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| Gardener Tom Carty oversees the cascade of color at the Inn at Green
River photo: Dr. Richard Churchill |
Summer
2004
A Valley of Delights
by
Dr. Richard Churchill
The Hudson River Valley, lush with gardens and history, had been on my “must visit” list since we expanded PPP to include New York state last year. My plan was to visit some of the most prominent estates in the nation, stay in luxurious accommodations in keeping with the region, and enjoy food and drink in renowned restaurants.
What it turned into was a trip of contrasts. The first night was spent in a delightful bed-and-breakfast; the next nights, I camped in a wooded area next to the Hudson river. Breakfast at the B&B included freshly brewed coffee, oven-fresh scones slathered with blueberry preserves, and waffles adorned with fresh fruit and dripping with real maple syrup. Breakfast in the woods consisted of instant coffee and oatmeal....
Taste may be the reason I selected The Inn at Green River in Hillsdale. The inn, which occupies an 1830 Federal-style farmhouse, is shaded by maturing maples above a meadow where Cranse Creek flows into the Green River. The inn offers B&B accommodations, spectacular gardens and delicious food. in her Frugal Traveler column in The New York Times, Susan Spano described the breakfasts here as “feasts.” Innkeeper Deborah Bowen is known for her specialties, lemon-ricotta hot cakes and omelettes with honey ham, basil and tomato served in the candle-lighted dining room.
After my breakfast, of course I wanted to see the gardens. The inn’s gardener, Tom Carty, gave me a tour, but even without him a pre-breakfast stroll with a cup of coffee will give you a feel for the extent of the grounds. Carty left the field of finance in New York city to become a landscaper, and he had the look of someone who had made the right decision.
”I get to spend thousands of dollars of other people’s money on plants,” he said amiably.
Lest you think he is a carefree spender, it soon became evident that he is always looking for ways to reduce maintenance costs by using plants that spread rapidly. He also believes in dividing plants diligently to share with his many clients. Carty‘s designs at the inn are based on the views from its rooms. The landscape begins at the house and cascades down a hillside to lawn and field areas with island plantings. One bed was planted with varieties of Nepeta, and the textures and shades of green proved that this man from the world of finance had evolved into a man of the landscape. The food and acommodations were worth the stay, but the plantings were the draw for this garden lover.
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