There is space for but a few of the river gardens in these limited pages. The one at Blithewood, Barrytown-on-Hudson, is a charming example of a more modern garden, beautifully located and planted especially for May, June, and September. A vine-covered brick wall surrounds it on three sides, and a terra-cotta balustrade is the boundary on the river side. Chinese Junipers, not supposedly very hardy, are, however, the well-grown, clipped evergreens in sight. Barrytown is about a hundred miles from New York.
Up on the Beacon Mountain the Wodenethe gardens were begun about seventy-five years ago, remaining ever since in the same family, and always celebrated for their beauty, due doubtless to the devoted and skilful care continuously given them. Trees, shrubs, and vines are rich in maturity; the impress of Father Time has so kindly marked the place, that of the older gardens Wodenethe is probably the finest on the Hudson.
Not far away there was once another garden. Possibly there is nothing fairer than the dearest memories of childhood—sometimes doubtless wonderfully interwoven with the gossamer-like stuff of which air-castles are made—and so it is with deep satisfaction that the author can dwell upon views of an old garden relying on something more real than semi-dreams. To be able to duplicate this happy place for some other fortunate children would be a joy indeed, and some day the opportunity may be realized while the dream still lives. Nearly three acres of land might be required to contain the broad beds bordered with peach, plum, pear trees and shrubs, and edged with flowers—the great centre spaces filled with vegetables or small fruits. The outer court of this garden, on three sides, was formed by two rows of arching apple trees, as shown in an accompanying illustration. The fourth side was a lane running between an evergreen hedge and a line of Poplar and nut trees. The outer walks were broad, the inner intersecting paths were narrower; the tall planting in the various beds prevented a view from one path to another, and this was half of the garden's fascination to the children who played there in the games of make-believe. Always there was something unexpected awaiting them around the corner. Blissful the chance to become suddenly lost in grape vines, corn, or dense shrubbery when the world seemed to consist of just tree-tops, sunlight, flowers, fruits, and birds! What a contrast to the life of the average fortune-favored child of the present period!
Echo Lawn is another lovely place near the river, as old, too, as Wodenethe, extensive in acres, abounding in splendid trees, and full of a beauty and charm peculiarly characteristic of the old places on the Hudson. The gardens, although of a later-date creation, are admirably fitted to the surroundings, and with pools, wall basins, and flower planting, hardly discernible in the illustration, are a rich addition to the noted river places.
Twenty miles to the west of the Hudson River is Meadowburn Farm—famous through its owner, the author of "Hardy Garden" books. Two photographs, not hitherto published, must alone represent the acres of bloom on this interesting place. In describing it, eight gardens must be considered rather than the garden. The Evergreen Garden (shown here), the May Flowering Hillside, the Lily and Iris Garden, the Pool Garden, the Perennial Garden, the Cedar Walk, the Vegetable Garden, bordered with flowers, and the Rose Garden. A rare treat for garden lovers who visit there by special arrangement.
At Ridgeland Farm, in Westchester County, the owner has shown that the smallest garden possible when fitted to artistic surroundings and filled with harmonious bloom can, as a garden and as a picture, satisfy our craving for the beautiful quite as completely as a subject on a much larger scale. This fair little plot, with its brick paths and gay blossoms, continues in bloom for several months, which, in spite of narrow beds, is always possible in a well-planned and carefully tended garden.
New York includes within its borders the climate of all the New England States, and, besides, the atmosphere of its lake shores and the milder sea climate of New York City and Long Island. Between the high altitudes of the Adirondacks on the north and the sea-level of Long Island on the south there is a difference of nearly four weeks in the opening of spring. Within a forty-mile radius of New York City and westward in the same latitude Daffodils appear about April 15; early Tulips and Phlox divaricata the last of April; late Tulips May 10; Lilies-of-the-Valley May 15; German Iris May 22 (florentina alba a trifle earlier); and by May 25 Lupins, Columbine, Pyrethrum hybrid, and Oriental Poppies, etc., arrive; Roses, Peonies, etc., about June 1; Sweet William, Anchusa, and their companions June 5; Campanula medium June 15; Delphinium June 20; Hollyhocks July 1 or a few days earlier. At the eastern end of Long Island Tulips, Lily-of-the-Valley, Roses, shrubs and tree foliage appear about a week later than the same near the city of New York. In our extremely variable climate it is impossible to have fixed dates for the opening of bloom. It must depend upon whether spring is early or late, which sometimes causes a difference of a week or ten days in the appearance of the flowers. Lily-of-the-Valley and German Iris seem less affected by variable springs than other plants. It is perfectly safe near Manhattan Island to plant out tender annuals May 25, and many venture it by May 15. Killing frost may be expected between October 1 and November 1—rarely earlier than October 1.
Forty-five miles north of the city of New York, in such higher altitudes as Mount Kisco or Tuxedo Park, the spring opens about a week later. Within this radius of the city the summer thermometer occasionally rises above seventy-eight degrees, and in winter it may average possibly thirty to forty degrees above zero; only a few days know zero weather, and rarely does it drop below. At least once a winter there will come a period of weather as mild as fifty to sixty degrees, when one almost fears the premature appearance of some of the plants. It is on account of the thaws as well as the cold that the plants require a moderate covering to keep the ground as far as possible frozen hard and undisturbed by the sun, as frequent thawing injures the roots.
A garden at the other extreme of the State, in the Adirondack Mountains, planted to begin with early Tulips, Phlox divaricata, and others of this period, will make its display about June 1. Lilies-of-the-Valley arrive soon after June 8; German Iris, Lupin, Pyrethrum, Oriental Poppy about June 15; Sweet William and Roses near July 1; Delphinium July 15; Hollyhocks July 25. Tender annuals are planted out about June 10, and a frost after that date is of rare occurrence. The first killing frost of autumn may be expected between the 15th and 20th of September. While the thermometer in summer fluctuates between sixty and eighty degrees, it often falls in winter to thirty degrees below zero. The hardy plants are well protected under the heavy snow covering which is usually the winter condition there.