King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga
Fragrant lavender edges sunny paths in the King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York, which we visited at the end of June. The name “King’s Garden” is a bit misleading because this formal, ornamental garden did not exist when the French built the nearby fort in the mid-1700s, nor when the British took it during the French and Indian War, nor when patriot Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys took it during the Revolutionary War, nor when the British took it back two years later. What did exist during the tenure of three occupying armies was a large vegetable garden that provided fresh produce for the troops. According to the fort’s website, soldiers did gardening duty, growing lettuces, turnips, squash, radishes, and other supplements to their daily ration.
In the 1920s, Stephen and Sarah Pell bought the property adjacent to the ruined fort and hired landscape architect Marian Cruger Coffin to design the walled garden that, thanks to a 1992 restoration, is open to the public today. The Pells opted to keep the name that the soldiers of more than a century earlier had called their garrison garden.
Today, old-fashioned hollyhocks and delphiniums stand tall against the brick walls, giving a cottagey look to the periphery of this French-style garden.
I wasn’t the only one enjoying the garden. These Japanese beetles were busy making more beetles.
Crabapples (I think) create shady parterres at each corner of the garden, while an open lawn and a fountain anchor the sunny center.
Arched openings in the walls lead out into the surrounding meadow and woods. This image, however, is of a view back into the garden.
One of the gates opens to a nearby birch tree, whose white, striated bark vied with the garden’s flowers for my interest.
A peaceful view.
Out the main gate you enter an allee of Lombardy poplars, enjoyed here by a trio of costumed reenactors. I couldn’t help wondering who these people are who spend their weekends in costume, pretending to live in another era. History lovers? Frustrated actors? Hundreds of people were in costume at the fort while we visited—unpaid volunteers, some with spouses and children in tow and in costume. I spoke with several of them, asking why they did it. One answered that he loved camping outdoors in primitive conditions and enjoyed the people and the lifestyle. He traveled from one historical reenactment to another, amassing a number of costumes for each occasion. It amazed me, but it made for a fun and educational visit.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love the lavender edging in the first picture. I bet it smells good as you stroll along the path. The bark on the birch trees has a interesting pattern and texture to it. Thank you for sharing your visit to the King’s Garden with us.
Austin isn’t a good place to grow lavender, so it’s always a treat to see it—and smell it—in other gardens. —Pam
Beautiful Pam…the birch tree and grass, lovely! Gail
Glad you enjoyed it, Gail. —Pam
WOW, I’m just blown away by those delphiniums. Look at how rich the color is on those. ::: SIGH :::
They really were that richly colored. —Pam
Oh my, those delphiniums and hollyhocks are just to die for! Such vibrant colours.
Yes, they were so lovely. Thanks for commenting, Amy. —Pam
I’ve always dreamed of a walled garden. This one is fabulous. I love the iron gate. As always thanks for sharing.
Donna
You’re welcome. Thanks for dropping by, Donna. —Pam
I have such a weakness for walled gardens, and this one is fabulous. And I’m envious of the lavender– I’ve never been able to keep it happy. Putting it right next to the walk must have made it smell fantastic. And the delphiniums and birch trees reminded me of Wisconsin. 🙂
A walled garden is very Savannah-esque, which brings to mind the title of your blog, Lori. No wonder you have a weakness for them. —Pam
Dear Pam,
Keep the hollyhock photos comin’! I always heard they liked lime, so why don’t they do better here in Austin? I have had a couple of brief successes with them but five times as many failures. If you know how to grow them here, won’t you tell me how?
Welcome home, Julie
I’m afraid that I kill hollyhocks too, Julie. I’ve brought a few seedlings home from my mother’s hollyhock paradise in Oklahoma, but they just keeled over in our heat. —Pam
Very beautiful Pam. I couldn’t help thinking of The Secret Garden when I saw the gate and the brick wall.~~Dee
Yes, the gate and the wall do give it a Secret Garden look from the outside. But inside it was far too formal and restrained to be the overgrown hideaway of the children’s book. —Pam
Your pictures are great. Loved the close up of the bark.
That bark was so photogenic. Thanks for commenting. —Pam
Fab photos. The birch tree/meadow photo is such a beautiful composition. Looks like a book jacket for your upcoming novel. Thanks for this posting; it’s nice that we gardenbloggers bring back our travel gardens to share.
Ha—what upcoming novel, Libby? But thanks for the compliment. Yes, I enjoy seeing other people’s travel gardens too. —Pam
Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing. It’s been a long time since I lived in Bklyn. I guess things really have changed.
Thanks, Lola. I’m not sure what you mean about living in Brooklyn because these images were taken in Fort Ticonderoga, NY. Did you visit before this garden became open to the public? —Pam
What a fun tour, Pam. I am even more determined to get my lavender hedge in after seeing that one… it’s way too pretty to pass up the opportunity.
This sight made me long for a lavender hedge too, Kim. One day I’ll see if I can get some to grow, though they have a reputation of not liking Austin too much.
You have some great subject matter but your photography is wonderful.
Thanks, Jenny. I’m glad you enjoyed it. —Pam
Seems like every post from the States which I read at the moment is about Japanese beetles. Are they particularly bad this year or is it always like that?
I really don’t know, Sue. I’ve never seen them in Austin, though they may be here. I think they’re more of a problem in the eastern and midwestern U.S. —Pam
Thanks for the photo tour. I’m really missing those northern gardens right now as my Houston one wilts each afternoon begging for fall.
I hear you, Linda. Let’s just hang on until fall. —Pam
So close yet so far. The fort is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from my home. Not saying I would have made it but I would have seriously considered it just to say hi.
Glad you got to visit Niagara Falls. I’ve been there countless times and it never ceases to awe me. I’m sorry the 1000 Islands and St. Lawrence Seaway were out of the way but you did get a nice glimpse of the Adirondack Mountains. Maybe someday you’ll get over them and I’ll be waiting here for you 🙂
It’s lovely up where you live, Wiseacre. How nice to know your garden gate is open if I ever make it back up to the rock country. —Pam
Very nice garden, but not the Japanese beetles!!
Here in Sweden we call them something else and they eat every flower who is yellow.
It is a real vermin.
Ken
Only yellow flowers? Interesting. As I mentioned to Sue above, I haven’t seen the dreaded Japanese beetle here in Austin yet, but I’m on the lookout. —Pam
Thank you for the tour and also your vacation post – I just caught up my delays in reading.
It is so interesting for somebody like me, from Central Europe to see your country with your eyes 🙂
Greetings,
Ewa
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Ewa. I’m learning so much about other places thanks to garden blogs too. Isn’t it fun to have these armchair travels? —Pam
Pam, it shows that even men like to play dress up. This garden is beautiful. I really like the way you captured the grassy meadow with the birch tree as sentinel.
Ha—dress-up! You are right, Lisa. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics. —Pam