Wethersfield Estate & Garden

Name: Wethersfield Estate & Garden
Address: 257 Pugsley Hill Rd, Amenia, NY, 12501, US
Telephone: (845) 373-8037
Price range: $

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Wethersfield Estate & Garden

Wethersfield Garden, House, Farm, Carriage House Museum, Hiking & Riding Trails in Dutchess County, NY

Wethersfield is located in Amenia, NY and was originally the country estate of Chauncey Devereux Stillman (1907-1989). Nestled in 1000 acres of rolling hills of rural New York State, Wethersfield Estate and Garden provides visitors, visionaries, artists, and residents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of natural and classical artistic beauty as a crucial means of human expression for our

times. We identify the next generation of horticulturalists working to create and employ innovative practices in gardening with a view to strengthening responsible stewardship of land, conservation, and more. Wethersfield Estate & Garden partners with the most promising, emerging artists, including once-in-a-generation talents, as they interpret classical arts for the 21st century.

08/21/2026

Wethersfield Adventurers Club had a fabulous morning becoming art detectives and finding the historic statues hidden throughout the estate! Afterwards, Adventurers put on their sculptor hats to mold and design their very own 3D masterpieces to take home!

We hope you'll join us for our last Adventurers Club next Friday, August 28th — Final Week Celebration ☀️! Register here: https://www.wethersfield.org/adventurers-club/

Wethersfield Adventurers Club is an interactive children and family program designed for ages 3-8 (but all ages are welcome) at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Garden. Each week, children, accompanied by a caregiver (this is not a drop-off program), will explore a different part of the Wethersfield Estate, followed by a hands-on activity led by expert educator Diane Ritters.

08/07/2026

We are halfway through our Adventurers Club summer program! We've enjoyed learning about Growing Food 🫐 (Week 1), How Flowers Grow 🌷 (Week 2), and Exploring Wethersfield 🔎 (Week 3).

Look at the fun themes we have coming up!
🐸 August 14: Pond Life
⛲️ August 21: Sculpture Hunt
☀️ August 28: Final Week Celebration!

We'll hope you'll join us for one (or all) of the remaining weeks of adventure at Wethersfield! Register here: https://www.wethersfield.org/adventurers-club/

Wethersfield Adventurers Club is an interactive children and family program designed for ages 3-8 (but all ages are welcome) at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Garden. Each week, children, accompanied by a caregiver (this is not a drop-off program), will explore a different part of the Wethersfield Estate, followed by a hands-on activity led by expert educator Diane Ritters.

08/06/2026

FALL EQUESTRIAN EVENTS AT WETHERSFIELD

Wethersfield is proud to welcome equestrians to enjoy our expansive trail system and varied terrain throughout the fall season.

WETHERSFIELD FALL HUNTER PACE
Sunday, September 27, Registration opens soon!

We are also pleased to host several fall events with our equestrian partners:
·Millbrook Hunt Opening Meet and Breakfast Saturday, October 3
·Millbrook Pony Club Annual Hunter Pace, Sunday, October 18.
·Millbrook Hunt Thanksgiving Meet, Thursday, November 26

Want to ride at Wethersfield? Day passes and seasonal equestrian memberships are available. Purchase a Riding Pass: https://www.wethersfield.org/equestrian/

Learn More About the Hunter Pace: https://www.wethersfield.org/event/wethersfield-hunter-pace-2026/

07/29/2026

We invite you to join us on Sunday, August 16 at 4 PM, for Conversations at Wethersfield with Richard Armstrong, Director Emeritus of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and celebrated Millbrook art collectors, Jill and Peter Kraus.

Many people are daunted when faced with collecting contemporary art, often wondering where to put it. Jill and Peter Kraus overcame such hesitancy: they built a new house and barn with art in mind and added several acres on which they could commission artists to make outdoor sculptures. The result, “Kraus Haus, ” has few peers anywhere in America. Perpetually inquisitive and certain of their shared taste, the Krauses have assembled a collection—-indoors and out—- that consistently puts artists’ work in the best light. Listen as they share their guiding principles on collecting in a conversation led by Richard Armstrong, a long-time admirer.

The event will feature a lively Q&A, along with wine and soft drinks. Seating in The Gloriette is limited; reservations are essential. Purchase your tickets here: https://www.wethersfield.org/event/conversations-at-wethersfield-081626/

07/17/2026

Meet the Wethersfield Horticultural Fellows!

