators: Diversity, Natural History, and Conservation
Join Kyle Bradford of Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Project for a fascinating introduction to native pollinators. Learn about the diversity of wild bees, their life histories, and simple ways gardeners can support conservation.
Saturday, June 27 · 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Wendy Hollender: Oblong Books Author Talk
Meet acclaimed botanical artist and author Wendy Hollender as she discusses her newest book, The Album of Plant Families. Discover the surprising relationships between familiar garden plants through stunning botanical illustrations and stories from her creative practice.
Saturday, June 27 · 2:00–5:00 p.m.
Storytelling Through Garden Photography
Learn how to create compelling botanical photographs with photographer Lori Adams. Open to all experience levels, this workshop explores composition, observation, and storytelling through images in the beautiful setting of the garden.
Tuesdays, July 7–Sep 1 · 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Growing Gardeners: Story & Craft Program (Ages 6–9)
Join us for a weekly story and craft program designed for children entering grades 1–3. Presented in partnership with local libraries, each session combines nature-themed stories, hands-on creativity, and outdoor exploration in the garden.
Saturday, July 11 · 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Harvest & Arrange: Techniques for Natural Arrangements
Join Christine Fontana of Peony Design Studio for a demonstration on harvesting flowers and foliage from the garden and transforming them into loose, natural floral arrangements that celebrate texture, movement, and seasonal beauty.
Friday, July 17 · 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Golden Hour Plant Walk
Experience the Wild Garden at its midsummer peak during a guided evening stroll with BFGA Horticulturist Ashley Gamell. Learn about native plants, garden design, and the ecological value of this dynamic demonstration landscape.
Sunday, July 19 · 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Capturing the Beauty of Plants and Pollinators in Watercolor with Pen and Ink
Join artist Cara Hochhalter for a hands-on workshop exploring native plants and pollinators through watercolor and pen-and-ink techniques. Suitable for all experience levels.
A Tour of Eight Mid-Hudson Gardens
Join us on Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the Growing Together Garden Tour, a free, self-guided exploration of eight remarkable Mid-Hudson gardens.
From historic estates to thriving community gardens, each participating site offers a unique story, mission, and connection to our region's rich horticultural heritage. Whether you visit one garden or all eight, you'll enjoy a day filled with inspiration, beauty, and hands-on fun.
Participating gardens include Beatrix Farrand Garden, Blithewood at Bard College, Clermont, Eden Share, Garden of Eatin', Montgomery Place, Pleasant Valley Community Gardens, and Wilderstein.
Highlights from the Design Lecture
Landscape designer Lynden Miller, former Executive Director Anne Symmes, and Stephen Ives, Beatrix Farrand's American Landscapes filmmaker.
On June 7, we welcomed more than 140 guests to a sold-out 18th Annual Bellefield Design Lecture featuring Charles A. Birnbaum, President and CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
Highlights from the afternoon included:
- A thought-provoking lecture by Charles Birnbaum of The Cultural Landscape Foundation that inspired lively conversation
- An opportunity to meet members of our Rejuvenation Team, including Lynden Miller, and learn more about plans for the future of the garden
- Presentation of the inaugural Beatrix Farrand Award to Michael Dupree and Michael Fleischer in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to preserving Beatrix Farrand's legacy
- A sold-out gathering that brought together longtime friends and many new supporters
Most importantly, thanks to the generosity of our members, donors, sponsors, and attendees, the event raised more than $75,000 in support of BFGA and our Rejuvenation Project.
Michael Dupree holds the newly received Beatrix Farrand Award, with former Executive Director Karen Smythe and Michael Fleischer.
Rejuvenation Update
Our team of valiant volunteers has been busy at work removing vast quantities of phlox that have overrun their bounds in the pink, purple, and white borders. With some of the spreading species reduced, we can better inventory the plant collection in preparation for the redesign and rejuvenation of the flower beds. The gaps have been filled in with copious annuals. Don't worry, there's still plenty of phlox to enjoy this summer!
Notes From the Horticulturist
The Walled Garden is at peak spring bloom, with a cavalcade of peonies, valerian, sages, bellflowers, and windflowers opening daily. Towering vertical spikes of bear's breeches, Verbascum, and Yucca are threatening to open any day. We know that this garden has always prominently featured peonies — Nancy Morgan Patterson recalls her grandmother's stories of waking up to their heady fragrance wafting up to her second floor bedroom at Bellefield. Come help us figure out which one smells best!
