Hoosick
Blooms
Garden & Farm Tour
a self guided driving tour of private gardens
in beautiful Upstate New York
Becky Miller Photography
WHAT
driving tour of private gardens and farms in historic Hoosick Falls and surrounding rolling hills of Upstate NY
WHERE
Wood Block building at 1-5 Main Street in historic Hoosick Falls and surrounding rolling hills of Upstate New York
WHEN
July 11 & 12, 2026
PURPOSE
The Hoosick Blooms Garden Tour is held every two years in support of the Civic & Cultural Restoration Corporation’s (CiviCure) restoration of the Wood Block Opera House. Learn more here or follow CiviCure on social media.
2026 Hoosick Blooms
Participating Gardens
Becky Miller Photography
TEAK AND THYME FARM
Crystal and Brett Walters
teakandthymefarm.com
A stately brick classical revival home of circa 1825 anchors 11 (!) historic agricultural outbuildings, along with formal gardens, pastures, native plants, an apiary, and small orchard. This talented couple purchased the farm in 2020 and have spent the intervening years painting and restoring the 200+- year old farmstead, proudly listed on the NYS Historic Registry. The renovation of a traditional English cutting garden adjoining the house serves as a showpiece for the tour. It yields many bouquets in July and August, often available for purchase in the milk house. In addition to hosting traditional craft education and events, their dream is to offer the space to the public as a venue for special gatherings.
Because it is located on the busy State highway just north of the village of Hoosick Falls, carefully approach the narrow turn-in that will be marked, watch for cars exiting, and follow the signs for parking. Volunteers will be directing traffic.
Chris Sutorius ARA Films
Becky Miller Photography
Becky Miller Photography
NORTH SLOPE FARM
Diana and Ari Gradus
This couple purchased their historic property more than 20 years ago and have devoted that time to caring for the 1821 house and grounds, as well as tending an assortment of animals and agricultural infrastructure.
Near the entry on the south side, a graceful gazebo abuts a pond, home to a number of domestic ducks. A flagstone path lined with flower-filled containers and bird feeders adorns the dooryard, attracting many species year-round. The namesake North Slope has a gracious bluestone terrace that commands sweeping views across the Hoosick Valley. Beds of astilbe and phlox lend both color and movement to the space. Urns and pots along the patio edge feature grasses and colorful annual plantings. The barns and coops house waterfowl and chickens, as well as a few entertaining goats. On the shady side of the drive, a graceful rock garden hosts ferns and hostas and memorials to beloved pets.
Ari Gradus, a noted artist, will host interested visitors in his rustic studio. Some of his paintings will be available for sale to benefit CiviCure.
FARM ZONDER NAAM (No Name in Dutch)
Annette Van Rooy
Honoring her Dutch heritage, Annette has called her farm Zonder Naam, or No Name in her native tongue. This peaceful property is tucked away in what was more than a century ago, the truly rural dirt road community of East Pittstown - a church, a one-room schoolhouse, and a tiny cemetery at a crossroads. A charming farmhouse with two original barns still surveys the quiet scene. The stone foundation for a third, now vanished barn provides a 3-sided shelter for an in-ground pool and a major garden space. Hollyhocks line the poolside next to the warm stone foundation. A riot of coneflowers, liatris, yucca, and willow dance with lilies and lavender. A pergola on the side of the farmhouse is the perfect climbing spot for productive grapevines and is a calm refuge for viewing the expansive pond and field. A nearby guesthouse, a salvaged early carriage house, hosts its own terrace garden with azaleas and day lilies.
STUDIO AND SCULPTURE GARDEN
Mia Westerlund-Roosen
miawesterlundroosen.com
Gardening is always a creative activity but gardeners are creative in many different ways. Mia has lived in her converted barn/house/studio for more than three decades even though she also has a home in NYC and has traveled the world with her notable art. Her “garden” reflects that creativity, some pieces on a grand scale.
Follow the signs for parking (three spaces by the dooryard are reserved for mobility challenged visitors) and begin a walkabout that reveals sweeping views of the Rensselaer Plateau and the Taconics. This stunning backdrop is suitable for several major artworks from Mia’s long career as an abstract sculptor. Yes, there are trees and flowers and breathtaking rural landscape. But here too are works spanning a lifetime, made by hand in interesting materials, concrete and lead, fabric and resin, iron and soil, expressing vulnerability, a reverence for the earth, intimate and organic shapes. Visitors are welcome to visit the studio at the back entrance to the barn to see works in progress.
