The Hermitage is known for its beautiful grounds, which include twelve acres of semi-formal gardens, forest and wetlands. The Lafayette River wraps around the Hermitage on three sides, providing an elegant backdrop to walks through the gardens, wedding ceremonies, and outdoor events. Both the wetlands and woodlands provide a natural habitat for hundreds of plants and animals, including a variety of waterfowl and migrating birds.
In 1908, when the Sloane family began construction on The Hermitage as their summer retreat, Florence Sloane began to beautify the grounds, determined to incorporate the design of the house into her gardens. For the next thirty years, she created a picturesque landscape, extending her artistic vision and the artwork of others into the design of the gardens. The gardens feature 105 millstones, many of which reside in the Millstone Courtyard that greets visitors at the Museum entrance. Along the south side of the house is a colorful English-style perennial border coupled with a pathway leading into the waterfront lawn. A large southern magnolia tree stands on the east lawn overlooking a stone terrace highlighted by Edward McCartan’s bronze fountain, Girl Drinking From a Shell.
The gardens feature a mixture of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Roses, daffodils, peonies, Japanese anemones, Russian sage, Black-eyed Susans, and other sun-loving perennials surround bronze sculptures, quiet benches, brick and cobblestone footpaths, and stoned terraces. The gardens are accented by various unique plant containers, two of which sit on the tiled terrace outside the Gothic Music Room. From a shady alcove filled with camellias and ferns, a large wisteria covers the entrance at the Millstone Courtyard.
EAST GARDEN
WETLANDS
GROTTO
MILLSTONES
ROSE GARDEN
SUNKEN GARDEN
Hermitage Gardens Bloom Schedule
Late January – February
Camellia japonica, Daphne odora, Galanthus nivalis, Helleborus orientalis, Narcissus (earliest varieties) Viburnum tinus
March
Cercis canadensis, Cercis chinensis, Chanomeles speciosa, Exochorda x micrantha, Hyacinthus orientalis, Ipheion uniflorum, Forsythia, Leucojum sp., Magnolia ‘Jane’, Muscari armeniacum, Narcissus (early varieties) Spiraea prunifolia var plena
Late March – April
Ajuga reptens, Amelanchier sp., Aquilegia canadensis, Aronia arbutifolia, Cercis (both species continue), Deutzia gracilis, Fothergilla, Gelsemium sempervirens, Hyacinthoides hispanica, Ilicium floridanum, Iris sp., Narcissus (mid to late varieties) Podophyllum peltatum, Prunus (early weeping Japanese Cherries), Rhododendron sp. (evergreen and deciduous), Rosa x banksiae, Viburnum macrocephalum, Wisteria floribunda, Zizea aurea
Late April – May
Asclepius tuberosa, Baptisia sp., Bignonia capreolata, Chionanthus virginicus, Cotinus coggygria, Cornus kousa, Digitalis purpurea, Itea virginica, Mitchella repens, Peonia sp, Penstemon digitalis, Philadelphia inodora, Phlox divaricata,, Rosa cultivars, Saxifraga stolonifera, Styrax japonicus
Late May – Mid-June
Achillea millefolium, Crocosmia crocosmiflora,, Datura wrightii, Echinops(Globe Thistle), Hemerocallis sp., Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea quercifolia, Mondarda didyma, Monarda fistulosa, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Rudbeckia fulgida, Silphium perfoliatum, Yucca sp.
Late June – July
Asclepius incarnata, Clethra alnifolia, Coreopsis verticillata, Hibiscus moscheutos, Lantana camara, Leucanthemum superbum, Liatris spicata, Mirabilis jalapa, Phlox paniculata, Scuttleria incana, Vernonica spicata, Vernonia noveboracensis
Late July – August
Allium tuberosum, Aralia spinosa, Hydrangea paniculata, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Kosteletszkya virginiana, Lagerstroemia sp., Lobelia cardinalis, Rudbeckia fulgida, Rudbeckia lanciniatum
September – Early October
Aster tataricus, Baccharis halimifolia, Conoclinium coelestinum, Cyclamen sp., Eupatorium perfoliatum, Hedychium coronarium, Iris (rebloomers), Lantana camara, Rosa, Salvia leucantha, Solidago sempervirens
Late October – November
Baccharis halimifolia, Camellia sasanqua, Chrysanthemem sp., Farfugium japonicum, Iris (rebloomers), Lantana camara, Physostegia virginiana, Rosa, Salvia leucantha
