AIS Region 2, Spring Meeting & Garden Tours - Saturday, May 28, 2005 - Hosted by Hudson Valley Iris & Daylily Society – “Rain or Shine”
That's Memorial Day Weekend, but peak season for iris in our area. Saturday morning and afternoon will be comprised of a self guided driving tour to 6 of our members' gardens. This will be the first time HVIDS has hosted a Regional event, and we are hoping you can come to see the iris, and allow us to reciprocate for the many time you have invited us to your gardens all across New York State.
We hope to have light refreshments available at the gardens, but lunch during Saturday will be on your own. To help us better plan the refreshments and the barbeque, it’s very important that you let us know if you plan to attend. Please confirm by e-mail to Jerry Murphy (irisguy@optonline.net) or by phone to Rosemary Sorbello (845-561-5279) or Ella Murphy (845-485-6209). If you get the answering machine, that’s OK, but please leave your name, and the number of folks who are coming. If there is room in your car, please bring folding chair for the barbeque. Remember also to bring an umbrella – the gardens will be open – rain or shine, but being prepared for rain seems to improve the chances of a sunny day!
The gardens open in the morning are all in the “northern part” of Dutchess & Ulster Counties with one in Kingston and two in Pine Plains. The gardens open in the afternoon are clustered in the “southern part” of Dutchess County with one in Newburgh (actually in Orange County), one in Hopewell Junction, and one in the town of Poughkeepsie.
The first three gardens are in the “north” and will be officially open anytime from 8:30 – 11:30 AM on Saturday morning.
8:30 – 11:30 AM Sondra Tillou, 68 German Street, Kingston, NY, 12401 – Telephone: (845) 338-4864. Mostly historic iris.
8:30 – 11:30 AM Teresa Robinson, 193 Hoffman Road, Pine Plains, NY, 12567 – Telephone: (518) 398-1924. Broad range of Perennials, including iris, peonies & columbine.
8:30 – 11:30 AM Mickey & Gene Koschara, 66 Mils Path, Pine Plains, NY, 12567 – Telephone: (518) 789-3724. Large number of all types of iris, especially Medians.
You will be “on your own for lunch”.
The afternoon tour will be a bit more structured, to allow for garden judges training at Sorbello’s and the Business Meeting & barbeque at Murphy’s.
12:30 – 2:30 PM Frank & Rosemary Sorbello, 3 Parr Circle, Newburgh, NY, 12561 – Telephone: (845) 561-5279. Large open garden with primarily Tall Bearded Iris. Clayt & Diane Crandall will be there to give optional Garden Training for Judges beginning at 12:45 PM. (This will only involve a small portion of the garden, and will not interfere with others, who just might want to tour the garden.)
3:00 – 3:45 PM Werner Stiegler, Jr., 999 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction, NY, 12533 – Telephone: (845) 227-7426. This active, and interested Youth Member has done a very nice job laying out several beds of iris and companion plants.
4:00 – 7:30 PM Jerry & Ella Murphy, 6 Forrest Way, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603 – Telephone: (845) 485-6209. Several flower beds cut into the lawn. Mostly Tall Bearded Iris, including historics and many other perennials. Region 2 Business Meeting will begin at 4:00 PM, with a barbeque immediately following.
The Business Meeting will be a "short format" at the Murphy’s beginning at 4:00 PM to accommodate those who might be driving from distant points and only leaving their home's on Saturday morning. Bob Keup anticipates that much of the business will be handled with Officers & Committee Chairs before Saturday, so the meeting itself will take only about an hour – maybe less! The official Annual Business Meeting of Region 2 will be held in the Fall, with election of officers, etc.. During that time, visitors will have the option of attending the meeting, or strolling the gardens, or sitting in the shade sipping a cool drink. If you have room in your vehicle, don’t forget to bring a lawn chair or two!
The meeting will be immediately followed by a barbeque hosted by HVIDS. The club will be purchasing, meat, rolls, soda and paper products, etc. and club members will be providing a variety of salads, desserts, fruits and other hot entrée dishes to round out the menu. The cooking will start during the Business Meeting, so that those who wish to head out early won’t be delayed, but the event itself doesn’t have to break up until later in the evening, for those who live nearby, or are planning on spending the evening in the area.