Thank You to Our Members
Thank you to our many renewing members and new members. We are grateful for each and every one of you.
One new member recently bowled our volunteers over with her creative gardening journal. Another arranged a group tour for her garden club. A longtime member spearheaded the spectacular floral arrangements for the Design Lecture.
Please consider joining, renewing, increasing your membership, or introducing a friend — and help keep the garden growing.
"It is work, it is hard work, but at the same time it is perpetual pleasure... it seems to me all the arts are combined in this."
— Beatrix Farrand, speaking of her career
This living jewel of Arts and Crafts design was created in 1912 by Beatrix Jones Farrand. One of this nation's most important landscape designers, Farrand was a pioneer in her approach to design, education, and horticulture; professionalizing her discipline as a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (1899); and paving the way for more women to become professional landscape architects and designers.
Farrand's Hyde Park garden is open free of charge every day from dawn to dusk. It is located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Park at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center (see site map).
May 2026
May 2026
Through the Garden Gate
The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield
Visits to the Garden
Lynden Miller
Lynden Miller visited us! The legendary garden designer and noted Beatrix Farrand expert will serve as a key consultant on the Garden Rejuvenation Project. During her recent visit, Lynden joined us for a deep dive into Farrand's historic planting plans as we began imagining how "Mrs. Farrand" herself might have approached a refreshed planting design for the garden today. Discussions ranged from clematis varieties and Farrand's love of yellows, blues, and scarlets to "Molly the Witch" peonies and many other fascinating research questions. Lynden also fell head over heels for the Wild Garden. Stay tuned!
Joint meeting with Rejuvenation Committee members, NPS staff, Olmsted Center landscape architects and our dignitary, Lynden Miller.
Lynden Miller enjoys a visit to the Wild Garden with Heather Whitefield, an essential member of the Wild Garden design team.
Nancy Morgan Patterson
Another special visitor! Nancy Morgan Patterson, of the Morgan family who cherished Bellefield as their home for decades before donating the estate in the 1970s to the National Park Service, visited the garden with her husband, Rick. They spent time looking through historic family photographs in the Morgan Room, strolling through the garden to admire the emerging heritage bulbs, and learning with excitement about the rejuvenation plans. Nancy, who now lives and gardens in Virginia, shared many fond memories of her childhood at Bellefield.
Nancy Morgan Patterson, her husband Rick, and Director of Horticulture Ashley Gamell look through historic family photographs included in the NPS Cultural Landscape Report prepared by the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation.
Programs in the Garden
Our Director of Horticulture, Ashley Gamell, speaks to a packed room during her popular "What to Plant in 2026" presentation.
Spring and summer are coming alive at the Beatrix Farrand Garden, and we're excited to share a season full of garden walks, hands-on workshops, concerts, art programs, and family activities. Whether you're looking to deepen your gardening knowledge, spend time outdoors, or simply enjoy the beauty of the garden, there's something for everyone this season.
Consider one of our artsy workshops as a wonderful Mother's Day gift — from Ikebana and drawing in the garden to watercolor, photography, and peaceful guided walks through the spring blooms.
Saturday, May 16 · 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Welcome Spring! Plant Walk
Join BFG Horticulturist Ashley Gamell for a guided walk through the Wild Garden at peak spring bloom. Explore native plants, seasonal highlights, and thoughtful design strategies while learning about the ecological value of this dynamic demonstration garden.
Sunday, May 17 · 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Drawing from the Garden Workshop
Professional artist Mira Fink leads a mindful drawing workshop focused on close observation of flowers, vines, and natural forms. No experience necessary. All materials provided.
Sunday, May 17 · 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Twiggy Pollinator Tower Workshop
Create a four-foot pollinator habitat using twigs, vines, pinecones, bark, and hollow stems. Artist and gardener Jessica Williams guides participants in building beautiful, functional structures that support bees, butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects.
Sunday, June 14 · 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Artists in the Garden — FREE
Enjoy a special afternoon in the garden watching several local artists working at their easels and throughout the landscape. Visitors are invited to stroll the grounds, observe creative processes in action, and engage with the artists throughout the day.
Sunday, June 14 · 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Ikebana with Lin Workshop
Discover the Japanese art of flower arranging in this hands-on workshop led by certified SOMU Ikebana instructor Meei-Huey Lin. Participants will create their own arrangement while learning the principles and aesthetics of Ikebana.
