Color Inspiration: the gardens at Wave Hill- color courtesy of Mother Nature

I have lamented in an earlier post about longing for a garden. I grew up in the South and gardening was a part of my life, especially in the summer. As a girl growing up in Virginia, all summer long we reaped the benefits of a vegetable and fruit garden. I can still taste the fresh tomatoes, asparagus and fresh peach ice cream my Grandfather toiled for hours over with a hand crank and a bag of rock salt.

Me and my Grandma and Grandad Clark with my new Pear tree that I got for my birthday, my mom planting seeds in a pair of fashionable bell bottoms, and me and my Grandad and my dad working in our family garden circa 1975

My Grandmother’s prize were her azaleas, pansies and lily of the valley…a scent that still brings tears of joy to my eyes. As a true Manhattan girl for the last 15 years, the thing I miss the most about my previous life is a garden. Container gardens on a fire escape just don’t cut it…so I find myself lately absolutely needing to see the green stuff.

To celebrate a friend’s birthday we spent a magical day at the New York Botanical Gardens and most recently to celebrate my own birthday I journeyed just north of Manhattan to the beautiful gardens of Wave Hill.

Wave Hill was built in 1843 and has hosted many tenants of note. Theodore Roosevelt stayed there with his family when he was 12 and 13 – a stay that must have influenced his love and creation of America’s great park conservation . Mark Twain rented the property from 1901- 1903 and the composer Arturo Toscanini was there from 1942-1945. Believe me that the grounds, gardens, and views are inspiring even if your not an artistic genius !

How have I lived in NYC for this long and not been here? I am now a member and look forward to my first members only picnic.

These are some of the beautiful flowers at Wave Hill right now and I expect a new palette as the summer blooming progresses. Mother Nature has come up with some pretty amazing and shocking colors . Why not bring an unexpected and shocking color into your home, or for the color shy, your garden. I hope the following pictures inspire you as they have me.

Wave Hill’s own mission statement says that its ongoing purpose is to “celebrate the artistry and legacy of its landscape and to explore human connections to the natural world.” I second that emotion…very cool stuff. Wave Hill offers classes in art, beekeeping, jewelry making, gardening (of course) and my favorite – yoga, on Tuesdays and Sundays. More food for the soul. Visit www.wavehill.org for all the glorious details.

When you go to Wave Hill, make sure to have brunch on the veranda, looking towards the Palisades.The menu features delicious quiches and pastries  that is organic and from a nearby farm. Start your work week by taking in all the colors and breath taking views of the Hudson and stop by my table to say hi (I’ll be nibbling on the amazing carrot bread with apricot jam).