Garden of Ideas

Right off a busy road in Ridgefield is what many would consider a paradise. The Garden of Ideas has been growing for many years on the Keller property. A demonstration garden and place of inspiration, it’s also the place to find local, sustainably grown produce (a CSA program was added for 2011) and plants, as well as advice.  Guests are encouraged to linger and enjoy the varying terrain. In the spring, the marsh is a haven for waterfowl and red-winged blackbirds as the awakening landscape blooms. During the growing season, the gardeners Joseph Keller and Ilsa Svendsen are hard at work in the gardens, which have both sun and shade plantings.

A certified organic operation (by Bayside Organic), the Garden of Ideas includes raised bed vegetable and herb gardens and is interspersed with sculptures selected by the owners. This year, free-range chickens  are also part of the mix.  Any season is a beautiful time to visit. The garden includes a nursery where the selection comes with the assurance that Joe and Ilsa have found them good to grow here. Visiting hours for the garden are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; until 7 in summertime.

Details

To get to the Garden of Ideas, take North Salem Road/Route 116 from the north end of Main Street in Ridgefield for 2.9 miles to 647 North Salem Road; it’s the next driveway on the left. For more information on the Garden of Ideas, call 203-431-9914 or visit gardenofideas.com.