Ice Pond Farm
Keep watch for this garden in North Salem, NY, during the Garden Conservancy's Open Days. It's been on the tour in the past, and when it's open again, it's a must-see.
In the winter, an old ice pond sometimes freezes over, and when it does, the owner puts on his skates and takes a few turns or more around the surface. The skater is no other than Dick Button, the only American to win two Olympic golds in figure skating -- and the first person in competition to land a double axel, a triple loop and a camel spin. He also invented the flying camel. After his retirement from skating, Button became a sports commentator -- and since the mid-90's, he's devoted a lot of time to his garden.
During a viisit by members of the APLD this past summer, Button said the design of his garden really "comes from skating." He explained that designing a garden is really all about views -- like the ones you might see spinning around a mountain top rink.
Button said he learned about gardening by attending lectures and visiting a lot of other people's gardens. And whichever way you look on his farm, you can see he's obviously learned a lot. In skating, he said, there's always a sense of humor and surprise and that what he strives for in his own garden design, along with a sense of the unexpected.
Ice Pond Farm has a bocce court, a lovely perennial garden, pictured at left, a gazebo, a wildflower walk, a stone bridge, and beautiful old apple trees.
The 50-acre property also has an icehouse, a smokehouse, a springhouse, and an old barn with animals that Button has taken in. They include a three-legged pig that Button obtained from NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Button explained that one of Bloomberg's children has rural property, but could no longer care for the pig, so Button happily agreed to take her. Button also has a horse and many chickens who roam around the farmyard.
Button said he's not yet done with the garden, either. He envisions building a large tower somewhere, where he can sit and view the entire property. And he's just beginning to work on a valley that's in the far reaches of the site. So when Ice Pond Farm is next on a Garden Conservancy tour, it could be an entirely different place.
(click on images to enlarge)
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