Cross Estate Gardens: Bernardsville, New Jersey

Today I stumbled upon a hidden gem, tucked away in historic Bernardsville, New Jersey.   I had passed the sign for the Cross Estate Gardens many times, on my way through Jockey Hollow Historical Park, usually on my way to a berry or apple picking adventure, or visits to other parks and gardens in the area.  Each time that I passed the sign, I was reminded of my curiosity and desire to see what this mysterious place was, but never made the turn....until today. 

 I followed the long country road though the hills and forest, eventually winding up at the estate.  The house looked as if it had been long forgotten from a different era of history, surrounded by the quiet green landscape, and old stone walls and paths.  As I approached and entered the gardens, I felt as if I was walking into a secret garden, like something out of Great Expectations.  The property somehow felt forgotten, though I could see and feel that the mark of human hands and care for the property was present.

I walked down the path and into the manicured courtyard, and made my way down the rounded stone steps.  As I opened the gate, I caught a glimpse of a formal gardens that were full of color and blooms, my heart started to race with excitement and discovery. 

The intoxicating scent of autumn clematis filled the air, while pink anemonies stood tall and proud.

As I wandered around the raised beds, along the brick paths, I came across some bright botanical blooms.  The formal garden was two tiered with stone walls and historical traces throughout.

Throughout the garden, I could feel the balance between manicured and cultivated plants and those that felt more natural and wild.  Entering each space allowed for a different type of experience and contemplation, like moving though the rooms of a house. 

The 5 story stone water tower stands like a ruin of the past, a striking reminder that the marks that we make remain, even as everything around us changes.

 I will return to this great little garden again and again now, to watch it transform and change with each season.

Longwood Gardens All to Myself: Backwards

After 30-ish years or so of visiting Longwood Gardens, this May marked the first year that my family and I had the grounds to ourselves.  Well not exactly, but it sure seemed like it.  There were a number of factors that contributed to my new-found, imaginary acquisition of the historic DuPont property.  First, it was close to 95 degrees that day, though with beautiful crystal clear blue skies, and second, it was not a holiday, or a weekend. 

In years past, we have practically always visited the gardens on Memorial Day weekend, which often brings floods of garden and fountain enthusiasts.  However, even though it is crowded at Longwood, you usually don't notice it.  That is the wonder of the garden landscape, allowing visitors to escape from the world into their own private spaces.  

But on this day, Longwood Gardens would become all mine.

Longwood Gardens is located in  Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  The property, originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Indians, has had a rich history dating back to the 1700's.  As it stands today the grounds were designed in the early 1900's, mainly at the hands of Pierre S. du Pont.  The gardens are known for their festival of fountains, Italianate gardens, and magnificent Conservatory. 

In 30 years of visiting the gardens, one comes to expect certain things, which to a new observer might be a magical discovery.  To these seasoned visitors, the garden experience becomes something entirely different.  One must look to discover new spots, subtleties, and details, that overwhelmed new visitors would most likely overlook.   The garden has "rooms", palaces in fact, each with its own individual character and personality.  The topiary and rose gardens feel like entering Alice's Wonderland, while the great fountain lawn feels like stepping straight into the palace of Versailles.  The Italian water garden seems surreal in it's perfection, as if the ghosts of time are present here, content on never leaving paradise. 

There is a section ( my favorite ) where the fountains are not running, and the blue tile is deteriorating with weeds poking their way through.  In this spot, there are so many details, so much possibility for my mind to imagine what this place must have looked like in the early 1900's. 

This year, we decided to explore the garden backwards; backwards for us, that is.  It is amazing how taking a different route, and seeing things in an unexpected way can change the entire experience. 

This year, I paid particular attention to the teaching garden, where you can view a wide variety of perennials, and get great ideas to apply to your own garden.   The poppies and peonies were unbelievable.

 

And a great veggie garden....

 Herb Garden....I loved the curls of the garlic scapes....

We then ventured out of the teaching area and started to make our way towards the conservatory.

Can you spot the monkey puzzle trees??

The Longwood conservatory is full of Tropical, Desert, and Mediterranean climates, along with rose, and hibiscus specimens, a beautiful indoor plant display, and outdoor water lily garden.  

 

And my all time favorite highlight, is the orchid collection.  Over the many years of visiting collection, I always secretly wished that I could have the orchid room all to myself, to pretend that it was all mine.  This is by far the best, most extensive collection that I have seen in my garden travels.  

Finally, we left the conservatory looking out regally at the landscape below, and made our way past the formal flower beds, down winding, natural wooded paths, to the Italian Water Garden.

I was interested to learn that this garden is a lesson in linear and spatial perspective.  It was designed with the back pools fourteen feet longer so that when viewed from above the pools would all appear to be the same size.  

Can you spot the waterfall steps??

Finally, the day ended where most years it begins.  This display felt to me like a black and white movie, completely desaturated, but full of exciting texture and value.  We exited the bright wonderland, full of vibrant color, returning through the bluish gray, monochromatic gates to the real world.  

A seemingly appropriate end to a wonderful, backwards visit.