Arcadia - Ronald Wagner & Timothy Van Dam
West Taghkanic, NY
Meadow, Substantial native plants, Woodland/shade garden, Water feature
Our 1840 Greek Revival farmhouse is set in a pastoral landscape of 28 acres. An avenue of sweet gum trees lining the formal driveway is planted in a forced perspective to visually extend the approach to the house. The gently rolling hillside behind is punctuated by a magnificent grove of black locust trees and a grove of deciduous conifers, including bald cypress, metasequoia, and larch trees. A wildflower meadow rises to the north, in which a pentagon-shaped planting of gingko trees can be reached by a mown path leading through the meadow. Another path leads through the forest beyond. Many informal planting beds around the property include lilacs, rhododendron, mountain laurel, and hydrangea. A large pond is the focus of surrounding naturalistic plantings of Japanese primula, skunk cabbage, Japanese iris, ferns, and rudbeckia giving to views of the wetland beyond. A formal yew crescent acts as an architectural folly in contrast to the naturalistic pond. Symmetrical terraces at the house feature a wisteria arbor over a large stone dining table on the south and a perennial border of peonies and roses on the north. A new stumpery border of ferns and shade loving woodland plants has been created to line the service drive to the south.
This garden's estimated size is 5 acres.
Open Days 2024: Saturday, June 15
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- This garden allows photography
- Partial wheelchair access
- Nature-friendly
West Taghkanic, Columbia County, NY, 12523