Innisfree Garden a Hudson Valley secret

By Lee Park
Poughkeepsie Journal

But most backyards don't look like this.

Located just outside of the Village of Millbrook, the 160 acres of Innisfree are nestled deep in the woods, along the banks of Tyrrel Lake.

The garden was initially the private residence of Walter and Marion Beck. In 1960, the garden came under the stewardship of notable landscape architect Lester Collins and was opened to the public.

Different from most gardens, Innisfree is a combination of plants and rocks, carefully laid out in almost pictorial displays. Beck's design was based on the scroll paintings of eighth-century Chinese poet and painter Wang Wei.

''He did a great deal of interesting work with rocks found on the property,'' said Petronella Collins, curator of Innisfree.

Not a playground

Visitors should note that Innisfree isn't a park or a playground. The ecology there is very fragile and is best suited for picnics and enjoying the natural surroundings, the glacier lake and the architectural garden displays.

''It has some lovely areas,'' she said. ''There's a trail around the lake and a picnic area that is very attractive.''

Collins said there is no real shelter from the elements, either. Visitors should plan ahead before coming to Innisfree, as a whole day can easily be spent exploring the grounds.

''Don't plan on an elaborate outing if the weather forecast is an 80 percent chance of rain,'' she said.

Aside from the complex garden structures that only hint of Eastern influence, one might catch a glimpse of a rare bird or other animals.

''There's plenty of wildlife, including coyotes,'' said Collins. ''We have wonderful flocks of turkeys, gray herring and a couple of swans nesting.''

Innisfree is still growing. Collins said that plans are under way for a new water fountain on the property.

''This will end up as a huge plume of mist you can see from many vantage points,'' she said.

Leo Darling, a gardener and employee at Innisfree, sees first-hand the effect that the garden has on people. Since it is hidden, many people quickly become enthralled when they first discover the property.

''People ask me, 'When's the best time to come here?' '' said Darling. ''I say every two weeks, because something's dying and something's being replaced.''

Maintaining property of this size requires much work, said Collins. She maintains a crew of five gardeners, but the work never seems to stop.

''When there's so much concern for every aspect of the garden, you can't have any real affection for it,'' she said. ''It's a job.''

That doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy the property. Collins has lived in various parts of the world and holds Innisfree to high standards in comparison to the beauty of her former homes in South Africa and Japan.

''I think that certain aspects of this garden are as beautiful as anything I have ever seen,'' she said.

Darling said that he often hears from visitors who don't realize that such a pristine and serene setting is only minutes away.

''They say that this is the best secret in the Hudson Valley,'' he said.

After a day at Innisfree, take Route 44 east to the traffic light, then left into Millbrook. This quaint village features antique shops, an interesting book shop (Merritt Bookstore) and the famous Millbrook Diner.

Wing's Castle is a stone fortress built by artist Peter Wing that serves as his family's home and is open for tours (845-677-9085, Bangall Road).

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery (Wing Road, 677-8383) is open seven days a week from noon to 5 p.m. for guided tours and tastings. Besides award-winning wines, Millbrook Vineyards features concerts and other special events.