A trip to the 16th annual Garden Furniture Show -- come see my pictures!

This past Thursday, Kevin Sharkey and I attended the Benefit Preview Party and Collectors’ Plant Sale at the 16th annual Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale at the New York Botanical Gardens, located in the Bronx.  This year there were 36 dealers from around the country, who displayed really extraordinary garden furniture and ornamentation dating from the early 1700’s to the 1950’s.  Some of the highlights of the plant sale included hard-to-find trees and shrubs, and a wide range of unusual perennials for sun and shade.  The really nice aspect of this sale is that plant lovers, like myself, can take a piece of this magnificent botanical garden to nurture and enjoy at home.  It’s also a splendid time of year to be at the Botanical Gardens.  After wandering through the plant sale and the antiques displays, Kevin and I had a difficult time leaving the splendor of all the thousands of bulbs, and the flowering trees and shrubs, all in magnificent full bloom.  Such heaven!   

Wow! I have never seen ten urns in a set before. These would be great in a large formal garden. I was quite tempted but finally decided that I really need other types of garden ornamentation more.

What a wonderful collection of dogs, cats, and other animals made from stone and cement. It seems that so many people are 'decorating' their homes, inside and out, with old garden ornaments, like these.

Another temptation - 3 identical wire-work plant holders - these would be great on a porch or in a long hallway to display begonias or African violets.

We often see Joan displaying at antiques shows. The animals and wire-work belong to her shop.

I really loved these 2 carved stone bowls - good for indoors or out.

These are my friends from Fleur, in Mt. Kisco, NY, who always have beautiful garden furnishings.  They brought an impressive collection of mushroom seats, in carved stone, to this year's show.

 

Here are 2 monumental limestone planters that I actually purchased - I'm told that they came from a school in the US Midwest.  The plinth, or base, measures 3-feet square.

Mark Morris, the antiques dealer - not the famous dancer-choreographer - sold me the planters.  He had many other items that were extremely beautiful.

Multiples of a kind are very useful in decorating and were actually available in several booths this year.  It's always surprise to find sets of 4 or more.

These carved, stone  Gertrude Jeykll pots really caught my eye - they were very expensive - but so beautifully aged and in mint condition.

I was really drawn to this faux bois cement fountain - large and in perfect moss-covered condition.  The lead liners and the size made it very attractive, but I just didn't know where it would look best in my garden.

Look how beautiful these carved stone urns are.

Also beautiful were these 2 square, stone planters - Kevin really wanted to take these home.

What an exquisite bird cage - luckily it was too tall for my bird room in Bedford

The Steins always have an amazing assortment of very beautiful furnishings for the home and garden - they're extremely knowledgeable, too.

They had a pair of these beautiful urns in moss-covered condition

Bob Withington, of York, ME, has been a fine source of garden and other antiques for years. I love his taste.

a trio of urns and pedestals!

One of 2 lead baskets that would have been good prototypes for a garden basket reproduction.

Brennan & Mouilleseaux also have wonderful taste and many lovely things.

Too bad - red tags mean SOLD!

The plant sale attracts many buyers and a flurry of activity before the antiques show opens.

This statue would be beautiful in the garden or inside the home - I really would have loved her.

My friends bought these 2 carved stone eagles - originally from England, they're in fine condition.

And yet, another great dealer

More about furniture:

Furniture Care 101


Healthy Upholstery Tips from Good Things for a Healthy Home


Plus, view my beautiful furniture line with Bernhardt Furniture


 

Comments

[Sasha Libby]

When antique hunting, finding anything in multiples is tempting, especially good quality ornamentation for the garden! Those ten urns were impressive... whoever snapped them up will have quite a display, unless they were sold separately or in pairs!

[Elra]

Dear Martha,

Thank you for sharing your Asparagus. This is my favorite vegetables. I wish I can plant it in my veggy garden. Is there special technic that I should follow?
Btw, I love your show and I always check your blog everyday. I also love Alexis blog.

[Nan Ashby]

How exquisite and beautiful. I think all the urns are out of this world. The bird cage would be perfect if I only had a bird. I also like the animal statues, and the fountain would be fantastic to have in a garden. Your monumental limestone planters will be lovely at your home. We have urns around our pool but nothing like these in these pictures. Thanks for letting us view this lovely collection. Nan

[Jennifer Fancher]

Hi Martha- Thank you for sharing, it was an inspiration to see these beautiful pieces. I especially like the two carved stone bowls. I wonder what kind of stone they are?

[cookiejar]

Thank you for posting these beautiful photos Martha, what lovely inspiration! I can just imagine how nice it would have been to be amongst it all. I like the large stone pieces and am suprised you can buy them in moss condition as I have never seen that before! I particularly like the 2 carved urns with the lovely pinkish flowers in them (sorry I am not well-versed in flower names!), gorgeous! It must be very intersting to talk with the vendors and learn the history of each piece. You are lucky to have bought those two large urns, they are such lovely classic pieces.
Regards,

[kelly]

I love reading your blog daily. I always learn so much about so many things in such a friendly way.Thank you for sharing your wide range of interests and knowlege.

[Margie]

And just why didn't Kevin just pick up one of those babies and pack it out the door. Martha you could have sat on the other one and waited for him to carry it out to the curb or car or whatever you had to haul them home. That is how we have to do it at garden shows.

