Who We Are      
The Beatrix Farrand Garden Association is dedicated to honoring and sharing the environmental and design legacy of Beatrix Farrand. By restoring and preserving her garden at Bellefield and offering educational programs, the association inspires visitors and increases public appreciation of her pioneering work. As the earliest existing example of her private work, the garden at Bellefield is a striking illustration of Farrand’s masterful design, presented in an intimate and accessible setting. As a living testament to Farrand’s influential horticultural legacy – not only as a designer, but as the world’s first female landscape architect – the garden provides an ideal platform to tell this pioneering woman’s story through lectures, tours and educational programs. Bellefield is located on the property of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, and the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association maintains a close working relationship with the National Park Service.

Acquired by the Federal government in 1976, Bellefield is an elegant 18th century house remodeled by famed architects McKim, Mead and White for Thomas and Sarah Newbold. It now serves as the headquarters for the National Park Service, which manages three sites in Hyde Park: the adjacent Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Hisotric Sites.

Federal budget constraints led to a period of disrepair in the garden. Then in 1994, the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, a nonprofit volunteer organization, was chartered by the National Park Service to spearhead the revival of this outstanding American garden. Early support came from the National Park Foundation, the Garden Conservancy, and the Garden Club of America, which twice named Bellefield as first runner-up for its prestigious Founders Fund Award.

The restoration has resulted in a stunning display of perfectly composed borders - pink; white;blush, cream and grey; and mauve andpurple - set off by vine-traced walls and clipped hemlock hedges. Thanks to a recent grant from the Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust, a third andfinal garden gate has been created using Farrand's own working drawings. This magnificent oak door, replete with elaborate Arts & Crafts style hardware, was handmade by local artisans, and is now installed at Bellefield.

The garden is open to visitors every day from dawn until dusk, and special tours may be arranged. Volunteers meet each week on Tuesday mornings during the gardening season, and newcomers are always welcome.

BFGA Board of Directors

Barbara B. Peelor, President
Sarah Peacock, Vice President
Linda Freisitzer, Secretary
Diane Hoe Mucci, Treasurer
Cynthia Polistena-Witman, Assistant Treasurer
Jane Austin
Danielle Banta
Carolyn J. Cole
Allelu Kurten
Alice McGowan
Helen Page
Sarah Peacock
Randi Petrovits
Carol Vinall
 
Board of Advisers

Catherine E. Baer
Nancy Berner
Michael Dupree
Deborah Gordon
Gail Griffin
Angela Henry
Katherine H. Kerin
Susan Lowry
Frederic C. Rich
Nevill Smythe
Judith B. Tankard
Heather Whitefield

Volunteers
Doris Adams
Virginia Bickford
Lourdes Coste
Debby Glynn
Elizabeth Gundeck
Ellin Kristofik
Helen Page
Trudi Saucy
Luise Seelbach
Carol Vinall
Elizabeth Walden
Sally Hart

BFGA Executive Director
Anne Cleves Symmes

Anne is a garden designer with a special interest in historic landscapes and public gardens. For over twelve years, she has worked with the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association to preserve the garden at Bellefield.

She grew up in Madison, Georgia working at Cedar Lane Farm, a family owned nursery and display garden that specialized in historic and native plants. After completing the landscape design program at the New York Botanical Garden, she pursued her interest in public gardens by working at Bryant Park and the Conservatory Garden in New York City as both a gardener and garden educator.