One of the great joys of living in the Hudson Valley is that we have access to an exorbitant amount of diversity and international culture, especially in the context of food and art.

But we are also extremely fortunate in that our region boasts an impressive array of Hudson Valley gardens and green spaces for locals and visitors to explore.

The below list features some of the Hudson Valley’s popular gardens along with a few other lessor known (but still quite beautiful!) spots that are definitely worth checking out.

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What you need to know about Hudson Valley Gardens

Public gardens in the Hudson Valley are plentiful. Because of abundance of open spaces, the Hudson Valley is paradise for any garden lover and garden enthusiast.

Now, you’re probably wondering, is visiting Hudson Valley Gardens a worthwhile outing?

The answer is, absolutely, “YES”!

Although some may think that visiting a garden is boring, many of these formal gardens are not just about flowers and plants. They come in all shapes and sizes.

For example, the Hudson Valley boasts some of the best gardens in the United States.
They range from:

• rock gardens to…
• a sculpture park/garden or two and…
• formal rose gardens to…
• one that houses an impressive small lake…
• and so much more…

RELATED ARTICLE:
Hudson Valley Parks that you can visit any time of the year.

How to Prepare for your outing to visit Hudson Valley Gardens

Whether you think you’re going on a sunny, clear day, the weather in the Hudson Valley can be unpredictable.

No matter where you live, a drive into another county is well worth it in order to visit any of these great gardens.

Although many different gardens are located throughout the Hudson Valley, I have found that the majority are located in Dutchess County.
That being said, make a day of visiting several gardens in one day. These made-for-you-itineraries are a big help when attempting to plan a day out.

Take a look at this article for planning the perfect road trip during any season of the year.

These Hudson Valley Gardens are worth the trip:

Academy Park, Albany (Albany County)

Located near city hall, Academy Park is described as an “urban park”, meaning that this park is situated within its surrounding neighborhood. Home to the Academy Park Fountain, this lovely park and garden is a local favorite.

Art Omi (Columbia County)

Art Omi, formerly Omi International Arts Center, is a non-profit international arts organization located in Columbia County in Ghent, New York.

Situated on one-hundred and twenty acres in the Hudson Valley, Art Omi presents the works of contemporary artists and architects, and offers a range of large-scale works in nature, plus a 1,500 square foot gallery.

The Sculpture & Architecture Park currently offers more than 60 works by artists and architects on view, with pieces added or exchanged each year. Art Omi welcomes the public to its events and grounds free of charge, and is open daily.

These acres of fields and gardens offers a unique experience in the Hudson Valley and may be one of the lesser thought of Hudson Valley Gardens around.

Bellefield Mansion, Hyde Park (Dutchess County)

The formal walled garden at Bellefield Mansion was designed by landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand. Most of these construction changes were completed by 1917, and the overall landscape still appears much as it did during that time.

Adjacent to and north of the Roosevelt home known as Springwood, Bellefield is part of the Home of Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site.

Blithewood Garden at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson (Dutchess County)

Blithewood Garden at Bard College is a walled Italian garden.
This sunken garden sits above the Hudson River, is a 45-acre section of the Bard College campus that was once part of a historic estate comprising a manor house, outbuildings, drives, gardens, lawns, and meadows.

The views are outstanding and is the perfect place to visit anytime between spring and autumn, and particularly in the early evening when you can watch the sunset.

Boscobel House and Gardens, Garrison (Putnam County)

Boscobel is a 19th-century mansion that opened as a museum more than 50 years ago. This Historic house museum sits on 68 acres. This property features beautiful gardens and nature trails perfect for a long walk. Boscobel is known for hosting special events throughout the year.

Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, Boscobel directly overlooks Constitution Marsh toward the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, showcasing dramatic views of the Hudson River and the Hudson Highlands.

Caramoor Center for Music and Arts, Katonah (Westchester County)

Caramoor is a wonderful estate that serves as a live music venue for symphonic, opera, chamber, American roots, and jazz, performances. The estate and the grounds are full of native plants, manicured walkways and exquisite gardens. The main areas of Caramoor are a delight to explore, as they feature architectural pieces but also works of art scattered amongst the natural world.

A quick walk from the parking lot takes you towards the Rosen House and surrounding natural landscape.

• The Sunken Garden was planted around 1912, making it the oldest feature of the estate native to it. It is enclosed by stucco walls on three sides, with stairs and intersecting walkways leading to its flower beds.
• The Butterfly Garden, based on a Filippo Brunelleschi design, features plants that support all stages of butterfly development.
• Nearby is the Cutting Garden, just outside the greenhouse and cottage, where Caramoor’s horticultural staff cultivates cut flowers for planting.

RELATED ARTICLE:
A visit to Caramoor Center for Music & Arts you will not soon forget

Clermont Historic Site (Columbia County)

Clermont State Historic Site (also known as the Clemont Estate, Clermont Manor or just Clermont) housed seven generations of the Livingston Family over more than two centuries.
The highlight of this visit are the Four Gardens of Clermont.

• South Spring Garden – gorgeous views of the Hudson River
• Cutting Garden – once provided cut flowers for vases in the house
• Walled Garden – influenced by gardens in Florence, Italy
• Wilderness Garden – connects the Upper Garden with the Walled Garden, the centerpiece is the fishpond.

