Come join the garden tour at my house! I love reading your comments -- please leave one!

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Brooklyn, New York, to attend the wedding of Laura Normandin, a deputy editor of Holiday and Crafts at Martha Stewart Living. With some time to spare before the lovely event, I decided to visit my friends at the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden. BBG is a 52-acre visual delight of world-class plant collections and specialty gardens, where I always learn and garner new inspiration. I urge anyone visiting Brooklyn to make this wonderful place a destination. While I was there, I suggested to Scott Medbury, the president of BBG, that perhaps he would like to bring a group to my farm and tour my gardens. He happily accepted, the tour was organized, and, thankfully, the weather cooperated!

Unfortunately, I could not be there to greet everyone as I was in Detroit on business. I would like to thank BBG for their kind gift of two rather rare yellow magnolias to add to my yellow magnolia collection adjacent to the summer house. One is a Judy Zuk, named after a former president of BBG, and the other is called Skylands Best -– a coincidence to my home in Maine in name only.  This magnolia was named for Skylands, the New Jersey Botanical Garden.   

. Check out the new map of my gardens in Bedford!
Thank you Carly Blake and Susan Bryan for helping me to create this map.

Here's Jodi speaking to a group in the vegetable garden. About 80 guests came by tour bus that day, all members of BBG's Gager Society. Named after the first president of BBG, the Gager Society is comprised of avid plant lovers who are also big donors to BBG.

This is my cold frame –- now uncovered. Things grow well here, under glass, during cold weather.

Meet Ester Leaming Tuttle, more commonly referred to as Mrs. Faity Tuttle. My foreman, Chhiring Sherpa, is driving her around the property on the Kawasaki Mule. At 97 years of age, Faity is still a working actress/model. She was also chairman of the board at BBG during pivotal times.

This is the front of the greenhouse facing Girdle Ridge Road.

Here are two guests admiring the currant bushes. It was very sunny and hot
and they were wise to wear their hats.


This is the shade garden in front of Alexis's house. The gentleman in the white shirt and sunglasses is Fred Bland, the chairman of the board of trustees at BBG.

The guests were all given the latest issue of Living magazine to enjoy on their return ride to Brooklyn.

Pierre made a little snack for everyone. My young hens are laying small eggs -– a perfect size for deviled eggs. Pierre seasoned the yolks with sweet paprika and a bit of cayenne pepper. He made little puff pastry palmiers, layered with blue cheese. The round crackers are cheddar shortbread.

My housekeeper, Laura Acuna, made a refreshing punch. Here's Jodi serving it to guests.

Francesca and Sharkey loved all the company.

The peonies are exploding! Oh, the fragrance!

This is Elizabeth Scholtz, the director emeritus of BBG. A native of South Africa with degrees in botany and zoology, Ms. Scholtz began working at BBG in 1960. She claims it was the perfect move for her -– a total distraction from what she refers to as her midlife crisis. Ah, the power of gardening!

Here's the whole group in front of the peony garden. Kneeling are Erika, Jodi, Kim, and George –- my wonderful garden crew.

This is a nice photo of some of the trustees from BBG. Sarah Young, director of gift and estate planning; Patrick Cullina, VP of horticulture; Fred Bland, chairman of the board of trustees; Scott Medbury, president of BBG; and Leslie Findlen, VP of development.   

Comments

[MMC from San Diego]

Hi Martha

What a magnificent early summer day for a garden tour. Looks like a garden-lover's delight!

[Brian Utz Jr.]

Wow Martha!! Those are some lucky guests!! Great Pictures by the way!

[Melissa]

Hi Martha,
Your garden is beautiful, I love that you have a peony garden! Thank you for sharing your pictures!

[Hardboiledegg]

Wisdom comes with age is it? and some of these folks seem active seniors to say the least --I want to know Mrs. Tuttles agent's name--if I could be working at age 97 that would be great--- now I need to market my self to the local ad companies as worthy material for the over fifty ad-market Oh by the way an appreciation for all things bright and beautiful that is what a gardener is all about!!

Ps Alexis' shade garden?? ohh when is a house tour scheduled?

[Hardboiledegg]

Hmmm lesson learned big donors to an organization are not overlooked in the events planned for a group --big donors donate for a reason and for perks -- I LOVE PERKS send PERKS my way

[Tom Dunn]

What a great garden tour! How I wish I was on it..those snacks look amazing. LOVE the garden map, great addition.
Tom

[Sandy Resendes-Calla]

Hi Martha,
You truely are generous and wonderful with your fans! I look forward to reading your blog everyday to learn a little bit more about the person you are! You have taken all the wonderful things God has blessed you with and shared it with the world around you! Your gardens at Bedford, and in your other homes, are gorgeous, vivid, and serene! Nature has certainly filled your home with all of its beauty! You have certainly done wonders with keep keeping your piece of heaven filled with all that it needs! As I was growing up, and as young woman today, my mother continues to teach us to care for the nature we have around us! She always says, "take care of the wonderful nature that surrounds you, tend to it, and care for it always!" You have done just that Martha! God Bless you, dahling!
From a great fan who is constantly enriched by your teachings!
My mom and I hope to make it to your show someday! Indeed it would be a blessing! We love you!
Sincerely, and with love,
Sandy Resendes-Calla xoxoxoxoxo
Montreal-Canada

[John Errigo]

Martha, what a wonderful garden you have, my dream is to also visit someday!

