Garden Dialogues 2019: Wilton, CT
Cider Ridge Farm is located on the outskirts of the colonial town of Wilton, Connecticut. The farm encompasses sixteen acres of preserved meadows and an historic working orchard. An eighteenth-century agricultural lane with fieldstone walls runs along the ridgeline of the property, creating a purposeful divide between the site for a new homestead and the existing agrarian landscape. Two phases of work defined this project. The first, a new home for a young and growing family on the south side of the property; the second, the comprehensive restoration of the original nineteenth-century homestead on the northeast corner of the site.
The landscape architecture firm STIMSON worked closely with the owners to create a multi-generational homestead that expresses the contemporary needs of the modern family while preserving the integrity of the historic farm. Principals Stephen Stimson, FASLA, and Lauren Stimson, ASLA, will lead the design discussion and share how the juxtaposition of old and new, rustic and modern, became a guiding language for the materials, planting palette, and overall landscape expression of the project.
Old Farm
The historic farmhouse dates back to the mid-1700s, with connections to the Revolutionary War and stories of British troops staying overnight. Over the last century, the farm raised horses, including, in the past, race horses. The careful siting of the birthing stalls on the New York side of the property meant the horses could be part of the New York racing circuit. The historic farm lane remains the landmark that organizes the site, dividing the farm between Connecticut and New York. The stone walls that define the lane were carefully restored, and new openings were created at key moments to provide views and connections between the two homes. A new court, a reclaimed bluestone terrace, and a working garden of raised beds were integrated into the historic home. A series of walls around the old farmhouse were rebuilt using site fieldstone, and define the original formal tea lawn.
New Farm
The new farm landscape was conceived as a series of outdoor rooms adjacent to the house, with a working kitchen garden and perennial garden stepping up to the historic lane. The garden is a collection that reinterprets the site’s meadows, selected for seasonal display of color and texture. Above the gardens, a new pool, pavilion, and play garden converge at the historic lane, carefully inserted between fragments of the historic farm walls. The use of rusted steel, granite, and reclaimed stone respond to the site’s heritage, yet also expresses the owners’ affinity for modern art and architecture. These materials also carry forward the property’s legacy; in the hands of the farmer they shaped this landscape for well over a century.
Management
Maintaining a legacy property like Cider Ridge Farm requires a great deal of planning, effort, and expertise. Burt Demarche, president of The LaurelRock Company, which constructed the project with STIMSON, will join the dialogue to discuss landscape strategies, curation, and long-term management at the farm.
Attendees will enjoy a take-home harvest basket from Cider Ridge Farm’s bountiful kitchen garden.
1.5 LA CES™ professional development hours will be available to attendees.
Refund Policy
Cancellations and Refunds will be granted according to the following schedule:
Up to two (2) weeks in advance: 90% (Deduction represents administrative processing fees)
Less than two (2) weeks in advance but up to seven (7) days prior: 70%
No refunds will be made for cancellations seven (7) days prior to event
No refunds will be made for “No Shows” (a person who registers for a program but who does not cancel registration or attend the program).
Refunds will be processed as they are received or after the conclusion of the program, depending on the program date and when cancellation occurs. Refunds may take five (5) to seven (7) business days to process.
