What is the Garden of Ideas?

Approximately twelve acres of marsh, woodland, meadow and vegetable plots coalesce to form the Garden of Ideas, featuring an arboretum-like collection of plants.   Vegetables, unusual woody plants, herbaceous perennials, annuals, and tropicals all find a home here amongst a unique array of garden art.     Four seasons of interest make repeated visits desirable.   The trip is suitable for all ages, young and old.    Vegetable production also follows a four-season schedule with harvest offerings from March 1st through December 31st.  

The garden includes a marsh, which is fed by overflow from Lake Mamanasco.   Water levels in the marsh fluctuate greatly.    Some interesting animals and plants are present due to this unusual and changing water feature.   Of particular note, is an annual crop of Zizania aquatica (wild rice).

Why I’m Here:   Joe Keller

My parents bought a portion of this land in the early 70s.  So, I grew up in Ridgfield and spent lots of time wandering and working outside here.     This is my home, my community.

In 1987, after college, I returned to Ridgefield and slowly took over my parent’s yard, to their chagrin and amusement.  The beginning was tough, but I had a vision.  I worked mostly alone on weekends and undertook landscape design work to pay my bills.  Slowly I eliminated much of their lawn, removed poison ivy, took down and pruned existing trees and planted, planted, planted.    The deer visited, some things died,  but others prospered, flowered, spread.    It was and is rewarding.

In 1996 Ilsa Svendsen began to work with me on the gardens.  Our collaboration allowed for changes and refinements and, ultimately, an increase in the size of the garden when we purchased additional land.     We are now married with a six-year old son (see garden gnome).

New projects continue.   The restoration of a healthy woodland, a project currently underway, offers guidance to many homeowners dealing with shade, deer, and sickly trees.   A flock of free-range chickens recently joined our ranks. The Garden evolves from year to year, from season to season.  Trees planted in the beginning now cast shade.  It will never be finished.    

My mother, Terry Keller, still lives and works on the property.  

For info and ideas about additional local destinations, click here.

About Us

Joseph Keller studied english at the University of Pennysylvania.   He started gardening as a child with his mother Terry and grandfather Henry.  His interest evolved into a passion and career.  Recognized in the industry as a savvy plantsman and designer, Joe writes about gardening for publications including Fine Gardening and the New York Times.   In his spare time, he enjoys analyzing biotech stocks, reading poetry, and cooking.  He loves brussel sprouts.

Ilsa Svendsen trained at the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture.  She has worked in almost all facets of horticulture including commercial plant propagation and production.  She dreams of being a goat farmer, learning to play the piano, and improving her spanish someday in the near future.

Terry Keller worked as the Director of Bronx GreenUp and Green Guerillas.    She’s travelled the world, educating people about sustainable vegetable growing.