Sunday, June 14 · 6:30–8:00 p.m.
FREE Brazilian Bossa Nova Concert: BOREAL
Enjoy an evening of Brazilian Bossa Nova in the garden featuring BOREAL, with musicians from Brazil and the Hudson Valley performing classics by Tom Jobim and other celebrated composers. Guests are welcome to bring blankets, food, and drinks.
Saturday, June 20 · 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Wild Pollinators: Diversity, Natural History, and Conservation
Kyle Bradford of the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Project explores the fascinating world of wild pollinators, from native bees to other essential pollinating species, highlighting their diversity, ecology, and conservation.
Saturday, June 27 · 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Storytelling through Garden Photography Workshop
Learn how to create compelling botanical photographs with exhibiting artist and photographer Lori Adams. Open to all skill levels; bring your preferred camera or phone.
Members Remember the First Thirty Years
In the mid-1990s, the National Park Service charged the newly formed Beatrix Farrand Garden Association (BFGA) with the restoration and care of this unique garden, designed by the pioneering landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand. Since the 1990s, members have become deeply invested in the Garden's restoration and its value to the community, helping in countless meaningful ways.
Sarah remembers the earliest members as an eclectic group, which made the experience especially fun. The common thread among these varied members was a love of gardening and a desire to preserve this unique historic treasure. Florence, or "Flo," was famously known for weeding in pearls, while another member gardened with her infants cooing nearby. Doris remained a "force" well into her eighties.
Helen has enjoyed being a member through both participation and volunteering in the garden. "Twenty years ago, I met Allelu Kurten at an auction fundraiser for the garden at Bellefield. She asked if I was interested in joining a group of 'weeders' on Tuesday mornings. I did so and encountered energetic, interesting, talented women who did more than weed; they even mowed the lawn! Allelu was the backbone of the group, a visionary who saw what this little garden could become. I remember meeting one of the original members, Florence Fried, who gardened in a big straw hat with a Hermès scarf and a strand of pearls around her neck! Not only did I learn so much about gardening, but friendships were made that I cherish to this day."
BFGA membership continues to grow and remains vital to the financial and logistical stability of the Garden. Help us meet our goal of welcoming 20 new members this spring!
Longest Bloom Award
The tulips have come and gone, and most of the magnolias have already shed their petals, but the Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) is still going strong! Taking the prize for longest spring bloomer in the garden this year, these delicate flowers first opened on April 7 and continue to brighten the garden weeks later.
Native to Europe, the Pasque flower is covered in silky silver hairs that help protect the blooms from cold spring weather while also giving the plant its distinctive soft, plush appearance.
Volunteers
Volunteers spent an April morning cutting back the east side of the Wild Garden and constructing a "bug snug." This sculptural stack of last year's stems echoes the neat, rectangular forms of Farrand's design while keeping garden debris on site so that insects overwintering in the hollow stems can emerge right where they belong — ready to pollinate, control pests, and add to the hum of life in the garden.
Rejuvenation Update
Heather Whitefield of Organic Matters generously volunteered with her crew this spring to help salvage peonies, irises, and clematis from the White Bed ahead of invasive Bishop's Weed treatment. These beloved plants are being carefully preserved as part of the ongoing Garden Rejuvenation effort to restore the health and integrity of Farrand's historic planting spaces.
Announcing the Annual Plant Sale!
Our annual plant sale is returning this spring! The online store will go live later in May, with plant pickup scheduled for June 14. BFGA Members will enjoy a one-day head start on ordering, but all gardeners will be excited to shop a curated selection of Farrand favorites, proven garden performers, and regional native plants chosen for beauty, resilience, and ecological value.
"It is work, it is hard work, but at the same time it is perpetual pleasure... it seems to me all the arts are combined in this."
— Beatrix Farrand, speaking of her career
This living jewel of Arts and Crafts design was created in 1912 by Beatrix Jones Farrand. One of this nation's most important landscape designers, Farrand was a pioneer in her approach to design, education, and horticulture; professionalizing her discipline as a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (1899); and paving the way for more women to become professional landscape architects and designers.
Farrand's Hyde Park garden is open free of charge every day from dawn to dusk. It is located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Park at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center (see site map).
April 2026
April 2026
Through the Garden Gate
The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield
Upcoming Talks in the Garden
Saturday, April 25 — Celebrate Earth Day at BFG
8:30 a.m.
