A Visit to Clove Brook Farm

Over the weekend, The Garden Conservancy welcomed back visitors for a limited edition of their Open Days Gardens program and Clove Brook Farm, renowned ceramicist Christopher Spitzmiller’s Millbrook, NY, home, was one of the private gardens open to the public. I was delighted to make the 2 hour drive and to be honest, had a difficult time leaving. Clove Brook Farm is everything we’ve seen on social media and in Spitzmiller’s beautiful book A Year at Clove Brook Farm, only better. The amount of planning and hard work that goes into creating such beauty is humbling and I definitely left inspired. The most dramatic element in the garden right now are the hydrangeas.  They have just turned that deep, rusty pink that signals fall, and they stole the show for me. I know they’ll look splendid in Spitzmiller’s dried hydrangea arrangements.

The dahlias were holding their own, with their large, floppy heads against the clear blue skies. With only a few passing clouds, the weather was the perfect backdrop to the stunning array of flower beds and architecture that make up Clove Brook Farm. The pool is absolutely beautiful, and so is the pool pavilion decorated with naturally-shed stag horns. There are flocks of chickens and geese, and work has commenced on an outbuilding that will soon house Spitzmiller’s prized birds. 

I knew I wanted to take you along with me so I took as many pictures as I could, while making sure that I was also registering every detail with my senses. The scents, colors and sounds were intoxicating…

The farm has gained cult status in the design world but Saturday I saw more than just beautiful gardens and an equally stunning home. I saw a man with a vision and an incredible work ethic who has dedicated 15 years of steady effort to create his dream home. And it’s not ready, or finished, and I suspect it never will be. As he dreams up new and exciting ways to use the land and raw materials around him, an old saying comes to mind: Our surroundings will always reflect us, who we are and what we stand for; and judging by his country house alone, Christopher Spitzmiller stands for charm, beauty and excellence made possible only through hard work. 

To see more of Clove Brook Farm, make sure to follow Christopher Spitzmiller on Instagram, where he often shares updates on his life on the farm. His book A Year at Clove Brook Farm is a fascinating guide through the seasons and an inspiring read. Hope your week is off to a good start! 

P.S. You can revisit the rooms at Clove Brook Farm by checking out the following Café Design stories:

Clove Brook Farm – Holiday Edition

Farm Charm