One of the things I like best about the Saratoga Racing Season is my ability to stop by on any given morning on my way into the office and watch the horses work out. It is such a gentle, easy, beautiful start to the day. 
Another beautiful way to start the day, or spend any hour of any given day in any season (in my opinion), is at the Yaddo Gardens. The calm serenity that surrounds you as you walk past the pools and fountains, the statues, and the beautiful rose gardens is almost a palpable thing.
Yaddo was founded in 1900 by Spencer and Katrina Trask, and is an artists’ community offering residencies to writers, painters, composers, choreographers, etc. The history and beauty of the Trask mansion and approx. 40 acres needs to be seen to be truly appreciated. For more on the history, head to their website at: http://yaddo.org/yaddo/history.shtml.
For the purpose of this blog post, however, I am just going to take you on a little photo tour of the beautiful and, dare I say, MAGICAL gardens. There is no denying that you feel something really special as you wander past the roses, through the pergola and in the wooded area behind the pergola.
As quoted from their website, “Some believe that the land itself at Yaddo is the source of mystical creative power. The property on which Yaddo now stands previously housed a farm, gristmill, and tavern operated by Jocobus Barhyte, a Revolutionary War veteran. Many well-known writers of the 1830s and 1840s dined at Barhyte’s tavern, among them Edgar Allan Poe, who is said to have written at least part of “The Raven” on a visit there.”
Any time of the day is beautiful, but my favorite is early in the morning, just as the sun climbs over the treeline. The low angle of the sun’s rays creates the most beautiful shadows, and highlights the remaining dew on the delicate roses and other blooms.
The paths behind the pergola are equally magical…lush, green, and beautiful…with flowers, a pool, a fountain and, again, the early morning sunlight peeking through the trees at precisely the right angle produces rainbows when filtered through the fountain! I have only been there once at the exact right moment, but there were rainbows everywhere. I half expected to see fairies or sprites as part of the magic.
It is truly a very calming, very beautiful place to be. Guided tours are held on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, as well as Tuesdays during track season, for $10. They provide information on the gardens, the mansion and the Trasks.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and, if you’re headed to the track, that you have good luck!
