Mel & Peg's Rustic Cabin Cottage Garden

 Perched on the side of a hill deep in the Catskills, our garden takes full advantage of a beautiful, borrowed view that is seamlessly integrated throughout the garden setting. Wind your way up a long sinewy driveway (don't miss Mel's new rocket on the way up) and you are greeted by the boisterous "garden proper," which was carved out of the steep slope and is held up by a massive boulder retaining wall. Multiple entrances beckon you to enter. Slip in through a cedar arbor covered in grapes, or take the stone path through the conifer garden, and meander along gravel and mulch paths through a lush array of small trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses that create a whimsical, enchanted garden experience. Step down the rustic stone staircases, or exit through a mass of hydrangeas, to explore the smaller garden rooms, including a large mixed garden in the shape of a footprint with wide mulch paths, a couple of small shade gardens, a spiral garden, and a small country vegetable garden. This is a garden that you will find yourself immersed in and one you will experience with all your senses, as you feel an ornamental grass brush your arm, listen to the trickle of the water feature, smell the intoxicating mock orange wafting in the breeze, or relax in an Adirondack chair. The garden is carefully integrated with our living space to create a seamless experience of indoor and outdoor living. A favorite spot to reflect and enjoy is from the wide frontier porch that spans the length of our hand-stripped log cabin. Viewed from this vantage point, the inside and outside come together while you experience a bird's-eye view of the garden and the sweeping mountain vistas. Despite being a professional landscape designer, our own garden was not designed, but instead is a twenty-year evolution and a labor of love. It is an eclectic collector's garden where we experiment with new plants and techniques. The end result is an exuberant space that is simultaneously wild and orderly.

This garden's estimated size is 1 acre.

Open Days 2024:  Saturday, July 6
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.