Anywhere but New England, that’s where you’d guess Michael Trapp’s fabulous garden is, if you had been led there blindfolded. Italy, most likely, maybe France, or someplace hot and decadent, where iguanas scoot across mossy stones and parrots squawk in the trees.
In fact, Trapp’s legendary garden, open to pilgrims just one day a year as part of the Garden Conservancy Open Days Program, is but steps from the old covered bridge in West Cornwall. Like his eponymous curiosity shop (objets more d’amusement than d’arte), which stands between the garden and the road, it is not so much the content of the garden that is exotic, as the form. But you must look closely to recognize this, and avid gardeners do. Trapp’s is a garden worth studying again and again. And Saturday is your only opportunity to do so until 2009.
Don't try this at home, unless, like Trapp, you have both boundless ambition and impeccable taste. Ordinarily, in design, mis-representing context as aggressively as this (think: a "hacienda" on the 36th floor of a Manhattan co-op) ends in tragedy, but Trapp pulls it off.
There are other spectacular gardens on the Conservancy tour on Saturday, including Bunny Williams's wildly entertaining 15-acre property in Falls Village. We emphasize this one because it is in a class by itself. 7 River Road, West Cornwall Saturday, June 28, 11 - 4 For maps and addresses of other gardens on the Litchfield County tour go to Garden Conservancy Open Days Program
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