Guided Bird Walk
Join Bill Peterson of the Ralph Waterman Bird Club for an early morning walk exploring native and migratory birds across the historic site. A great opportunity for both seasoned birders and beginners.
10:30 a.m.
What to Plant in 2026: Beauty and Biodiversity for the Garden
BFG Horticulturist Ashley Gamell shares exciting plant selections that combine strong design with ecological value, highlighting varieties that support biodiversity while creating a vibrant, low-input garden.
Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m.
Welcome Spring! Plant Walk
Enjoy a narrated walk through the Wild Garden with BFG Horticulturist Ashley Gamell. Discover seasonal highlights, emerging plantings, and the evolving beauty of the landscape as spring unfolds.
Be sure to reserve your spot online.
The Bellefield Garden Talk Series is generously sponsored by Page's Lumber & Building Supply and Hyde Park Vintage Emporium.
Hands-on Workshops to Bring Art to Your Garden
Saturday, April 18 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Ikebana with Lin
Experience a hands-on introduction to Ikebana with instructor Meei-Huey Lin, featuring demonstrations of two styles followed by guided creation of your own arrangement to take home.
Sunday, May 17 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Drawing from the Garden
Observe and draw natural forms in the garden, working slowly and mindfully to capture their unique contours with guidance from professional artist Mira Fink. All experience levels are welcome.
Sunday, May 17 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Twiggy Pollinator Tower
Create a beautiful and functional pollinator habitat with garden artist Jessica Williams using natural materials, supporting beneficial insects while adding a striking feature to your garden.
Workshop space is limited. Reserve your spot through the BFGA website.
Featured Event: Bellefield Design Lecture
Strategies for Expanding Bellefield's Historic Significance and Stewarding its Landscape Architectural Legacy
Presented by:
Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR
Founding President and CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation
The public and critical recognition of landscape architecture and landscape architects in shaping our shared public realm continues to grow. Yet, the cultural value of our shared landscape legacy, including Beatrix Jones Farrand's significant contributions to Bellefield, is often little known or fully understood. Many who shape public perception, from architectural historians to critics, are not always equipped to assess and contextualize these landscapes, especially when they face threats.
Drawing on the work of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, this lecture explores the challenges created by the profession's emphasis on natural systems over cultural systems, as well as the divide between historic preservation and contemporary design.
Notes from our Horticulturist
We've welcomed our first blooms of 2026, with fragrant witch hazel and delicate snowdrops, lenten roses, and dwarf irises ushering in the season, and droves of colorful bulbs on their heels!
You may notice that we've left last year's stems and stalks standing in the Wild Garden. This helps provide food for birds through the winter, and habitat for overwintering insects until they emerge with warmer weather. It also provides beautiful interest and texture over winter. We'll delay spring cleanup until the apple trees finish blooming in late April. I do like to tidy up any broken or unsightly stems before then, using the "chop and drop" technique — cutting stalks down to 6" above the soil, chopping them into smaller sections, and nestling them right around the mother plant as mulch.
Volunteer Spotlight
Ariana (pictured on the right)
Years volunteering: 1
Ariana had volunteered at a NYC community garden and was looking for an opportunity in the Hudson Valley when she found us. Her favorite garden tasks are thinning out the phlox beds so that each bed reflects its intentional color — "very satisfying" — and deadheading the balloon plant.
"The Beatrix Farrand Garden drew me in with its design history, beatific colors, and great walks. What's made me stay is how much I receive in return for lending my free time. I've been introduced to many new plants and picked up knowledge on the insects that also enjoy the garden, while chatting with great people and getting a tan. But really, helping to advance Beatrix Farrand's work is the biggest honor."
Thank you Ariana!
Weekly volunteer gardening begins on April 14th — join us!
Submit a Volunteer Interest Form here — we'd love to connect.
Home Gardeners Tip
A deep layer of fallen leaves, particularly oak leaves, can smother perennials. To thin them without killing overwintering wildlife, rake them onto a tarp and deposit them in a wilder spot nearby, perhaps under a tree, where you don't have perennials growing.
We've been working with NPS to work this management technique into our Wild Garden maintenance. To distract yourself from the urge to "clean up," this is a great time to go after the cool-season weeds, like hairy bittersweet and ground ivy.
Rejuvenation Update
The rejuvenation team is in research mode, studying the original trellis work renderings for the Newbold's garden at Bellefield, as well as for Farrand's other gardens. We've also been looking at her restrained, painterly color schemes, to determine how we can best bring summer interest into the Walled Garden.
