Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield

Address:

4097 Albany Post Road Hyde Park, NY 12538

Phone:

(845) 444-2809

Website:

http://www.beatrixfarrandgardenhydepark.org/

This "secret" little garden is both historic and significant in many ways. The walled garden was designed by Beatrix Farrand, one of America’s most prominent female landscape architects of the early 20th century, who was self-taught and had to fight the male dominated field, becoming a leading voice in American design. She is known to have completed over 200 projects, yet this garden is one of the few remaining examples of her work. The garden is located on the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, adjacent to the Bellefield Mansion.

The estate was owned by Senator Thomas Newbold, who hired Beatrix Jones (later Farrand) in 1912 to design a grand garden in the Golden Age fashion, after hiring famed architects McKim Mead & White to remodel their family home. Later, and for several decades, the Morgan family enjoyed the home and garden, and in 1975 the family donated the entire estate to the National Park Service. The garden lay dormant until brought back to life in the 1990s by the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association volunteers.

The garden has been maintained carefully to showcase Farrand’s design brilliance, blending classical European garden design and Arts and Crafts principles, creating a garden that matches the architecture of the home. In 2022-24, a Wild Garden was installed, showcasing over 160 native plants outside the original, picturesque fieldstone walls, following Farrand’s practice of blending gardens into their natural environments. Visitors can now enjoy and learn about both the seasonal perennial beds, vines and lawns inside the walled garden, and native plants and wildlife outside the walls. The garden is open daily for public enjoyment, and many events, classes, tours, plant sales, concerts, and lectures are offered. Private walks, photos, and picnics are encouraged. All maintenance and public offerings are made possible by generous sponsors, donors, members, and hard-working volunteers. Information about joining, attending, and volunteering is available on the website. Parking and restrooms are available in the Wallace Center.