Outside of Holland’s Keukenhof Gardens, one of the best displays of tulips, daffodils, and other flowering spring plants is at the 125-acre Sterling Forest Gardens near Tuxedo, N. Y.
More than a million blooms here may be seen in a setting that includes 30 square miles of lakes and natural forests.
Only 40 miles from Manhattan, the Sterling Forest tract still exists in much the same state as when the Iroquois roamed its hills and valleys.
Spring arrives at Sterling Forest Gardens in early May—opening day this year is May 4. At this time, visitors may see exciting displays of tulips, narcissi, hyacinths, and many unusual bulbs, fritillaria, allium, muscari, and others, along the woodland walks and in the large display beds.
A Full Spring Show
Special precautions were taken last fall to ensure a full spring show because tulip bulbs may carry a fungus disease called tulip fire, which lives in the soil from year to year.
Normally, we try not to plant tulips in the same beds yearly. But when using an area for two or more successive seasons, we fumigate the soil with methyl bromide gas.
Each bed is covered with a plastic sheet beneath which the gas is injected. After 24 hours, the cover is removed, and the bed is aired for three days. The soil is then disease- and weed-free and ready for planting.
We use spring flowering bulbs in three ways here. We plant tulips, daffodils, and minor bulbs along woodland paths in flowing drifts to achieve a natural effect.
Using Bulbs In New and Exciting Ways
In our large display beds, we use bulbs in new and exciting ways. The flowers create intricate designs rather than mass displays. In the four great flower circles—every 96’ feet across—more than 28,000 tulips and hyacinths are combined in designs that swirl with color.
In one, black ‘Queen of the Night’ is the background for triple teardrops of rose-colored ‘Smiling Queen,’ ‘Golden Niphetos,’ and white `Snowpeak.’ Another circle displays a huge red and white spiral of lily-flowered tulips, ‘Red Shine’ and ‘White Triumphator.’
In other areas, flowers recreate the graceful shapes of jewelry: a necklace of flowers 230’ feet long adorns the bank of International Lake; in another area, the flower motif of a bracelet is outlined in multi colors of hyacinths.
Library Of Tulips
The third use of spring flowering bulbs is to display collections of wide varieties for leisurely observation by visitors.
The Living Library of Tulips provides a comparison of 192 tulip varieties—each in an individual labeled planting.
The mosaic of beds is connected with tanbark paths to permit close examination. This collection includes all types—early, mid-season, and late, in both standard and new varieties, including fringed and green-striped kinds.
Four fringed varieties:
- ‘Fringed Lilac’
- ‘New Look’
- ‘Swan Wings’
- ‘Picture’ features finely serrated petal edges.
Green striped tulips—classified as viridiflora—have green feathering on the outside of varicolored petals.
- ‘Court Lady,’ a pure white
- ‘Pimpernel,’ glowing carmine red
- ‘Hummingbird,’ yellow
- ‘Angel,’ white, are examples of this unusual group.
Hybrid Tulip Progress
Rapid advances are being made in the new greige hybrids. Tulipa greige, the parent, came from the Orient and gave the hybrids extreme vigor and brilliant color. Some outstanding ones displayed are `Jessica,’ Karatau, “Bokhara’ and ‘Oriental Splendor.’
All of these are strong growers and have brilliant red to orange colors. ‘Red Riding Hood’ is a dwarf form of the same type. Each of these varieties has interesting purple-brown striping on the foliage.
The Daffodil Trail winds among trees and shrubs and displays 100 different varieties, each labeled and in a separate bed, permitting comparison and evaluation for possible home use.
Peace Garden of Roses
The large circular Peace Garden of Roses is new this year. Its center is a gazebo that radiates eight paths, each shaded by graceful arcades of ‘Peace’ climbing roses.
Four of the paths lead to delightful pieces of garden sculpture. An inner circular path divides the main circle and provides views of interesting rose beds lying between the ‘Peace’ arcades.
This is an official All-America rose display garden, and this year’s two winners will be introduced in June. Earlier in spring, hyacinths lend color and fragrance to the rose garden.
Other Popular Features
Other innovations this year include a new Garden of All Faiths, a hilltop garden for meditation. In addition, the Flowing Water Garden—which actually moves in two directions, south to International Lake and north to Swan Lake—has a magnificent collection of water plants.
In the center of the gardens is a large flower tapestry of blue and yellow pansies, urns, fountains, and designs created with colored stones and stained glass.
One of our popular features is the colony of exotic birds which roam freely through the grounds — flamingos, peacocks, Asian demoiselles, African cranes, and many others.
In all seasons, visitors will see interesting plants and flowers used in new and unusual ways, but the spring show heralds the seasons of beauty in Sterling Forest Gardens.
To motorists, Sterling Forest is easily accessible from the New York Thruway between the Harriman and Suffern exits—approximately an hour’s drive from New York City. Buses to the Garden leave from the Port Authority Building in Manhattan.
44659 by Charles A. Lewis