ABBOTT FARM
Cindy and Jack Parillo
Abbott Farm is named for Pittstown’s famous son, Colonel Royal Abbott who grew up here at “the Old Manse,” in the early-19th-century. (Originally commissioned by William Seward.) Abbott went on to found the Republican Party in Rensselaer County in time to help nominate Abraham Lincoln.
The Parillos came in 2005 with more modest goals. They planted 200 blueberry bushes and hoped to sell at farmers’ markets along with sunflowers and other cut bouquets. They experimented with growing both hops and barley, both traditional crops in this area for beer making. Everything cost more than they made but they loved the work and the neighborhood. They continued renovating old stone foundations to create a restful perennial garden behind the house and picked a sunny spot in the meadow for a vegetable and dahlia garden of raised beds. A small orchard of apple, peach, and cherry trees added to the harvests. And they rehabilitated the old pond, recently beset by beavers.
The blueberry patch across the road will be open for sampling. Feel free to use the grounds for picnicking. Please avoid the beavers.
Other Events & Opportunities
HISTORIC BARNS OF NIPMOOSE
NOTE: OPEN SUNDAY ONLY
The Persistence Foundation: Connie Kheel, President; Howard Smith, Gardener
nipmoosebarns.org
Follow parking signs. Do not park along the entry road. A golf cart is available for the mobility challenged.
The property is home to four classic informal gardens, sweeping views of working agricultural landscapes, and a cluster of historic buildings. The country-style gardens include common perennial varieties such as phlox, bee balm, day lilies, aster, Columbine and cranesbill. The German Barn garden sits atop a notable 12-foot-high dry laid stone wall where the earth tones of the stone and the old barns complement the plantings. All of the gardens were designed by Howard Smith who holds a degree in Organic Ornamental Landscaping from the University of Vermont.
The buildings on the farm include three historic barns with timber framed construction dating from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. Fully restored, these beautiful structures provide an in-depth view of historic craftsmanship.
The mission of the Persistence Foundation (a non-profit organization) is to promote awareness of the need for land conservation and preservation of agricultural heritage. The site is a venue for private weddings and special events.
HOOSICK COMMUNITY GARDEN
NOTE: OPEN SATURDAY ONLY
Kaila Schmigel, Chair
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The community garden started as an idea in 2019 when its founders wanted to inspire people to eliminate lawn and grow something good to eat. As the pandemic set in, it became apparent that growing and gathering food as a community could safely address many issues. The Village of Hoosick Falls made the land available and local businesses and generous donors pitched in for developing the infrastructure. Tools appeared, fencing, then milled lumber for the raised beds. An irrigation system helped keep things growing. Now all 20 beds are claimed in the “Rent-A-Plot” on a tiered system depending on membership and volunteerism.
The beds are planted, maintained, and harvested by volunteers and distributed throughout the community. There are 11 trees in the orchard, including two new pear trees. Patches of elderberry and strawberries, and an asparagus bed are all new this year. A tall brick spiral herb garden is another special feature. But the truly special feature is the number of people who have come together to help feed and build the community.
HAYBERRY FARM
Shannon and Jared Woodcock
hayberryfarm.com
Hayberry Farm is a 160-acre, biodiverse U-pick blueberry farm interspersed with meadow, forest, and wetland. With a long history as farmland, this beautiful property was originally cleared for sheep grazing. From the 1940s to the turn of the century, it operated as a family dairy farm with the first blueberries arriving in 2008. The U-pick now hosts 11 season-spanning varieties of blueberries, 14 varieties of lavender, as well as acres of raspberries, hazelnut, and chestnuts. During the garden tour you will be able to swing in and purchase cold drinks or treats from the farm store, pick berries, or, if stopping by on Saturday between 11 am and 3 pm, you can purchase a bite from Cut the Pie Pizza Co, who will be set up with their wood-fired pizza oven.
Can't make CiviCure's Hoosick Blooms Garden Tour but want to support our mission of restoring Wood Block Center? Donations are welcome!
