Many moons ago, long before the Garden of Ideas existed, I had the pleasure of attending Terry Keller’s harvest garden parties, back when “The Keller Fellers” were at Fairfield Prep.

At the time, Terry’s focus was on her raised bed vegetable gardens. I still remember one beautifully arranged crescent perennial bed, and specifically, two varieties of silver artemisia that were most fascinating.

Joe’s passion for gardening and landscape design developed over time. I’ll never forget how impressed I was when he built the first stone staircase and waterfall in the Garden.

I’m privileged to have gotten to know many of Joe’s employees over the years. Many of them have started their own successful businesses as a result of Joe’s mentoring. Our son, Ian, also worked for Joe, cutting one of Ridgefield’s biggest lawns with a walk-behind mower.

A visit to the the Keller’s property with my camera was like going to church for me. The hymns, “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “In Joseph’s Lovely Garden,” that I learned from Charles Pope when I was young, always seem to occupy my mind when I’m exploring the Garden’s beauty.

My husband John and I have many specimens of trees and shrubs on our property, that were planted as a result of seeing them in their full glory at The Garden of Ideas.

Thanks to Joe’s guidance, our garden has thrived into its own park-like beauty. And, I proudly display a Steve Cote sunflower sculpture, and visit his Bird Boy sculpture, at my friend Shirley Duboff’s in “the upper crest.”

Here are some of my favorite images and cards that I have developed over the years from the Garden of Ideas. I owe it all to Joe and Ilsa’s tireless dedication for natural beauty, and appreciation for natural wonder of nature that surrounds us.

Amazing Grace… Taken with my old Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 1.4. I love the slight blue tinge to the bud.

For You… One of my favorite Steve Cote sculptures when the sprinkler was turning.

Glory Be… Taken with my Asahi Pentax, you can see wild rice sparkling behind the lythrum and the side of a yellow swallowtail and the angled iris leaf. I have sold enlarged prints of this.

Missing You… My favorite bench, with my favorite old straw hat adorned with a privet flower. My neighbor, Shirley, felt like crying when she named this one.

Ribbit Ribbit… I wanted to title this “circle in the square” but questioned why one would purchase.

Shining Stars… A real “Oldie but Goodie,” these are the Autumn leaves of a sweet gum tree. I have never again seen these colors.

Sisters… I was stunned by the different centers of these Irises.

Tea at Four… Taken on my old Asahi. I tried to capture this image again with a tea cup and saucer featured, but never liked the results as much as the original.

Us… This used to be one of Traugott Sr’s (Joe’s father) favorite places to sit near the magnolia and look out on the marsh.

These are just a few of the thousands of images I have taken over the years at the Garden. I plan to post more of my favorite Garden images over time as I get them organized.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Joe, Ilsa and the Keller family for everything you have done for Ridgefield and so many thousands of visitors over the years.

Do you have any fond memories from the Garden? If so, please share them in the comments below.

- Lois B.

Garden of Ideas Card Gallery