Wethersfield's Horticulture Fellowship Program provides emerging professionals from leading horticultural institutions with immersive, hands-on training in the care of formal and naturalistic landscapes, arboriculture, soil health, and the principles of classical garden design. Working alongside our horticulture team, fellows gain invaluable experience managing a public garden while developing the knowledge and skills to advance careers in horticulture, public gardens, and conservation.

Made possible through the generosity of our philanthropic community, the fellowship program is an investment in the next generation of horticultural leaders. This season, we are delighted to welcome three exceptionally talented fellows, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives while representing a different stage in their professional journey.

07/14/2026

We’re highlighting some of our favorite mid-summer perennials that are flowering (or fruiting!) in our gardens. Most people do not think of July and August as months that are particularly ‘exciting’ in the garden (just ask any gardener, they’ll say their favorite month in the garden is May), but it’s when our gardens start to be their most full. Every bed is green, colorful, and alive with the hum of bumblebees and hummingbirds.

We invite you to make a garden reservation to see these blooms in person at wethersfield.org/garden-reservations.

Listed below (and pictured) are some perennials with unique seasonal interest:
1. Verbascum chaixii
2. Echinacea paradoxa
3. Achillea millefolium ‘Terracotta’
4. Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Summer Nights’
5. Malva moschata
6. Monarda didyma ‘Purple Rooster’
7. Cynoglossum amabile ‘Firmament’
8. Veronicastrum virginicum
9. Cephalaria gigantea
10. Allium sphaerocephalon
11. Echinacea purpurea
12. Campanula lactiflora ‘milky bellflower
13. Asclepias incarnata
14. Monarda didyma ‘Raspberry wine’
15. Sambucus canadensis
16. Malva sylvestris
17. Hollyhock
18. Clematis
19. Helenium autumnale

07/10/2026

There is something completely magical about watching the sun wake up over the formal gardens, illuminating the timeless beauty of the landscape. It feels like stepping straight into an Italian Renaissance dream, right here in the Hudson Valley.

Plan your next visit to Wethersfield today: https://www.wethersfield.org/plan-your-visit/

📷 Connor Hanlon

07/08/2026

Wethersfield is pleased to offer a 6-week interactive family program designed for children ages 3-8 (all ages are welcome) on Fridays, beginning July 24th - August 28th. Each week Adventurers will explore a different part of the Wethersfield Estate, followed by a hands-on activity, led by expert educator Diane Ritters!

Our first week of Adventurers Club, on Friday, July 24th, is all about growing food! Join us as we explore the magic of agriculture right in the orchard! We will discover the fascinating ways different fruits grow from tiny blossoms into delicious treats, followed by a cozy reading of the book How Does My Fruit Grow? Afterward, Adventurers will head into the bushes to pick fresh, juicy blueberries to fill their containers—and we will cap off the day by enjoying our harvest topped with fluffy whipped cream and colorful sprinkles!

Register for Adventurers Club today: https://www.wethersfield.org/adventurers-club/

07/04/2026

As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, we look back on the history of Wethersfield Estate & Garden founder Chauncey Devereux Stillman and his incredible contribution to our country.

Mr. Stillman served as a naval officer and Air Combat Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy during World War II. His patriotism shaped the very land we walk on today. Between 1940 and 1941, as the global conflict escalated, Mr. Stillman hired landscape architect Bryan J. Lynch to design the very first formal garden at Wethersfield. Built as a wartime victory garden to support local food defense and bolster morale, this layout became known as the "Inner Garden" and laid the groundwork for the estate's larger, sprawling landscapes.

In October 1944, Mr. Stillman fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf aboard the USS Enterprise and the USS Lexington, and later served as a staff officer for the National Security Council.

In 1951, Mr. Stillman returned his full focus to the estate. His wartime experiences and global travels heavily influenced his transition into a prominent land conservation pioneer, leading him to expand Wethersfield to 1,200 acres and design its world-renowned Italian Renaissance gardens.

From defending freedom at sea to cultivating beauty at home, Chauncey Stillman’s legacy remains deeply rooted at Wethersfield. Today, the Inner Garden still stands as a testament to his resilience and vision during a defining era in global history.

We welcome you to discover this living piece of American history for yourself. Plan your visit and make a garden reservation today: https://www.wethersfield.org/garden-reservations/

06/25/2026

of Wethersfield at twilight. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

Wethersfield Estate & Garden is open Friday – Sunday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Make your garden reservation here: https://www.wethersfield.org/garden-reservations/

📷 Keiren Valentine

Address

257 Pugsley Hill Rd
Amenia, NY
12501

Telephone

(845) 373-8037

Website

https://www.wethersfield.org/

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