Untermyer Gardens Conservancy Presents
A self-guided
tour
welcome!
Welcome to Untermyer Gardens! This historic site boasts 43 acres of restored public gardens which were once the estate of Samuel Untermyer. It is currently managed by our team of incredible gardeners and staff, in cooperation with the city of Yonkers Parks, Recreation & Conservation. We hope you enjoy your time with us! As such, we'd like to remind you of some rules for the site.
1. Dogs are not permitted in the garden unless they are service dogs, as the ADA defines. This does not include emotional support animals. View the requirements here.
2. No food is permitted inside the garden. There are picnic tables by the entrance for your use. Please be considerate and limit your use of the picnic area to one hour.
3. Leave the gardens as you found them- please don't take any of our flowers or leave any trash when you go.
This guide is meant to be a companion to the map and brochure that is available at the entrances. The numbers in this guide refer to the numbers on the map. Please take time to read the informational signs as you wander throughout the garden.
This tour will lead you throughout the 43 acre garden and will take you approximately one and a half hours to complete. It covers steady inclines, dirt paths, and stairs. Please wear sturdy shoes, protect yourself from the sun or weather, and remember to be mindful of your surroundings. Enjoy your self-guided tour!
1
Proceed down the path to the entrance of the Walled Garden. This garden is enclosed on three sides by crenellated walls and on the fourth side is open to the view of the Palisades over the Hudson River.
Check out the bas-relief of Artemis over the entrance, and be sure to read the interpretive sign inside the gate on the left .
walled garden
1
As you enter the garden, look up and appreciate the hundred-year-old weeping European beeches that are original to the garden. Running along the four canals meant to represent the four rivers in the Garden of Eden are annual beds punctuated by Japanese hollies. From spring through autumn, these beds are planted with colorful annuals, changing year to year as they would have in Untermyer’s time.
Walled Garden
1
The two sphinxes guarding the amphitheater.
The eastern stoa, featuring two doric columns.
The Temple of The Sky from the central pool
The view of the garden from the amphitheater
4
When you’ve finished enjoying the Walled Garden, walk over to the Temple of the Sky on the left side of the garden.
The newly restored Persian Pool (2) glimmers with aquatic mosaics down the steps, overlooking the Palisades. Enjoy the view of the Meadow (3) and follow the signs to the Vista.
tHE VISTA
4
You’ve reached the top of the Vista! Walk down the steps and enjoy the dramatic view of the the Hudson River and the Palisades. The two columns framing the view of the Hudson River and the Palisades are ancient Roman monolithic cipollino marble columns imported by Stanford White. This feature was restored with Japanese Cedars to match what Samuel Untermyer installed; the inner bands are planted with Japanese forest grass.
The Vista
4
The ancient marble columns on the vista overlook.
The vista steps covered with snow.
The view of the Palisades on an autumn morning
The vista steps at sunset while the leaves change in autumn.
6
To the right of the Vista Overlook, you’ll see a path leading into the Ornamental Vegetable Garden and Orchard.
Be sure to check out the pergola, and enjoy the colorful array of fruits and vegetables.
Vegetable garden & Orchard
6
The site of the former Rose and Dahlia Gardens has been repurposed with an emphasis on edible plants.
North of the pergola, young fruit trees have been planted within the interesting geometric layout of the original garden. Sculptures consisting of an ornamental stone from the original Vista lookout balustrade and a whimsical nod to Richard Serra composed of old rusted garden edging anchor the orchard. The produce is shared with various groups in the community.
Vegetable garden & Orchard
6
Our summer interns holding their harvest
Colorful swiss chards and lettuces.
The pergola from the garden beds.
The Spring 2024 interns holding strawberries from their harvest
7
Head down the path on the left at the end of the orchard and go down the wooden stairs to the paths lined with rhododendrons.
Watch your step and enjoy the lush path through the Rhododendron Walk.
RHODoDENDRON
WALK
7
The densely planted Rhododendron Walk recalls the famous rhododendron collection that formed part of the original garden and leads visitors from the historic gardens above to the Ruin Garden.
In the summer of 2019, the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy's first group of high school summer interns was responsible for clearing the land, preparing the soil, creating pathways and planting almost 100 rhododendrons, azaleas and other woody perennials.
Rhododendron walk
7
The bright colors of the rhododendrons
The path leading to the Ruin Garden
The old carriage house framed by rhododendrons
The vista overlook from the path
8
At the end of the Rhododendron Walk, you’ll find the ruins of the old Gatehouse.
Inside these ruins, we’ve planted a diverse garden to compliment the colors of the graffiti on the walls.
RUIN
Garden
8
The Ruin Garden, completed in 2019, is located in the former gatehouse by the Old Croton Aqueduct entrance to the gardens. The masonry has been restored and cleaned, and the lion and unicorn sculptures restored including commissioning a new head for the unicorn. Listen for the sounds of the grotto fountain: A room has been converted to a grotto with a fountain. Inside and around the former gatehouse are plantings that evoke a feeling of being in a ruined and abandoned house.
Ruin Garden
8
The ruin garden grotto entrance in the rain
The bright colors of the ruin garden plantings
The restored lion and unicorn statues
The grotto fountain inside the ruin garden.
10
Down the stairs, follow the path near the gate to the Old Croton Aqueduct. This is the Carriage Trail, leading to a new Stumpery and fountain. Check out the natural streams and rock outcroppings, and imagine carriages being driven along the switchbacks, as they would have been in Untermyer’s time.
carriage trail
&
Future stumpery
10
Continue slowly uphill on the carriage trail, noting the massive rock outcroppings and view of the Old Croton Aqueduct and Hudson River. Soon you will arrive at the site of the future Stumpery, where there is a new circular fountain and many upturned tree stumps along the Carriage Trail.
Carriage Trail
10
The newly constructed fountain, up and working!
Upturned tree stumps along the carriage trail
The newly constructed circular fountain will serve as a focal point in the future Stumpery
The stumps for the future stumpery
12
Take any of the wood chip paths uphill where they rejoin the Carriage Trail. Follow the stone wall and turn right for the tree trunk steps which will lead you to the bottom of the Temple of Love.
temple
of
love
12
The Temple of Love overlooks a magnificent view south along the Hudson River and the Palisades. Viewed from below, it is a stupendous rocky fantasy capped with a circular temple. It is the centerpiece of an extended rocky garden flanked with perennials, shrubs, and small trees. The outcropping is an elaborate water feature, with water coursing all around it in various waterfalls and ponds.
Temple of Love
12
The view from the rock and stream garden in the autumn
A shaded seating area below the temple waterfalls
Daffodill Hill in the spring, capped with the Temple Of Love
The Temple at sunset in the autumn
13
Walk north to the Temple of Love and the adjacent Rock and Stream Garden. Once you’re finished, exit through the deer fence gate (you will see the gate painted yellow).
Rock & Stream
Garden
13
The Rock and Stream Garden incorporates elements from Samuel Untermyer’s Rock Garden in the 1930’s, and extends it to the lower basin of the Temple of Love. Its source is a vernal pool at the top, followed by a stone throne: an island for sitting based on similar features in Mughal gardens
Rock and Stream Garden
13
Summer perennials bordering the stream
The stream flowing through the garden
The waterfall flowing down through the stream
The garden looking up at the hillside
Thank you!
We hope you have enjoyed your walk through this showcase of architecture and horticulture. If you would like a more detailed experience, please sign up for one of our tours. And finally, sign up for our informative newsletter to keep informed about all upcoming events.
If you enjoyed your tour, please feel free to donate any amount in one of the collection receptacles you will find along the entrance, or below.
