From sprawling estate grounds to quiet, tucked-away sanctuaries, the region’s gardens offer visitors a vibrant display of color, design and serenity through the seasons – but especially in the spring and summer.
Whether you’re a passionate horticulturist, a weekend wanderer or simply seeking a peaceful afternoon escape, exploring these gardens is a reminder of how nature and human hands can work together.
Here’s a look at four of the Hudson Valley’s most stunning gardens — and why they’re worth a visit.
Hortus Arboretum Botanical Garden
Stone Ridge
Located in the countryside, Hortus Arboretum & Botanical Garden is a family-run garden whose mission is to sustain the native, unusual and historicplant life of our area and serve as a vital educational resource for the public. It focuses on saving rare and endangered plants worldwide to ensure that species diversity lives on.
“We wanted to create a place a botanist can come and look at plants in a collection and say ‘Okay, this is endangered and on the red list,’” said co-owner and founder Allyson Levy.
The gardens have been growing for over 20 years, with several specific collections including the Chinese Garden, Native Woodland Garden and Japanese Shade Garden, in addition to a large collection of unusual edibles and hardy cacti.
A New York Times feature story last year told how Levy and Scott Serrano turned their back yard into an arboretum. The pair have been gardening and tending their land as visual artists since 1999, adding interesting plants that would attract certain insects or put out interesting leaves.
“We realized we were starting an arboretum,” said Levy. “We were taking note of where we got them, and after ten years or so, we were holding special events.”
The pandemic provided them a unique opportunity to answer the call for something safe to do outdoors. They’ve been open to the public ever since.
With one of the most diverse selections of plants in Ulster County, it’s worth a trip for the whole family to enjoy. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for students, seniors, children and veterans.
This summer, guests can expect special events, classes and walkthroughs. The gardens also host an artist residency program to use the gardens for inspiration and materials four times a year.
The Beatrix Farrand Garden
Hyde Park
Originally installed in 1912, the Beatrix Farrand Garden is thought to be the oldest surviving residential work created by the foremost American woman landscape designer Beatrix Farrand. Stepping into the garden on the grounds of the FDR home, now a National Historic Site, feels like a luxurious trip back in time. It features a collection of exquisite formal perennial beds within fieldstone walls, which extend off the Bellefield Mansion like an intimate collection of garden rooms.
“If you’ve had a busy day or are feeling any stress, the garden is a serene place to relax and center your attention on something beautiful and peaceful,” said Karen Waltuch, horticulturist. “Gardens are known for being very good for mental health, and our site is sure to improve anyone’s mood.”
The inside of the garden erupts with blooms in white, cream, pink and purple from March through November, and the exterior garden around the walls and hedges features a collection of over 150 species of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Tey are part of the brand-new wild-garden realization project started in 2023. Due to the nature of perennial gardens, every inch of the site provides something to explore during every seasonal visit.
The garden’s evolution is a notable one, as it was uncared for and derelict between 1975 and 1994, when a local group of garden-lovers formed a volunteer association to restore it in partnership with the National Park Service.
“Now, over 30 years later, the existing beautiful design is a testament to the generosity of volunteering and community action, and it also aids in telling the story of a very important woman in American history whose legacy of work in Hyde Park was almost forgotten.” said Waltuch.
There are free garden talks on a vast array of topics every Saturday, and there are free acoustic concerts in the garden on many Sundays until the end of June.
Spread a blanket and picnic on the lawn. Bring children, or set up an easel for plein-air painting.
Innisfree Garden
Millbrook
When you visit Innisfree, you’re in for a peaceful experience. The garden is nestled around 45-acre Tyrrel Lake, with paths winding through different “cup gardens.” Each space offers something new, from bright, open areas to more intimate, shaded spots. There are interesting rock formations, beautiful plantings, and lovely water features that make it feel like you’re on a journey.
“It’s all about discovery, and no two visits are ever quite the same,” said Laura Palmer, executive director of Innisfree Garden.
There’s a lot of inspiration from Chinese and Japanese gardens, but with a modern twist. It’s the perfect spot for anyone who wants to get away from the usual rush of everyday life and just enjoy the calm of nature.
Landscape architect Lester Collins designed Innisfree to encourage exploration, and there’s always something new to see or appreciate. It started as a private retreat and has turned into a public garden.
“He had a unique, intuitive approach, and his design principles continue to guide the garden today,” said Palmer. “It’s a living work of art that changes with the seasons and invites people to connect with nature in a very personal way. It’s a garden that keeps on inspiring because it’s always evolving.”
Wethersfield Estate & Garden
Amenia
Visitors can expect a truly immersive experience that blends art, history, nature and inspiration at Wethersfield Estate & Garden. Situated on 1000 acres in northeast Dutchess County, Wethersfield is perched at the highest elevation in the region, 1200 feet, It offers sweeping, panoramic views of the Berkshires, Catskills, and Taconic Hills.
The property features a Georgian-style main house, a carriage house, a conservation farm, and garden, widely considered one of the finest Italian-Renaissance-style gardens in the United States.
Guests can explore a series of formal and native-inspired garden spaces, including an arts and crafts English perennial garden, a cut flower garden, yew topiaries, mature tree specimens, and more than 20 miles of trails for hiking and equestrian use.
“Whether you’re interested in experiencing extraordinary gardens, exploring a historic home filled with rare art and antiques, or simply taking in expansive views, Wethersfield has something for everyone,” said Hillary Henderson, chief operating officer of Wethsfield Foundation, Inc.
Founded by philanthropist Chauncey Stillman in 1938, Wethersfield is now a nonprofit dedicated to conservation, culture, and the arts. Whether you’re drawn to horticulture, landscape design, or simply the serenity of the natural world, Wethersfield offers an unforgettable visit.
It’s open to the public Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 12. This year, they are collaborating with several nonprofit partners for special events, including live music concerts. Beyond the formal gardens, visitors can enjoy the “Wilderness Walk,” a seven-acre forested landscape designed with winding carriage paths and thoughtfully placed statuary, creating moments of reflection and inspiration at every turn.
Join the family! 