The Newbolds were only in residence during spring and fall, so the garden was designed to bloom during those seasons only. As we celebrate Farrand's design values, we believe she'd have wanted the garden to be in bloom during the times it is most enjoyed — which now includes summer in this well-loved public garden.
"It is work, it is hard work, but at the same time it is perpetual pleasure... it seems to me all the arts are combined in this."
— Beatrix Farrand, speaking of her career
This living jewel of Arts and Crafts design was created in 1912 by Beatrix Jones Farrand. One of this nation's most important landscape designers, Farrand was a pioneer in her approach to design, education, and horticulture; professionalizing her discipline as a founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (1899); and paving the way for more women to become professional landscape architects and designers.
Farrand's Hyde Park garden is open free of charge every day from dawn to dusk. It is located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Park at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center (see site map).
March 2026
March 2026
Through the Garden Gate
The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield
Dear Friends of the Garden,
This spring marks the official start of the Walled Garden Rejuvenation Project, and we look forward to our Annual Design Lecture, the return of our dedicated volunteers, welcoming new volunteers, and a full season of outdoor programs.
As we anticipate what we hope will be a landmark year, please know how deeply grateful we are for your continued support. Quite simply, the garden thrives because of you.
With much appreciation,
Maria DeWald, Board Chair
The Annual Bellefield Design Lecture
Our premier cultural event of the year will be the 18th Annual Bellefield Design Lecture, featuring Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, Founder and President of the Cultural Landscape Foundation. He is internationally known as a landscape architect, author, and advocate for the protection and celebration of significant landscapes.
Birnbaum will share insights on the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield and our exciting multi-year Walled Garden Rejuvenation Project, now in the planning stages.
We anticipate that this year's Design Lecture will once again sell out.
We are thrilled by the enthusiasm of sponsors who are already supporting this important rejuvenation effort — and we warmly welcome additional sponsors. Like the garden's beautiful plantings and stone walls, which are sustained through the generosity of donors year-round, the annual Design Lecture is made possible through sponsor support.
For more information, and to obtain tickets when available, click here.
Garden Conditions
The garden paths are still snow-covered! Wear your snow boots if you plan to visit, and please avoid walking in the garden beds — if you can remember where they are! The blank-slate look of the landscape in snow reveals the beautiful architecture Farrand designed for the garden, while the ample seedheads of native plants left standing in the Wild Garden provide interesting winter texture, great fodder for photography.
Notes from our Horticulturist
As our warmer days start to bring about snowmelt, here we are on the cusp of spring! This long, snowy winter has made gardening season seem like a far-off fantasy, but in fact, the very first seeds for this year's Beatrix Farrand Garden beds have already germinated in Franklin D Roosevelt's historic greenhouses. I've been grateful for the snow as I know it has been protecting our perennial crowns from the cold temperatures and drying winds of this ever-so-wintery winter.
An early round of pansies, snapdragons and foxgloves have already popped up in the greenhouse.
This year will bring a lot of change in the garden — as we embark on the momentous Rejuvenation of the Walled Garden, we'll be thinning out some of the aggressive perennials, like anemones, phlox, and meadow poppy, that have overtaken their bounds in the perennial borders. This will allow us to inventory our plant collection as we prepare to redesign and replant these historic beds in the coming seasons. We'll preserve and incorporate our precious rare irises and other heirloom treasures that were lovingly collected from near and far for the garden's restoration in 1993.
Iris 'Queen of May', one of our rare heirloom irises.
As we strip away some of the overly enthusiastic perennials, we'll be direct-seeding lots of easy-to-grow annuals to fill the gaps. As soon as we've got bare stretches of soil on our hands, we'll seed in love-in-a-mist (Nigella), larkspur, heirloom bread poppies, and white finch (Orlaya). These are all excellent early-season annuals that you can start seeding now in your own garden. Love-in-a-mist is a particular favorite because of its lacy foliage and sculptural, bouquet-worthy seed pods. Farrand combined love-in-a-mist with gladiolas at the Harkness Gardens in Connecticut; she often designed a single garden drift as a mixture of two complementary plants like these.
Love-in-a-mist does a great job filling in between young perennials as they're getting established, and then pops up in unexpected places for a little feathery-foliaged spontaneity for years to come.
