Garden Conservancy Open Day Digs Deeper In Dutchess County

Lisa Green reports from Millbrook. On Saturday, Sept. 24, cars were criss-crossing Dutchess County country roads en route to some magnificent private gardens, courtesy of The Garden Conservancy’s Dutchess County Open Day. After a full day of garden immersion, some of those cars headed to a special Digging Deeper event, "A House in the Country - The Garden of Katie Ridder & Peter Pennoyer.” He is a renowned architect and she a sought-after interior designer, and they hosted a brief reception where they talked about the conception, design, decoration and landscaping of their new country house in Millbrook, New York. The one-of-a-kind Greek Revival home with lush woodland, flower and cutting gardens has been chronicled in a new book, “A House in the Country,” which was for sale in the minimalist pergola, with the couple standing by to autograph copies. [Above, Katie Ridder and Peter Pennoyer answer questions about their house and garden.]

Millbrook's David Sloan, whose garden has been on the Open Days tour in the past, with Laura Palmer, vice president of the Open Days program; Katie Kerin, director of recruitment for Open Days with jewelry artist Simone Soernsen and Ken Selody of Atlock Farm.

The lush flower garden, a celebration of large-scale flowers and saturated color, as described by Katie Ridder.

Alison Meyer, former owner of Merritt Bookstore, and Kira Wizner, the current owner, selling the book penned by the hosts; Joseph Singer, architect Jim Joseph and composer Scott Frankel.