Croton Arborteum, Croton-on-Hudson (Westchester County)

The Jane E Lytle Memorial Croton Arboretum and Sanctuary consists of 20+ acres of wetlands and woods. Open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, trail maps can be found online or at two mailboxes located in the arboretum.
Some highlights of this location include a Boardwalk Trail with a gazebo and plenty of open space to wander.

Home of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park (Dutchess County)

• Visit the Home Garden on site where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt cultivated their love of the land and the world. Visit the garden to discover the work the society is doing to restore this important historic feature of Roosevelt family life on the estate.
• The Burial Site – Franklin D Roosevelt, per his request, is buried in the family garden. This beautiful and tranquil location is important because it’s the place of his birth and the launching point of his rise to public prominence.

RELATED ARTICLE:
A Day at FDR National Historic Site: All you Need to Know

Hammond Museum and Japanese Garden, North Salem (Westchester County)

This museum is the home of Japanese art and the property encompasses a 7 acre Japanese Stroll Garden. The Japanese Stroll Garden at the Hammond is a place of natural beauty and tranquility, meant to delight the senses and refresh the spirit.

Innisfree Garden, Millbrook (Dutchess County)

If you’re looking for a great place to walk and picnic while exploring different elements, then Innisfree Garden is for you!

Over fifty years in the making, the 150-acre garden features streams, waterfalls, terraces, retaining walls, rocks and plants based on principles of Chinese landscape design. Most of the plants are native, and rocks come from the local forest. Tyrrel Lake is a large, deep glacial lake from which water is pumped into a hillside reservoir, and thence to the garden’s water features.

Once one of the most prominent private gardens of the Hudson Valley, Innisfree is now open for all to enjoy. Featuring an abundance of spaces to explore, including a water garden, Innisfree is one of my favorite places in the Hudson Valley.

Want to know more about Innisfree Garden?
Reference this article showcasing all there is to do & see during a visit to Innisfree Garden

John Jay Homestead, Katonah (Westchester County)

Through the white gate off the parking lot are the formal gardens which date from the first half of the 19th century, although they have been redesigned a number of times, the fountain is believed to date from the early 20th century.

Go see The Formal Gardens, Terrace Garden, The Herb Garden, Teaching Garden and North Courtyard Garden during your visit and get inspired by all the beauty.

Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate, Sleepy Hollow (Westchester County)

The gardens of Kyuit are done in the Beaux-Arts style and are considered some of William Welles Bosworth’s best work in the United States, looking out over very fine views of the Hudson River.

Stroll through the formal gardens, such as the Rose Garden, Italian Garden, and Brook Garden, and be sure to visit the outdoor sculptures by celebrated artists such as Alexander Calder and Henry Moore.

Lasdon Park and Arborteum, Katonah (Westchester County)

This public park contains so much more than gardens and an arboretum. The park contains many special features, including formal gardens featuring trees, shrubs, and flowers from around the world.

Spend an afternoon exploring this great example of Hudson Valley Gardens and be amazed by the Veteran’s Museum, as well and the Dinosaur Park.

The arboretum itself includes:

• Extensive lilac and pine collections, a large azalea garden, a yellow magnolia grove, and a flowering tree grove.
• Azalea Garden – a large garden with hundreds of red, white, pink, magenta, yellow, and lavender azaleas, with small ponds and waterfalls.
• William and Mildred Lasdon Memorial Garden
• Chinese Friendship Pavilion and Cultural Garden

RELATED ARTICLE:
The Perfect way to spend a day in Katonah, NY

Lenoir Preserve, Yonkers (Westchester County)

Lenoir Preserve is a 40-acre nature preserve comprising woodlands and field habitats. It is adjacent to the Old Croton Aqueduct on slopes overlooking the Hudson River, providing spectacular views.

In summer, the butterfly garden is at its height, and is visited by a wide variety of butterflies.

Locust Grove Estate, Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County)

Locust Grove’s stately trees, rolling hills, and vistas from a bluff high above the Hudson River all combine to create a grand landscape garden.

A kitchen garden provided fresh produce for the residents of the Locust Grove estate for over two centuries. Today, the restored kitchen garden provides a place for visitors to learn about the wide variety of vegetables and fruits grown on the estate over the past three centuries. Today Locust Grove’s gardens and grounds cover nearly 200 acres and is a great place to spend an afternoon.

Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown (Westchester County)

Enjoy 67-acres of property, discovering restored Civil War-era pathways, sit in one of three restored viewing platforms perched on rock outcroppings, and enjoy unparalleled views of the widest point of the Hudson River, fountains, specialty gardens, and numerous outbuildings.

Montgomery Place Gardens, Annandale-on-Hudson (Dutchess Co)

Montgomery Place is a designated National Historic Landmark set amid rolling lawns, woodlands, and gardens, against the spectacular backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. Many of the formal and rough gardens with the help of one of America’s best-known landscape designers, Andrew Jackson Downing.

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Tips for a Successful Visit to one or more Hudson Valley Gardens:

• Make sure that the garden is open before making plans. Some Hudson Valley Gardens are run by volunteers and opening and closing dates/days may vary depending on weather.
• Remember that many Hudson Valley Gardens are only open seasonally and on certain days of the week.
• Verify information about a particular garden on their own website or social media channel(s).
• Have a back-up plan in case your plans don’t work out.
• Make a simple itinerary or purchase one, like this one, to make your outing complete.

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Until the Next Adventure…

PIN IT FOR LATER!

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