Volunteers Return to Vanderbilt Garden

One of the most visited historic sites in Dutchess County is getting its garden restored.

If you're anything like the thousands of people who visit Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, you know about the beautiful garden on the property. For over 30 years volunteers have headed to the Hyde Park mansion to assist the Vanderbilt Garden Association.

Earlier this week kicked off the 37th year of "restoration and hard work in the gardens at Vanderbilt Mansion" according to Vanderbilt's Facebook page.

The Vanderbilt Garden Association explains that Fredrick Vanderbilt, who was the grandson to Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, was an avid gardener and created the Italian style garden containing different varieties of roses, annuals and perennials.

Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the gardens were left untouched.

However this year, the Vanderbilt Garden Association is back and better than ever. The Vanderbilt Garden Association is a "group of dedicated volunteers works hard every year planting, mowing, pruning, and maintaining the Formal Gardens."

If you would like to be a part of the Vanderbilt Garden Association team, contact  volunteers@vanderbiltgarden.org, or call 845-229-6432.

Tools are provided and the volunteer schedule is flexible as they meet Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings.

The gardens are open every day from 8 am until 7 pm at Vanderbilt Mansion Historic Site, in Hyde Park. Social Distancing rules apply while visiting the grounds outside, masks must be worn inside for anyone 2 years of age and older.

You can donate to the Vanderbilt Garden to help with upkeep at VanderbiltGarden.org.