The Gardens at Yaddo
Time, space, quiet—retreat to our rose garden.
Visiting
Please note: The Gardens at Yaddo are closed for the season. They will reopen in mid-June, and remain open through mid-October, 2024.
We will no longer be offering tours. However, admission to the Gardens is free, and you may download this self-guided walking tour. Seasonally, the Gardens are open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Closed Fridays).
The roses begin to bloom in mid-June and reach peak season from about the third week of June through July, and then peak again in mid- to late-August. The rock garden is in bloom from mid-June through mid-September.
Limited parking is available at the entrance to our Gardens. Park only in the designated area, or your vehicle may be towed. Buses and coaches are not permitted.
All pets must be kept on a leash, and under leash control at all times. It is a city law that you clean up after your pets.
Prohibited: Loud noise including music from car stereos or personal devices; littering; fishing. Do not go off the marked paths or enter Private areas. Trespassing is never permitted.
The grounds of Yaddo, including our Gardens, are home to a privately funded, nonprofit artist retreat. Our Gardens are the only area of Yaddo that is open to the public. We ask that you respect the privacy of our artists-in-residence, and not go beyond the Gardens during your visit. Thank you!
Yaddo Reads Lending Library
This summer, we opened a micro library with books for children and young adults. The library also features audio of book excerpts read by children. Bring your phone and a pair of headphones to hear stories read to you. The Yaddo Lending Library is available during Open Hours. View more information about our library.
Events
We’ve several events planned for the summer season in our Gardens at Yaddo. Stay tuned for details. Attend an event in the Gardens at Yaddo or come stroll by yourself during Open Hours.
Volunteering
The Yaddo Gardens are maintained by the dedicated volunteers of the Yaddo Garden Association (YGA).
Gardening is done from late-April to late October, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings starting at 9 a.m. and finishing at noon. The best way to become a volunteer is simply to show up when there are volunteers there! Gardeners are put to work quickly. You can also fill out this volunteer form, and the YGA volunteer coordinator will respond.
Weddings & Photography Sessions
From mid-June through mid-October, our Gardens may be reserved for professional photography sessions and wedding ceremonies. The maximum number of people who can be comfortably accommodated is 50. Receptions are not permitted, and there are neither restroom facilities nor an indoor alternative in case of rain. Due to the proximity of the Gardens to our retreat, sound amplification is not permitted.
The public may continue to enjoy the Gardens while the photo shoot or ceremony takes place.
The suggested donation for a wedding ceremony is at least $300. For weddings held on the weekend, from 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., the fee will be $400. For photo shoots, the donation is at least $100.
To inquire about weddings and photography sessions, please fill out and submit this form.
History
Spencer Trask created the Gardens at Yaddo in 1899 as a gift to his wife Katrina. Though the Trasks consulted landscape architects and gardening manuals, the design was theirs alone. Here, as elsewhere on the estate, the Trasks showed themselves to be restless experimenters.
The Gardens are situated on lower and upper terraces divided by a pergola. The lower part, which includes the Rose Garden, is more formal, and reflects Italian and French Renaissance influences. The upper part, located above and beyond the pergola, is a woodland rock garden, a style that came into fashion in the late 19th century. Both gardens have fountains.
The Trasks enjoyed sharing the Gardens at Yaddo with the public. However, by the 1980s, harsh weather and episodes of vandalism and theft had taken a toll. In 1991, Saratoga Springs resident and Yaddo Board member Jane Wait founded the YGA. Under her leadership, volunteers joined Yaddo’s grounds crew in bringing the gardens back to life.