Garden Tour Series: A Breakfast To Remember!

We had invited 27 people from the Martha Moments Facebook Group to attend this tour: these were individuals who had been members for a very long time and who contribute regularly to the group. Most attendees had been longtime readers of this blog and had supported it with editorial insight, research, photography, feedback and comments. 

As the date approached, Bernie and Dennis were receiving more details from Martha's team about how the day would unfold. It kept getting better and better! We learned, for instance, that Martha wanted to serve us all breakfast on her terrace before the tour began! Wow!

Everyone was instructed to meet at a nearby parking lot where they would then be shuttled to Martha's farm in two large vehicles to arrive by 9 am. It only took four runs to get everyone assembled in Martha's driveway. 

Once everyone was assembled in the driveway and greeting each other with smiles and excitement (this was the first time many of had met in person), Carey Lowe passed out the name tags she had made for all of the group members. This is Steven Bednasz's nametag held up against the Tenant House as the backdrop.

Everyone was thrilled to see Ryan McCallister arrive! He was a 'surprise element' that Bernie, Dennis and myself had to keep secret. Originally, he was not scheduled to be there but made it home from his trip to the Netherlands in time to lead the tour. Everyone cheered when they saw him!

The group was led over to a shady spot in the berry patch. Martha remarked that the group was very large but very enthusiastic and was very pleased that we were all on time. She looked so nice in a striped blouse and denim trousers. 

We all looked quite nice too, if I do say so! Carey, Hayden, Brian, Matt, Andrew, Paul, Anthony, Matt.

Martha briefly explained the history of her farm and the enormous amount of planning and execution required to build all of these gardens from scratch. It has been 25 years since Martha purchased this estate and radically transformed it into what it is today.

Adjacent to the berry patch was Martha's beautiful rose garden, which was already very much in bloom.

The tour progressed into Martha's cutting garden. Peonies of all colours were in bloom. You can see the greenhouse in the background.

The entrance to the greenhouse looks so stately.

The gardens were lush and everything was coming up so beautifully. My friend Jordan, a professional photographer, lingered in the garden for awhile to take some thoughtful photographs.

Here is an example of one of his photographs of the cutting garden: cinematic!

So many glorious specimens to admire!

Jennifer and Justin pose for a selfie in the garden: Kristina and John in the background.

The terrace was just next to the Winter House, Martha's main residence on the farm. 

When we arrived on the terrace we were astonished by the array of foods that had been set out for us: hardboiled eggs (from Martha's chickens), delicious pastries from LMNOP Bakery in Katonah with assorted jams and jellies, coffee served in Wedgwood drabware ceramic cups and saucers and Martha's famous green juice, as well as refreshing iced teas.

The pastries were extraordinary: croissants and cinnamon pastries that were perfectly flaky and melted in your mouth.

It was a treat trying Martha's famous green juice! 

Carey Lowe captured a close-up with the terrace garden in the background.

Steven did the same with his croissant and egg.

Everything was wonderful.

Martha explained what everything was.

Help yourself!

Martha also enjoyed the pastries!

Bernie and Dennis on the terrace.

Bernie, Dennis, myself and Justin.

Nathan looks so happy!

Kevin Sharkey took this great photo of the group from a second-story window. 

Just before breakfast ended, Bernie, Nathan and Justin went to retrieve our large gift basket for Martha. Bernie and Dennis gave Martha a very rare variety of the Boston fern, which had curly, almost fluffy fronds. Martha loved it and said she would be taking it to Skylands.

All of our gifts were laid out on the kitchen island by Kevin Sharkey who snapped this photo. Martha was so pleased with everything!

After our breakfast, the tour continued towards the peony garden, the sunken garden behind the Summer House, the new maze and much, much more! Stay tuned!

(Photos by Jocelyn Santos, Andrew Ritchie, Justin Giannuzio, Nathan Schmidt, Steven Bednasz, Carey Lowe, Kevin Sharkey, John Roberts, Jennifer Butler-Zimmerman, Hayden Regina, Jordan Munn).

Garden Tour Series: A Dip in the Pool!

During our dinner with Martha, she urged Bernie, Dennis and myself to take a dip in the pool at some point during our stay. We were hesitant at first but before going to bed that evening we decided that we would go swimming very early in the morning before the day's big event.

I had what can only be described as the best sleep of my life at Martha's. Despite the excitement of the garden tour the next day I fell asleep almost immediately upon getting under the covers and did not wake up until dawn. The mattress, pillows, comforters and sheets were supremely comfortable (much of the bedding was Martha Stewart Collection trousseau from Macy's) and I could hardly believe where I was waking up!

I went next door to Bernie and Dennis's room and found Bernie looking contemplatively out of the window. It was a special, candid moment. 

We headed downstairs. This is a view of the morning light coming into the stairwell. 

We had scheduled our swim for 6:30 a.m. and we left the house shortly after 6:15. The sun was just coming up over the tree line and there was a damp coolness to the air. The birds were chirping wildly and the air felt so fresh.

On our way to the pool we passed the winding pergola. I loved how the alliums seemed to almost be floating above the sculpted boxwoods. You can see the stems of the lilies looking tall and sturdy. They will soon be in bloom with bright orange blossoms. 

The pool was quiet and looked so inviting. Martha said she would raise the temperature of the water for us the night before but later told us she was unable to. 

The water was cool but not cold. I am used to swimming in very cold lake water at our family cottage in Ontario, so this was ideal. The bottom of the pool is almost level from one end to the other with a slight dip in the center. I could touch bottom the entire length of the pool, as Bernie demonstrates. 

As an anointed "Super Fan", I would have been completely remiss had I not captured a Martha Stewart Pool Selfie in Martha Stewart's pool! You only live once! 

