Robert  and I recently visited our friend George Schoellkopf at his Hollister House Garden, now a project of the Garden Conservancy. George has formed a non-profit corporation that will eventually own and maintain the property for the benefit of the public.  We applaud his extraordinary generosity.  There are so many design ideas executed in the garden I thought I would share the experience with you.

George started working on the garden 32 years ago and it has evolved over time. It’s situated on 25  rolling acres in Litchfield  County, CT with the original house, a restrained 18th century colonial, sited at the top of the garden with beds all around.   The gardens were originally inspired by the formal English gardens at places like Sissinghurst and Hidcote.  But George infused his garden with an exuberance and a slightly more wild approach than its English counterparts.

The garden has a rather formal structure with stone walls and 10 foot hedges that create outdoor rooms, brick walks and native or antique granite stones, beautiful garden ornaments and elegant old pots.  The space unfolds with a profusion of color, an abundance of plantings, specimen flowers, hummingbirds and dragon flies.

Like all good spaces, the Hollister House Garden reflects George’s personal taste, good planning, ongoing maintenance,  a nod to classicism and a generosity of spirit.

Add to your date book:

Hollister House Garden Study Weekend, August 27-29, 2010

A gardener’s dream: seminar, rare plant sale, gala reception, and tour of exceptional gardens.  Speakers include Peter Wirtz, Page Dickey, Margaret Roach, Jill Nokes, Dick Button, Hitch Lyman, and Adam Wheeler.