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Promisek at Three Rivers Farm
See Connecticut's Historic Gardens Day activities offered here June 23, 2013
 Promisek at Three Rivers Farm
694 Skyline Ridge Road
Bridgewater, CT 06752 | 860.350.8226
Open June & July
The last Sunday of the month, 12–4 pm, or by appointment.
www.promisek.org
Founded in 1977 and centered on the 300-acre Three Rivers Farm, Promisek is a Catholic educational and environmental organization dedicated to facilitating the emergence of an authentic lay spirituality in dialogue with other faiths.
The historic garden at Promisek was designed by noted landscape architect Beatrix Farrand (1872–1957). Farrand designed the garden for Dr. Frederick Peterson, a noted New York neurologist who entertained family, friends and clients on his 300-acre property he named Three Rivers Farm (at the convergence of the Shepaug and Housatonic Rivers). By the time Promisek purchased the property in 1978, the walled garden had been overtaken by decades of overgrowth, but the hardscape remained. Promisek members cleared the brush to reveal flagstone pathways and stone around the garden. A local resident and garden historian researched and rediscovered Farrand's garden plan. Today, a team of garden volunteers maintains the garden, making every effort to stick to the original plan. The beds along the stone-walled perimeter contain perennials in pink, purple, white and blue, with a few surprises like a maroon dahlia. The inside beds feature roses in pinks and reds edged with a lacy fringe of fragrant annuals.
For hours, admission information and directions, visit www.promisek.org.
Connecticut's Historic Gardens Day, June 23, 2013 | 12–4 pm
Beatrix Farrand is considered one of the most important 20th century American landscape architects. Her work encompasses more than 200 known private gardens, estates, and institutions, in the United States and elsewhere. After establishing her office in New York City in 1896, she rapidly achieved recognition in her self-styled profession as a landscape gardener. In 1921 Beatrix Farrand designed a formal garden in Bridgewater for Dr. Frederick Peterson, a noted New York neurologist, who entertained family, friends and clients on his country estate, which he called Three Rivers Farm. By the time the 300-acre tract was acquired in 1978 by Promisek, all traces of the garden’s former glory had been buried under years of overgrowth. In 1992 Roxbury resident and garden historian Pamela Edwards rediscovered the historic value of the walled garden, and a restoration began using the plan found in the Farrand archives at the University of California at Berkeley. The garden has the distinction of being listed as one of Connecticut's Historic Gardens, and is currently maintained by volunteers.
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