The pool house has a full kitchen inside and a banquette as well as a washroom and changing area. We did not go inside, although the door had been left open for us.

It was a memorable moment and a great way to start the day. We headed back to the house to get ready for the big day ahead!

Garden Tour Series: An Evening With Martha + The Tenant House

After our wonderful breakfast with the group at the house we had rented, and on the eve of the garden tour, Bernie Wong, Dennis Landon and myself were invited to dine with Martha and spend the night at the farm in her beautiful Tenant House. Martha was impressed by how well we had organized this event and wanted to treat us to a night out. We couldn't believe it! We were, quite literally, pinching ourselves ...and each other! It was a night to remember. Martha was charming, affable, chatty and so warm and generous. We loved our time with her. It was very special. Below are photographs from June 4th, the evening we arrived at the farm for our 'sleepover' in the Tenant House. 

The three of us were dropped off at the Tenant House by our friend Jennifer. We had packed an overnight bag and were so excited! Here are Bernie and Dennis at the entrance to the Tenant House.

I loved the stone steps and all of the millwork around the door, as well as the unique lighting fixtures, all of which Martha designed.

The Tenant House is original to the property, built in the late 1880s. Martha completely restored it and added a beautiful sun porch to the front. Alexis, Martha's daughter, designed the interiors. The house is surrounded by a lush fern garden, punctuated by beautiful Japanese maples, hostas and other shade-loving plants.

The sun porch is a beautiful, serene space. All of the furniture in the living spaces of the home are wicker. Much of it was brought here from Lily Pond Lane and painted a unifying shade of dark clay. The cushions are extremely comfortable and plush. The floors are dark hardwood but covered with a sturdy sisal, cut to fit the dimensions of the room.

Here I am enjoying a little repose on the settee before dinner. I'm quite camouflaged!

Dennis looking very proper.

And Bernie living it up!

Dennis enjoying the view of the gardens.

The adjacent room is a very elegant living room with a fireplace and small seating area. The home is very compact and cozy. We all remarked how beautiful it must be in wintertime.

The wicker furniture is from disparate collections and eras but it is all unified by the single paint colour.

Next to the living room is a small dining area with a large square table with a soapstone tabletop. Martha had displayed some of her McCoy collection here.

There was a lot of McCoy in evidence in these rooms.

Next to the dining area is the very large kitchen with its mahogany floors, soapstone countertops and custom island.

We loved all the little details in the kitchen, including this collection of Wedgwood drabware egg cups.

As expected, everything was perfectly clean and well organized.

Bernie admired this sturdy kitchen scale...

...And this very unique vase.

Martha personally designed all of the lighting fixtures in the house. I loved the milk-glass covers, which cast such a warm glow. It is a very unique design.

Upstairs, there were two beautiful, well-appointed bedrooms. This is where I slept.

This was the ensuite bath.

Bernie and Dennis slept in the adjacent room. There were two beds like the one in this photograph: one on either side of a large closet and each with its own window overlooking the gardens. So cute and cozy!

In the upstairs hall was this very ornate wicker chair. We all fell in love with it.

Here it is in the upstairs hall with the home's second bathroom at right.

The basement was also a clean and well-organized space.

For dinner, Martha took us to The Bedford Post Inn. It was just a ten minute drive from her farm. We were joined by three of Martha's assistants: Dorian, Heather and Matt. They were all so much fun to be with!

For dinner, I ordered a new item on the menu that came highly recommended. A rich, creamy risotto with white truffles. Martha sampled some of it during dinner and told me I had made the correct choice!

Martha also ordered a batch of popovers for all of us to share, as well as crudite, Ceasar salad and steak tartare. The chef was very generous in bringing out various small plates for us to sample. 

Both Martha and Bernie had the grilled branzino. Although not shown, Dennis enjoyed the lobster pasta.

Bernie's plate of appetizers: popover, steak tartare on toasted chips, Caesar salad and crudites with a creamy dipping sauce. The chef also brought out other delicious treats, like warm olives and croquettes. 

For dessert I ordered the lemon meringue tart, which was so delicious. It came very highly recommended from Martha, who also ordered it. 

Bernie ordered the salted-caramel chocolate cake for dessert. It was very, very delicious! We all had a sample. We had some great conversations at dinner and a great evening was had by all. 

We refrained from taking photographs or selfies during dinner and simply enjoyed the conversation and each other's company. Martha looked lovely in a long, striped blouse of white and beige with white wide-leg pants. She had pearl earrings and a pearl necklace and looked so elegant. I also remarked on her perfume and she told me it was Fracas, which has been her favourite scent by Robert Piguet for decades. 

After dinner, Martha had a scheduled Zoom call so the three of us simply enjoyed the Tenant House and decided to take an evening stroll through the farm.

The ferns outside the Tenant House were so tall and lush! The building in the background is the garage.

Here I am outside the Tenant House on the side pathway.

Bernie loved studying all of the plantings. 

Here are Dennis and me at the gates to the cutting garden.

Looking through the gate into the beautiful cutting garden.

This is Martha's basket house, where she keeps all of her prized baskets. It's just a short walk from the Tenant House.

We walked a little further down the lane towards the pool.

Here I am by the pool. It's such a peaceful, quiet place to be.

Bernie and Dennis also loved it here. During our dinner, Martha suggested we take a dip in the pool during our visit. With temperatures in the high 80s, it certainly looked very tempting...

Bernie paused under the pagoda by the pool to admire the sunset. The seats were all arranged around the table for the following day's events!

I captured the day's last light by the winding pergola on our way back to the Tenant House for a good night's sleep before the big tour. What a glorious, glorious day!