Good morning to you on this chilly January morning. As I type, the current temperature outside is 17 degrees. Yikes! I don’t know what your garden looks like right now but mine is frozen solid so I don’t think I’ll be planting or frolicking through the grass anytime soon, that’s for sure.
As you know, one of my goals for 2019 is to do something with all the photos trapped on my phone. Right now I still have about 3500 to go through but I am making progress each day. Yesterday I was scrolling through photos of last summer when I came across a boatload of pictures I took when the HH and I toured Hildene, the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln.
This grand estate which covers over 400 acres is located in Manchester, Vermont and I cannot recommend visiting enough. For an admission price of $23 per person you can take a self-guided tour of Robert and Mary’s home, the gardens, Hildene Farm, Pullman car Sunbeam, Dene Farm and about 12 miles of walking trails. We were there for over 3 hours and I feel like we didn’t even make a dent in all there was to see.
Below you’ll find over 30 photos I took of the formal gardens {just out the back door of the home} a photograph of the newly planted orchard, the informal vegetable and flower gardens and a potting shed {which I’m sure was just one of many} filled with old fashioned farm implements and a beautiful wooden cider press.
I wanted to share pictures of the interior of the home as well, but this post was getting pretty long so I’ll plan on sharing those with you towards the end of the week instead.
Daaaaaarling, the place is absolutely fabulous. And I can’t wait to go back and explore some more this summer.
Hildene-The Lincoln Family Home, aren’t the gardens BEAUTIFUL? 🙂
Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone, and remember, Spring is just around the corner.
~Mavis
P.S. If you ever find yourself in the area, be sure and stop by JJ Hapgood General Store store for a bite to eat. It’s only about 13 miles down the road from the Hildene Estate and not only is the food awesome, but if you’ve seen the movie Baby Boom, you’ll be happy to know it’s the same general store {although it’s had a face lift} from the movie. {The yellow house from Baby Boom is on the same street as well, but it’s a private residence so no stopping for you!}
Hildene-The Lincoln Family Home
1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, VT 05254
J.Simes says
Thank you! Just beautiful and very much needed on a cold January day in Minnesota.
Nancy says
Thank you for posting these beautiful pictures! Just the shot this weary winter soul needed. What an incredible place to have found!
Pat Gaston says
Beautiful place! Loved Baby Boom after she moved to the town! Would love to build an arbor , but how do they get the curved boards?
Katelyn says
Hi Pat – boards are curved by steaming them! A straight board is placed into an enclosed steam bath, which makes the wood malleable. It’s then placed into the mold and allowed to cool and voila – a curved board! It’s a really cool process. They can be purchased already bent at most lumber yards, for this and other purposes.
Shari says
Swooning over that stone fence!
E in Upstate NY says
Brought back memories of my visit a few years past with hubby. I couldn’t get him to spring for the admission fee, so we only wondered about in the free areas [which included the fabulous gift shop!] For us, part of the issue was that he was in a wheelchair, and the place really isn’t wheelchair accessible. That said, what I could see was wonderful. It’s a full working property, and during the drive in and out you pass through various sections where they are doing different agricultural trials.
Thank you Mavis for bringing back this wonderful memory.
Carole says
Makes me want to get outside and do some gardening. I did start my seeds last week, I have tomatoes up this morning!! Hoping to have tomatoes to eat by Mother’s Day!!
Katelyn says
Mavis, make a note to go back in the late spring – the property has HUNDREDS of peonies and, if you go when they’re in bloom, it is absolutely stunning. While you’re in VT, head north to Shelburne Museum for their lilac festival!
Kaia says
Wow, this looks fabulous! Do you have a “guide by state” or area of the places you recommend? If not, that would be a great blog feature
Susan says
My family and I went to Hildene last year, too! I especially loved the formal gardnes, the incredible views and the history of the Pullman cars (particularly as it related to race and the porters).
Don’t forget to keep Saint Gaudens in Cornish, NH, on your to-visit list! Someone above mentioned the Shelburne Museum — that is an amazing place, but plan plenty of time because it’s huge (not to be confused with the Shelburne Farms, which has the most gorgeous and unattainable barn/grounds you’ve ever seen — or with Shelburne Falls in MA which has a really fun and lovely Bridge of Flowers and a cool Trolley Museum!)
Sue says
And to think Robert was a cousin of mine (9th 4x removed) and he forgot to leave this gorgeous property to me, lol. The estate is beautiful and the grounds breathtaking. If I ever get up that way I’ll have to stop in at the old homestead.
Marlena says
Thank you for bringing some summer today!! What a beautiful place!
Jude DeWitt says
There you go, Mavis! Why not save some space in your potting shed for a cider press? You know, for all that fruit you will be harvesting in a few year.
Brenda says
I lived in Springfield MA all my life and did not make it anywhere it seems…love seeing all the places you have been..as Dr . Suess said “Oh the places you’ll go”, or the rewrite “oh the places I have been”. I do not miss the cold but miss the history. In NC now so I must start making some moves on the road!