The Hudson Valley’s Legacy of Landscape Gardening: The Influence of Downing and Vaux

Many homeowners and residents in the Hudson Valley, in some way, use the arts of landscaping, design and gardening to make their surrounding environment a little more beautiful and aligned with their surroundings.

But did you know that the very art of “landscape architecture” was largely driven by residents of the Hudson Valley in the 1800s? Here are two of them, along with some of their timeless gardening and landscaping tips that can be applied today, as well as links to some of the beautiful places they left behind that you can still visit in our region.

Andrew Jackson Downing (1815 – 1852)

Andrew Jackson Downing was based in Newburgh, NY, and is known as the “Father of American Landscape Architecture.” He published an extremely influential book called A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening in 1841, which introduced many Americans to the idea of integrating picturesque and beautiful design principles into their homes and gardens.

Particularly, he advocated a “naturalistic” style, which moved away from stuffy British gardens to more organic layouts that incorporate native plants, integrating seamlessly with people’s homes. Because the book was written in an accessible way, these insights were able to filter through America’s growing middle class, inspiring millions to begin making their properties beautiful and green.

And he was unequivocal: the Hudson Valley was the epicenter of the art of landscape gardening:

There is no part of the Union where the taste in Landscape Gardening is so far advanced, as on the middle portion of the Hudson. The natural scenery is of the finest character, and places but a mile or two apart often possess, from the constantly varying forms of the water, shores, and distant hills, widely different kinds of home landscape and distant view. Standing in the grounds of some of the finest of these seats, the eye beholds only the soft foreground of smooth lawn, the rich groups of trees shutting out all neighboring tracts, the lake-like expanse of water, and, closing the distance, a fine range of wooded mountain. A residence here of but a hundred acres, so fortunately are these disposed by nature, seems to appropriate the whole scenery round, and to be a thousand in extent…. At the present time, our handsome villa residences are becoming every day more numerous.

Andrew Jackson Downing

In his Treatise, he made a number of references specifically to sites and species of the Hudson Valley:

1. “The mansion at Hyde Park, on the Hudson, stands nobly surrounded by stately oaks, which lend a majestic air to the scene, while the underplanting of azaleas and dogwoods contributes a sense of seasonal vibrancy, particularly in the spring when their blossoms create a painterly effect against the deep greens of the surrounding forest.”
2. “At Blithewood, near Barrytown on the Hudson, the lawn is interspersed with fine groups of maples and elms, their elegant forms contrasting with the bright and varied hues of hydrangeas and rhododendrons that flourish in the dappled light beneath their boughs.”
3. “The Hudson Valley estates have long been admired for their noble tulip-trees, which rise like verdant spires, their leaves rustling melodiously in the summer breeze; in spring, they bear tulip-like blossoms, giving an exotic charm to these majestic natives.”
4. “The Livingston grounds in Barrytown boast rolling expanses of lush turf, punctuated by stately white pines and clusters of mountain laurel, whose evergreen foliage and seasonal white and pink blooms create a continuous tapestry of interest through the year.”
5. “In Hyde Park, one discovers ancient groves of chestnuts and walnuts, their massive trunks and spreading canopies sheltering a ground cover of native ferns and wildflowers, which burst forth in an array of colors each spring.”
6. “Among the plantings of Hyde Park, one finds the graceful linden trees, their heart-shaped leaves forming a cooling shade in summer, while nearby the pale yellow flowers of the goldenrain tree add an exotic note to the collection.”
7. “The drive through the Livingston estate features sweeping views of groves of sugar maples, their vibrant autumn foliage a hallmark of the Valley, while here and there the delicate blossoms of magnolias in spring contrast the sturdiness of the native timber.”
8. “In the cottage gardens near Newburgh, roses bloom in profusion alongside bright hollyhocks and cheerful daisies, with hedgerows of boxwood lending structure to the riot of color.”

Today, visit the 20-acre Springside landmark in Poughkeepsie to see Andrew Jackson Downing’s final and most intact surviving landscape.

Calvert Vaux (1824 – 1895)

Calvert Vaux was an English architect who moved to the U.S. and partnered extensively with Downing on many projects. After Downing died in a tragic steamboating accident on the Hudson River, Vaux moved on to work on projects like Central Park and Prospect Park in New York City. Instead of focusing strictly on designing the wood and metal structures of buildings, he had a polymathic approach to integrating landscape design considerations.

In his seminal 1857 book, Villas and Cottages, he makes several references to Hudson Valley landscaping, gardening and specific plants that demonstrate his keen understanding and appreciation for our region’s beauty and design potential. He emphasized the importance of creating homes that are not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing and in harmony with their natural surroundings, blending trees, gardens and topography with architectural features.

Like Downing, he had a middle class-friendly orientation in his writing, desiring a democratization of beauty and the improvement of public taste to make it accessible and affordable.

1. “The grounds of estates along the Hudson River are particularly adapted to a combination of smooth lawns, clumps of forest trees, and flowering shrubs like rhododendrons and azaleas, whose blossoms enrich the landscape in spring.”
2. “In creating designs for rural residences in the Hudson Valley, the use of native trees such as oaks, maples, and elms is indispensable, as their forms and foliage harmonize perfectly with the rolling terrain and river views.”
3. “Rustic arbors entwined with Virginia creeper or wisteria can turn any garden corner into a shaded retreat, a hallmark of Hudson Valley garden charm.”
4. “The Hudson Highlands offer an ideal backdrop for picturesque gardens, where wildflowers and ferns can be incorporated into more formal arrangements to reflect the area’s natural abundance.”
5. “Flowering dogwoods and mountain laurel are among the most picturesque additions to a Hudson Valley garden, their seasonal beauty lending a constantly changing aspect to the design.”
6. “When designing near the river, it is wise to plant willows or sycamores along the banks, their reflections adding depth and movement to the view.”
7. “Among the most striking effects in Hudson Valley landscapes are the autumn hues of sugar maples, which paint the scene in vivid oranges and reds, making them indispensable in any design.”
8. “Gardens here can benefit from an underplanting of wildflowers such as trilliums and jack-in-the-pulpits, which flourish in the dappled shade provided by forest trees.”
9. “The combination of clipped boxwood hedges with herbaceous borders filled with hollyhocks and phlox creates a delightful interplay of structure and color in the smaller gardens typical of Hudson Valley homes.”
10. “In designing estate gardens in Newburgh and the surrounding valley, the use of rustic bridges and stone pathways framed by clusters of ferns and mosses gives a naturalistic yet purposeful aesthetic.”