entrance to the house. First you will notice the fabulous 16th-Century Italian wellhead in the middle, but if you feel like you’re being watched, look to the side and you will see, in amongst the greenery, the busts of those historical figures I was talking about, and more. It’s a little unnerving at first, but also very cool. Nearby is the lush Conservatory Garden, brimming with canna, bananas, bamboo, and fountain grasses. “The idea was to make a garden with a tropical feel with water plants,” said Eric Schmidt, who has overseen the property for the past 27 years. That tropical feel also comes across in the size and dramatic impact of these imposing plants. Back across the Circle Garden you will find the Perennial Garden, overseen by statues of the four maidens, one for each season. They are looking over the oak leaf hydrangea, gooseneck loosestrife, lady’s mantle, astilbe, day lilies, sweet pea, and peonies. Perennials give way to annuals, and then you are at another of the garden’s features: the swimming pool and grotto. At the foot of the swimming pool is a round reflecting pool. As you gaze through its six inches of water you find another surprise, garden furniture. The reflecting pool acts as a skylight for a grotto beneath. To get there, follow the path and make your way along the stepping stones through the koi pond. Inside you will find a pebbled floor with sea-themed mosaics and an ethereal glow caused by the reflection of the swimming pool through a porthole. Touch the walls and you will be surprised once more. They are made of fiberglass formed by casts of real rocks. From here you may venture to the more natural areas of the property along a boardwalk that skims a marsh to the Asian-inspired moss garden. The walk back is along a wildflower path. Here you will find 50 varieties of ferns that are planted with thousands of daffodils.
Or, you may choose to visit the main pond with its island Temple d’Amour guarded by a pair of graceful swans. The 19th-Century French temple is made of carved marble columns and benches with round wrought-iron backs, accessible by stepping stones. Here, too, are the main lawn and a rock garden with a display of red and green Japanese maples. Around the back of the house is the labyrinth leading to the oversized chess set. “The gardens are always evolving,” said Eric, as affable as he is knowledgeable. He will be at the garden for the Open Day. “We are always expanding and coming up with new ideas for our collection of creatures and people.” ■
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Chess anyone? An unusual feature of the White Garden are individual ‘rooms.’
April 2008
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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.
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