[Susan]

Hi Martha
How beautiful! As an apartment dweller, I truly yearn for garden space that would serve my creative yearning! I satisfy my cravings by visiting local gardens, two of which I could highly recommend, as they are unusual for Vermont but lucious nonetheless: Rocky Dale Nursery in Bristol,VT and Horsford's in Charlotte, VT. Horsfords has an amazing and ancient stand of horse chestnuts! If ever you are in Vermont, please pay them a visit. Funny me plugging someone else's business, but I haunt them all the time! Enjoy your spring, Martha!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Thanks so much for taking us to another fantastic event. Your photos and comments are delightful. I love the beautiful birdhouse, the stone carved eagle, and the animal statues. Your choice of the two large limestone planters was perfect. I'm sure you have many places where they would look magnificent. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Agnes]

Dear Martha,
You are the first person inspired me to start collecting antique garden ornaments years ago and I always admire your taste. I turn my collection into business and I am the proud owner of Aster European Garden Ornaments www.astergo.com Thankyou Martha for sharing your wonderful interests with us.

[liz]

how beautiful...i'll take the two stone carved bowls!

[Paula M.]

Martha,
Thank you for sharing your trip to the Garden Furniture & Antique Show! I am in envy! Love it!!
Those limestone planters are beautiful as well as the Gertrude Jeykll planters....hmmmm would love those in my garden! Hope you and Kevin had a ball! I know I would!!
Up in Sturbridge, MA area there is a place where they have big ornamentals called the New England Garden Ornaments. What a neat place! What an experience that was! Would love to get to this show maybe next year! Thanks again for the fieldtrip! :-)

[Andrew Ritchie]

You have a bird room? We need to see that! My ex-boyfriend's father has over 25 exotic birds. When he and his wife built their huge new house they designed an entire wing just for the birds, a laundry room exclusively for cleaning their cages, even a flying corridor where they can spread their wings and fly a while. It's quite something to see! That cage you saw would look beautiful in any room, actually.

-Andrew

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for taking us along to the magnificent Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale at the New York Botanical Gardens. Your photos are excellent and show off these beautiful pieces. I especially like the dogs, cats, and other animals, the wire-work, your limestone planters, the faux bois cement fountain, and the bird cage. What a show! I hope you will tell us more about the plants you saw also: the hard-to-find trees and shrubs and unusual perennials. Wandering around such blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs would, indeed, be heaven!
On today's show, I enjoyed the tour of The Metropolitan Opera with your nephew. He has quite a voice. I still remember him singing to your Mom. Such wonderful memories that he---and you as well as your whole family must have.
Kathy

[Jennifer]

Beautiful stoneware and wire-work planters!! I just love the look of vintage urns and vessels when they have lichens and moss on; it leads me to think about the long life these objects have had, and where they've spent their time. I can't wait to see what you do with those limestone planters in your garden!

[Joseph Brennan]

Martha:

Thanks for taking us with you on yet another wonderful excursion! I'll bet you and Kevin had a wonderful time.

I've been to the NY Botanical Gardens many times over the years, but missed this event. The orchid show is always beautiful and of course, it's always fun to take something home to plant in your own garden.

You made a wise choice in purchasing the pair of limestone planters. They would look equally nice in Bedford or at Skylands.

Enjoy!

[Janna Morgan]

I am seriously LOVING your furniture line with Bernhardt. Our breakfast chairs are Bernhardt and the quality and weight of the furniture is wonderful. We get the most compliments on those chairs.
We are in the process of buying a mid-century modern home and I have been drooling over your Byrham Trestle Dining Table and the Lyell Klismos Side Chairs. That acoume finish would look "killer" with the original cabinets in the home. I just have some hubby convincing to do.

[Nancy Allen-Harriman]

Hi Martha, I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful Kitchen Aid electric mixer I recieved in the mail yesterday. I got it with a subscription to your Martha Stewart Living magazine.
The card said only the first 100 subscribers would get a mixer. I figgered that was just a gimmick to sucker me in, but I wanted the magazine so I sent the card in.
And WHOOPEE!!! I recieved a mixer.

3 mixing beaters came with it, but no extra attachments. So my question is "Where do I get the attachments." I would really like to have the food grinder attachment.
And the pasta cutter would also be nice, but I could live without that.

Again Thank you very much for the mixer

Nancy Harriman, Unityville, Pa.

PS I love your show and watch it as often as I can.

[Paula M.]

To Blogger Nancy Harriman -
Congrats on your win. You can find Kitchen Aid mixer attachements usually at Williams Sonoma stores. I found them on their website. Good luck and happy cooking!! :-)

[Elizabeth]

Hi Mrs Martha:
I think I am the only women in Peru who wach every day your page!!!I really love your show(I see at the computer) i dream one day go to your show and now you in person...i think you have a dream house...so clean...so pretty....and elegant...sorry but my english is no good, I am peruvien and I invite you visit our country, see Macchu Picchu, ruins ,that´s nice place for visit...tanks for be at my computer every day...my dauthers tink a Im crazy,because you never answer my letter, they think you no read this...
ps : I beleive !!!!!!
love
liz from Peru