Innisfree Gardens is such a fantastic, magical place, we make an effort to see it at least a few times every year.
Innisfree Gardens is not simply a garden: it is spectacular lesson in landscape design, a chance to explore at a slower pace, an opportunity to slow down and really SEE the intention behind the years of planning and planting.
From their website: “Recognized as one of the “world’s ten best gardens,”1 Innisfree is a powerful icon of mid-twentieth century design. Over fifty years in the making, it is the work of landscape architect Lester Collins….at its core, Innisfree is about the individual’s experience in nature. Inviting exploration and even contemplation, Collins’ sweeping landscape merges the essence of Modernist and Romantic ideas with traditional Chinese and Japanese garden design principles in a form that evolved through subtle handling of the site and slow manipulation of its ecology. The result is a distinctly American stroll garden — a sublime composition of rock, water, wood, and sky achieved with remarkable economy and grace.”
The gardens will vary depending upon the season in which you visit, but my favorite month to visit is always June. The gardens are usually bursting with blooms by then, making every scene into a breath-stealing, camera-grabbing spectacle.
The lake itself offers an opportunity to explore aquatic life. Children love looking for frogs, tadpoles, and turtles in the low weeds on the edges of the lake.
If you have young artists at home, it’s a great place to bring a sketchbook or small watercolor set, or to snap some landscape photos for their scrapbook.
Parts of Innisfree invoke an ancient, fairytale feeling that can spark imaginations. My children imagines faeries living in the boles of old trees, and elves alight in the neighboring trees.
I encourage you to take a trip to Innisfree, and soon! Magic awaits!
Look for a downloadable and printable worksheet for kids for this destination, as well as information on other interesting activities and some great food recommendations, coming soon!
Innisfree Garden is at 362 Tyrrel Road in Milbrook, New York, 4 miles off the Taconic State Parkway. It is open five days a week and legal holidays through the third weekend in October. Wednesdays to Fridays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $6. Weekends and legal holidays: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., $7.
Information: 845-677-8000, innisfreegarden.org. If it’s rained lately, you may encounter some muddy, wet spots, so be sure to check the forecast and plan accordingly!
It takes about 90 minutes to walk around the lake and take in the constantly changing views and vignettes.
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