[Vera M]

This this my dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May be some day i will visit your garden!!!!!!

[Nancy]

What a joy and inspiration it must have been able to tour your gardens and eat the great food! Everything is just so beautiful, planned out and well taken care of..you have a great team working for you.

Oh, how I wish I could be you Martha!! It would be hard to leave home if I lived there. Please continue to show us more of your lovely home and grounds, I truly enjoyed the tour if by pics only.

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
I would like to know your process from begining to end for planning the layout of your gardens. Enjoyed looking at the pictures...great inspiration!
Pauline Mucciaccio
Brooklyn NY

[Anne]

If I can't come to see your garden in person, I can at least enjoy your lovely photos. Perhaps you would post more as the summer season progresses?

[Andrew Ritchie]

Martha,

As a member of the Garden Conservancy, I love touring gardens. I toured a few in Copake Falls, NY, a few years ago, including the garden of Margaret Roach, the former editor at your magazine. She has an amazing new website, by the way! Check it out:

http://www.awaytogarden.com

I get the Garden Conservancy brochure and always wait to see if the gardens of Martha Stewart will be on tour. So far, no. But I never stop wishing! I'd make the trip down from Canada to see it!

Enjoy your day!

-Andrew

[Terriaw]

What a wonderful opportunity for those folks to tour your gardens! I'm envious. Next time we visit family in NYC, we will be sure to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Thanks for being so inspiring!

[StacyQ]

I love how your dogs are in all your photos for all your events. I wish I were brave enough to take my dogs everywhere with me - especially at work. I have mentioned it before (just for a day when I needed to take her to the vet so i wouldn't have to run home first) and they about flipped. The thing is I think my dogs are cleaner than most people - and ALOT nicer! LOL! I need to find a job one day that will let me take my dogs to work - I would have so much more energy just having them around.

[Margie]

The gardens and property are always first class in beauty. How was the date selected? Was the garden tour focusing on spring flowers or perhaps a comfortable ambient temperature?
Thanks. I am sure the refreshments were the "icing on the cake".

[Karen Rizzo-Tucker]

Miss Martha:
Hello from Arizona, I love & look forward daily to read your blog & look at the most beautiful
pictures. I am from the South, Texas & Louisiana, & so miss the
green lush. Your pics remind me
alot of the pretty Magnolia tress, Dogwoods, etc from the South

You are so blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful gardens & homes. It is an inspiration for me. I love your Poochie Dogs, they are precious.
We have a half Lab/ Newfoundland
named Tank,(big boy) who is soooo
sweet.

Thank you, for sharing all your pictures, & events.

[Tiffany Thomas]

Martha!

You are the best. The pictures are lovely. I, too, love Sharkey and Francesca! I am planning on getting a French Bulldog one day. (I have two large labs now - looking for something smaller next time!)

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the photos of the members of the BBG Gager Society tour of your magnificent garden. What an experience they must have had! I would enjoy meeting Mrs. Ester Leaming Tuttle and the rest to share their horticultural knowledge. Maps like the one you show of your gardens would be so useful. I used to draw them of my gardens; I like the computer-drawn version, too. Seeing your cold frame reminds me of one I used to have---filled with Spring produce. To have a whole garden of peonies would be wonderful. My sister has the peonies that my great-grandparents planted long ago on their farm. I can just imagine the peonies in your garden exploding and the fragrance wafting on the air!
Francesca and Sharkey are certainly enjoying themselves with all the attention.
Thanks again!
Kathy

[so NOT cool]

Oh, goodness. I'd (almost) kill for a tour of your gardens ... any of them.

Really beautiful; Thanks for sharing. :)

[Trish]

I can't think of anything nicer than you inviting a large group of people to see your gardens! I bet there was a lot of oohing and aahing going on and I'd love to read their comments if there are any posted somewhere.

And speaking of gardens, after seeing the May 2000 issue of MSL with the wisteria, tulips and clematis on the cover along with your house with the blue awnings, I have been in awe! Is there any chance you could post that particular picture one day? I think I would frame it! Trish

[Angie D]

The peonies are magnificent. I remember peonies from my childhood, but it seems like a bush/shrub that people forget about these days. Now I need to plant some. Thanks for sharing your beautiful gardens.

[joan vogt]

Hi Martha,

Your garden is amazing and well planned out. Thank you for this wonderful blog where we all feel we are getting to know you better. What do you do with all the produce from your garden? Not to mention all the eggs! Have a wonderful summer. I look forward to new shows in the fall.

[Jasmine]

Martha,
Your garden's meticulous upkeep shines in the map and the photos. While I'm afraid I don't have as many sprawling acres as you, I do try to follow your example of what a proper garden is. Keep the photos coming. It was very generous of you to invite the lovely folks from the BBG.

[Vivian Love]

Oh, how I would love to have a tour of your garden! Too bad it's so far away. Thanks for our "blog" tour!

Vivian Love
California