Back in November, a terrific group of volunteers joined me for a work party during my very first week in my new role at the garden — we cut back the vast, mature network of Chinese wisteria and chocolate vines to expose the historic stone walls so that they could be evaluated for repair and maintenance (the very first step of our Rejuvenation efforts!). We'll be planting fragrant, pink- and wine-colored sweet peas and other annual vines this spring to add color along the walls in areas that are not being worked on. There will also be plenty of greenhouse tasks, as we start and transplant a parade of annual flowers, as well as many native perennials, dahlias, and a few cottage garden favorites for our plant sale.
Come garden with me this spring! You'll get a chance to learn new skills (and plants) while enjoying being in this beautiful space with our friendly volunteer community.
Become a Garden Volunteer
All of the gardens and landscapes at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites — including the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield — are maintained with the help of dedicated volunteers. Anyone interested in caring for historic gardens, learning new skills, and sharing these beautiful places with visitors is welcome to join. No experience is needed, the schedule is flexible, and there are many ways to get involved.
To learn more, attend a New Volunteer Information Meeting on Tuesday, March 17 or Wednesday, April 22 at 10 AM at the Wallace Visitor Center at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Route 9, Hyde Park. Garden Managers from across the park will introduce volunteer opportunities in both gardening and visitor engagement.
You can also meet us at the Beatrix Farrand Garden on April 7 at 9:30 AM or April 11 at 11:30 AM to learn about volunteering in the Walled and Wild Gardens. The April 11 gathering follows the Plant This Not That author talk — perfect for gardeners looking for inspiration.
You're also welcome to join anytime during the season. Volunteers are the beating heart of our small nonprofit.
Home Gardeners Tip
The tail end of the winter marks the hungriest time of year for white-tailed deer. We've been keeping deer at bay in the Wild Garden with regular coatings of deer spray — we use the kinds based on a nice, stinky base of putrescent egg solids.
We spray every 2–4 weeks to keep the scent fresh. It's helpful to alternate brands to keep deer on their toes.
Whatever you do, don't stand down-wind while you're spraying!
Programming in the Garden
Garden Talk in 2025 with Dina Falconi.
At the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, we believe in the power of gardens to bring people together. Thanks to our volunteers and members, the garden continues to flourish with engaging programs and community connections.
This season will feature Bellefield Garden Talks with experts in horticulture, preservation, birding, ecological design, and more, along with weekend concerts in the garden including Bossa Nova, Classical, Flamenco, and family-friendly music.
Hands-on art workshops and our new "Growing Gardeners" series — presented with three local libraries — will offer creative garden activities for children.
There are new opportunities to sponsor certain programs and program series, as a community sponsor or as a business — if interested, respond to this email.
Upcoming Programs
Garden Talk in 2025 with Dina Falconi.
Saturday, March 21 · 10:30 AM
Pruning Woody Plants
with Anna de Cordova, NPS Horticulturist
Saturday, April 11 · 10:30 AM
Author Talk & Book Signing
with local writer Elise Howards, author of Plant This, Not That
Presented in partnership with Oblong Books
RSVP here
Saturday, April 18 · 1:00–3:30 PM
Hands-On Workshop: Ikebana by Lin
Demonstration & Practice with Lin Meeihuey
In Honor of Earth Day
Saturday, April 25 · 8:30 AM
Bird ID Walk: Birds of the FDR Historic Site
with Bill Peterson, Waterman Bird Club
Saturday, April 25 · 10:30 AM
Favorite Design Plants for Biodiversity
with Ashley Gamell, Beatrix Farrand Garden
Our Members, Donors & Volunteers are the Stewards of The Beatrix Farrand Garden!
As a Park Partner of the National Park Service (NPS), the Beatrix Farrand Garden operates entirely through the generosity of members, donors, sponsors, and the dedicated work of Board members and volunteers.
Spring is a season of renewal and a perfect time to join, renew, or increase your membership. While there is never a fee to visit or park, BFG members enjoy special opportunities, including early access to the popular Plant Sale in late May, discounted tickets to the Design Lecture (expected to sell out), free admission to Garden Talks, and informal Member Mingles throughout the year.
Attend a Member Mingle to meet staff and Board members, share ideas for future programs, and connect with fellow garden enthusiasts. Members and volunteers alike take pride in knowing their support keeps the garden vibrant while building friendships and strengthening the community.
Join us and help keep the garden thriving.
"Gardening is a gentle art... and yet it needs imagination, strength, and perhaps more than anything else the vision that sees the future through the present and bravely works toward that end."
— Beatrix Farrand