New York City is among the densest places in the world. Amidst all its activity any quiet spot is a source of welcome relief. One my favorite is the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Set on a full block in upper Manhattan. The Cathedral is an inclusive place where all are welcome...
Read MoreThe new-old garden
To walk around the grounds of the Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands is to step back to 1700. It is so authentic that William or Mary, the joint regents who created the garden, might be around any corner. Looks can be deceiving. Het Loo is actually a new garden meant to look old...
Read MoreA cloister goes formal
I love the separation that middle age cloister gardens create -- between inside and outside worlds. Prinsenhof in Groningen, the Netherlands, is a wonderful example of this. Its role as a cloister dates back to the 1400’s. Tall brick walls separate it visually from a busy city street. Pleached sycamores peak out above the brick wall – the only sign of something special within. But in the 1500’s Prinsenhof became a residence and the gardens were updated...
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