Rarely do I long to be anywhere else on a lazy afternoon, then somewhere along the Hudson River enjoying good company, great views and good eats. With a plethora of great dining and parks along the river valley, fortunately that’s easy to come by. What is less known about however is having all of the above in a beautiful turn of the century garden, with live performing arts for free! These are the summer moments I wait all year for, but for the staff at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in northern Yonkers, it’s just another Saturday evening.

Within a 1 hour drive from midtown Manhattan, and set along a elevated bank of the Hudson River, the gardens are open to the public daily and stays open until just before sunset; perfect for visiting during the north’s long summer days. From the moment you step foot on the property, you feel as if you should reach for your formal invitation rather than your camera. The grounds are the modern remnants from a once 150 acre estate during the early 20th century. Today only 43 acres remain, but even so, with such magnificent views and grandeur, it’s hard to imagine the full glory that the original estate once was.

Among the first things you’ll see is the Walled Garden designed after the biblical depiction of the Garden of Eden’s geographical features. Even without knowing the high expectations it was designed to meet, you do feel with each step that your are taking a stroll across the page of a story book. It seemed all the more fitting to see an expecting mother taking advantage of the fantasy-like backdrops for an arranged maternity photoshoot. The photographer captured the scene against a small stone amphitheater lined with planted greenery. I’ve never witnesses a maternity photoshoot before, but it is now one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. What a fitting place to capture such a milestone.

The designated walkways eventually lead to towards the river with the landscaping following a tiered design. I was taken back to memories of Italy’s Amalfi Coast where the green cliffs are contrasted against the Mediterranean blue waters. Similarly, the Hudson River seemed so peaceful along Untermyer’s green slopes as if it was just where it wanted to be.

A recently installed gazebo at the other end of the park and set high up on a rocky ridge is the perfect place to enjoy the setting sun over the West Bank of the Hudson. You can hear the sound of flowing water though the rocks into a pond below makes you feel as if your in someones private backyard rather than a public space. It’s also the perfect place to await any one of a host of live performances that take place on Saturday evenings.

We were treated to a free concert by Swingadelic, a local jazz/blues band that performed straight through the night. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and their own blankets/chairs for the live events which take place on the great lawn near the gardens entrance near sunset. Several guests brought their own wine and wine glasses, hot coffee and for some even a light dinner. For those that wanted to dance, they danced. For those that wanted to record endless video, they kept their phones locked onto the band. For those that couldn’t help but sing along to their favorite jazz classics, they quietly sang along. And then there was me, always somewhere in the middle wondering how fortunate I am have all of the things I love coming together effortlessly!

Untermyer Gardens are host to many live performances and events open to the public through out the summer/fall season. On Saturdays though the summer you can enjoy different performances from the Worldfest 2018 schedule for free. Other ticketed events are of interest to many. For current and upcoming event info, please visit http://www.untermyergardens.org

The gardens are larger then they appear from the main entrance and there are many unique flowers, trees and architectural features to see and learn about. If planning to visit the gardens for an event, I recommend arriving at least 2 hours before to enjoy the grounds beforehand.

As Untermyer Gardens is a non-profit organization undergoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the gardens and infrastructure, donations are recommended when visiting. It is a great way to help in preserving the beautiful land and history that the Hudson Valley is loved for.