On Location

On Location

Exploring Hidden Treasures Found

"off the beaten path"

A spontaneous day trip to

Harkness Memorial State Park

Waterford, CT

Harkness Memorial Park is in Waterford, CT on the shore of Long Island sound and covers over two hundred acres that include a fabulous forty two room house with breathtaking ocean views, expansive groomed lawns that meet the sea and formal gardens.

I first saw this gorgeous property from off shore as my hubby and I were out cruising long Island sound on our boat a few years back. It was love at first sight, but wasn't until a few years later that I made a point of visiting there and was thrilled we did!

This unscheduled day trip started out as a spontaneous decision to go have lunch at one of our favorite spots on the Connecticut shoreline, The Dock Restaurant in Waterford. It was a perfectly perfect late summer day with blue skies, warm temperature and low humidity and although there were things we could have been doing this fine afternoon at home, we decided to "Seize the Day" once again!

 As usual the food was great and we were enjoying the sea breeze and sunshine watching the boats pull in and out of the docks at Mago Point.

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Since we hadn't been to the beach yet this season we decided to visit Harkenss, just a short drive from Niatic.  The groomed lawns meander down to the shoreline while passing by shady groves of trees complete with picnic tables for enjoying a meal and offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy the ocean views.

The vast lawns empty out to the ocean with views of Long Island Sound and Fishers Island in the distance.  Ferry boats like the Cross Island and Block Island ferries can be seen coming out of New London harbor on their way to popular summer destinations.

After sitting and enjoying the ocean views for a while I was anxious to walk up to main house and grounds to view the many garden rooms. Eolia was the summer home of the Harkness family and is available to rent for weddings, banquets and private parties.  As seen in this arial view the main house and grounds encompass quite an array of fabulous gardens, most of which have an ocean vista.

Photo found on Google Maps

Completed in 1906, Eolia is in the Roman Renaissance Revival- style and has forty two rooms, along with several gardens designed by the renowned Beatrix Ferrand.  It was once a self sufficient working farm  as well.  Now on the the gardens!

Rudbeckia

The pergola in the Boxwood garden

The boxwood gardens

The east garden with ocean vista

East garden entrance

The east garden filled with Heliotrope topiaries, so fragrant!

I hope you enjoyed this pictorial story of  our day trip to this fabulous park.  If you love the ocean, beautiful gardens and are seeking a peaceful place to relax I encourage you to                 "Seize the Day" 

and visit here sometime!

On Location

Exploring Hidden Treasures Found

"off the beaten path"

Our Day Trip To

Lavender Pond Farm

Killingworth, CT

Carpe Diem! (Seize the day)

This Latin phrase brings new meaning to me these days since my husband, Don's, Multiple Myeloma creeped back into our lives.

A gorgeous day and no doctor or work appointments to go to equals a short road trip in my book!

I've been seeing a lot of Lavender Pond Farm in my Facebook feed lately and with my love of gardens and peaceful places, it looked like a place I wanted to visit soon!

I've driven out to this quiet section of the state many times over the years for client meetings, just south of Durham, CT, the farms and peaceful country roads envelope you. 

As soon as we pulled up to the property I knew this would prove to be a fabulous day!

I won't go into a lot of details about the farm, you can read about their story here.  I can tell you that their story stuck a chord in my heart for sure!

 Winding up the long drive to the farm and parking area you see a view of the nearly twenty-five acre property lined with beds of twelve varieties of lavender that all bloom at different times throughout the season.

Chess anyone!  Yes you can even sit a play a match.

 Now in their third season, the farm has become a popular wedding venue, and with the gazebo, pond and unique sitting areas, a perfect spot for photographs too.

 Cheerful colored honey bee hives add a whimsical touch to the landscape and will provide fresh honey to sell in the store in the future.  And cozy sitting areas are sprinkled throughout the landscape for your viewing enjoyment!

The antique Ford truck is a popular photo opportunity and really stands out in the landscape!

Lavender is a very beneficial plant for health and wellness, and potted nursery plants are available for purchase in the quaint boutique store as well as several products made with Lavender ingredients like saches, oils, teas, soaps and oh, so much more!
Many of the items are available to purchase in the on line store too.

Lavender is harvested and oil is produced on site in this fabulous copper still.  Nothing goes to waste here, even the water left after the stilling process is finished is bottled and sold in the store as Hydrosol  a refreshing floral water used for a myriad of purposes.

 Even Fora, the friendly family dog that wanders around happily around the property has a line of pet Lavender pet products! 

The best part of the visit was the personal motor tour of the farm by Andrew, a member of the staff!  I wanted to walk the farm to view the Lavender beds and enjoy the many cozy sitting areas.  Unfortunately with Don on crutches he wouldn't be able to get around so well.  So when I saw a young man bringing a load of Lavender plants from the nursery with a golf cart, I just had to ask "any chance of a ride around the farm"
Andrew was very gracious and more than happy to give us a private tour on the golf cart. You can view a small clip here of the video I shot while on out tour, but you must go and experience the farm for yourself, you'll be happy you did! 

Until next time!
Tina