August 2026

August 2026 Through the Garden Gate The Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield Notes from the Horticulturist The August garden is a heady mixture of abundance and senescence. We've been at work editing the Walled Garden — selectively paring back many of the browned seedheads and shearing Salvias and other repeat bloomers, as well as cutting back many leaves that have been crisped by the intensely hot and dry season we've had. Meanwhile, the mid-summer show of pale pink Astilbe and dark crimson lilies, and phlox in every shade of pink, salmon, and white, are in their full glory. It's a great time of year to let your nose lead you around the garden! The Wild Garden is thrumming with butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and hoverflies! The sculptural towers of gayfeather are opening into deep purple, and the river of silvery blunt-leafed mountain mint is a favorite on every plant walk. Hoary skullcap wins the prize for longest bloom time in the Wild Garden — it's wrapping up more than a month of gorgeous azure spikes in dry shade conditions. Hoary skullcap — longest bloomer in the Wild Garden this season. Pest Control Tip Last week brought an onslaught of blister beetles — our valiant volunteers will be helping us remove them to salvage our fall-blooming Anemones. You can simply knock larger garden pests like these and Japanese beetles into containers of soapy water, rather than spraying an indiscriminate pesticide. We only do so when they are causing substantial, rapid defoliation. Just wear thick gloves for the blister beetles — they cause blistering! Blister beetles — removable by hand into soapy water; always wear thick gloves. Rejuvenation Update A sample of Beatrix Farrand's hand-drawn planting plans, now being digitized as part of the Rejuvenation Project. Acclaimed garden designer Lynden Miller came back for another visit to evaluate the existing perennial borders with the Rejuvenation team in July. As we begin honing in on the details of the planting design, we are digitizing and assembling plant lists from the archives of Farrand's hand-drawn planting designs. In the effort to create the very best representation of Farrand's painterly perennial borders during this period, we are looking to incorporate more of her signature rhythm and repetition, subtle colorwork, and repeating edges of low, creeping "shoes and socks" plants at the fronts of the border. Learn More About Rejuvenation "This is an important part of the technique of the garden-maker; he must know intimately the form and texture as well as the color of all the plants he uses; for plants are to the gardener what his palette is to a painter." — Beatrix Farrand Upcoming Events 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 and help document the remarkable biodiversity found throughout the Garden using iNaturalist. A great way to experience the ecological richness of this special place. Fun for all ages. RSVP: Tiny Garden Wonders | BioBlitz Saturday, August 29 — A Day of Art in the Garden Artists in the Garden | Live Demonstrations, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Stroll through the garden and watch local artists at work — painting, sketching, photography, and more. Artists will offer hands-on demonstrations, and visitors are welcome to bring their own supplies and try their hand! Garden visitors of all ages can observe, ask questions, and enjoy a unique day of creativity in a beautiful setting. RSVP & More Info Juried Exhibition, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at the Wallace Center This free exhibition features over 20 highly talented local artists selected by three art experts. Works include oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings, drawings, photography, papier-mâché, and mixed media — with subjects ranging from garden scenes and botanical art to wildlife and national parks. A small selection of work by young artists will also be featured. Works are available for purchase. More Info Azkana Trio Chamber Concert | 6:30–7:30 p.m. (Kids Up Front at 5:45) A free evening of chamber music in the garden — bring a picnic, lawn chairs, and friends. At 5:45, join a special kids-up-front mini-concert curated to fascinate young listeners. The Azkana Trio — Amadi Azikiwe (violin/viola, U.S. Supreme Court and Lincoln Center), Amy Kang (cello, Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center), and Jasmine Nagano (piano) — bring exceptional musicianship to this intimate outdoor setting. Donations to BFGA are always welcome! RSVP & More Info Ongoing Events Growing Gardeners: Story & Craft | Tuesdays through September 1, 10:00–11:00 a.m. A weekly storytime and craft program focusing on a different nature-based topic each week, in collaboration with Staatsburg, Hyde Park, and Adriance Libraries. Free and open to children entering grades 1–3. Kids are enchanted and take home crafts that they love. RSVP & More Info "My daughter shared her spinner with her friends and explained how native bees pollinate." — a Growing Gardeners mom Just Past Watercolor & Ink Workshop — new artists produced beautiful works. Growing Gardeners: kids made colorful sock worms after learning about earthworms, and hand-painted wood biscuits after a lesson on trees. Opportunities for Kids Does your school-age child have artistic talents? One of the categories for the Artists in the Garden juried exhibition on August 29 is Art Works Created by Children. Any child through high school can submit garden- or nature-inspired work through August 20. Selected works will be displayed at the Wallace Center. Contact Pamela@bfgahydepark.org for an application — and bring your artistic student to the exhibit even if they don't submit this year! Rhythm of Nature | Saturday, August 22 An immersive day in the garden for children in grades 4–6. Choose one session or make a full day of it:   • 9:00 a.m.–noon: African Drumming in the Garden — learn rhythms on authentic African drums with teaching artist Spero   • 1:00–4:00 p.m.: Science PLUS Art — immersive experiences learning about nature in the garden with Pamela Brown RSVP & More Info Kids Up Front with the Azkana Trio | August 29, 5:45–6:15 p.m. A special pre-concert experience for kids of all ages — see and hear the chamber musicians before the adult performance. Give your kids a taste of fine music in the informal setting of the garden! RSVP & More Info Thank You to Our Members! Several new members and several renewed members just this month! Because our members help to ensure the continuing organizational stability that allows us to maintain the garden and offer educational and cultural events, please help us continue this momentum. Visit the website regularly — there is new information added continuously, new events promoted, and membership benefits always noted. Join us in the BFGA community! See What's Upcoming Join / Renew Donate   "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 BEATRIX FARRAND GARDEN at Bellefield 4097 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY beatrixfarrandgarden.org 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).   Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield · P.O. Box 315 · Hyde Park, NY 12538 Unsubscribe