On Sunday, May 29, HVIDS will be having it's 9th annual, Judged Iris Show at the Center Court of the Poughkeepsie Galleria. The show will be open to the public from 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Entries can be placed in the show between 8:30 and 11:00 AM. A complete Show Schedule is included in this packet. If you have never entered a show, now is a great time to start! Those coming down from Albany will probably go home to get the winner's, others coming from greater distances - can try the added challenge of picking Sunday's winner on "Saturday morning".
For those wishing to have overnight accommodations, the best selection and availability seems to be in the Kingston, NY area. For example, SUPER 8 MOTEL – KINGSTON, 487 Washington Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, Telephone: 845-338-3078. The West Point graduation has made hotels closer to Newburgh and Poughkeepsie quite full for that weekend. For our upstate visitors, Kingston has the advantage of being near the Thruway, and the start of the garden tours. It is also only about 50 minutes from Murphy’s after the barbeque.
These details are being sent by e-mail to all Regional Officers and others on the HVIDS Distribution List. Additional hard copies of driving directions will be available at each garden. A full schedule and all relevant information will also appear on the Region 2 website (www.aisregion2.org) and the Hudson Valley Iris & Daylily Society website (www.hvids.org).
I’ve listed a variety of directions to the member’s gardens that will be open. Any or all gardens can be visited during the times, which they are listed as being open. There is no fixed route, but if you would like to see them all, I suggest you start with Sondra Tillou’s, then proceed to Mickey & Gene Koschara’s, followed by Teresa Robinson’s. Frank and Rosemary’s is back across the Hudson, and represents the “southwest corner” of the region. His gardens are worth the trip, especially if you favor Tall Bearded Iris, or wish to participate in the optional garden training for AIS judges or those working towards that goal. The next stop would be Werner Stiegler’s, and then end up at Jerry & Ella Murphy’s for the Regional Business Meeting, the barbeque and the gardens.
*** There will be extra copies of driving directions at each garden***
Region 2 Meeting, Open Gardens, and Barbecue, Saturday, May 28, 2005
1. First Three Gardens Open from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Sondra Tillou’s Garden, 68 German Street, Kingston, NY, (845) 338-4864: From the North or South proceed to Kingston - Exit #19 on New York State Thruway (I-87). Go 3/4 around the circle to Exit: Colonel Chandler Drive (State Route 587). Proceed to end of SRT 587 (~ 1.5 miles). Continue straight through traffic light - this road becomes Broadway (in uptown). Take Broadway ~ 2.7 miles to downtown. After a wide curve to the right, at the light, Broadway is a left hand turn heading down the hill toward the Rondout Creek. (If you miss this turn, follow the Route 9W-South* sign, which has you turn left onto Wurts Street, one block further along.) After a few blocks, turn right onto Abeel Street which follows the creek. Go 4 blocks - turn right onto Ravine St. Go two blocks & turn left onto German Street. # 68 is a small blue house about a half block up on the left.
[Note to MapPoint users – Most computer mapping programs appear to recognize 2 different addresses as “68 German St., Kingston, NY”. These two locations are several miles apart, and obviously only one is correct! Sondra’s house is in downtown Kingston, near where Rondout Creek enters the Hudson.]
Directions from Tillou’s to Mickey and Gene Koschara’s, 66 Mils Path, Pine Plains, NY (518) 789-3724: Leave Sondra’s, turn left (North) onto Hone St, then immediately turn RIGHT (East) onto Spring St (0.3 miles). Road name changes to Garraghan Drive (0.1 miles). Turn LEFT (North) onto US-9W [Frank Koenig Blvd] for 1.6 miles. Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto SR-32 [Flatbush Rd] for 2.4 miles, then take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-199 towards RT-199 (3.5 miles). Bear right (South-East) onto SR-9G (2.7 miles). Turn RIGHT onto Ramp (0.1 miles). Turn LEFT (North) onto SR-308 (4.4 miles). Keep STRAIGHT onto State Route 199 for 15.5 miles. You will pass through the town of Pine Plains and the hamlet of Pulver’s Corners. Continue on NY 199 down a hill to a wetland area, as you start up the hill, bear left after ~0.2 mile onto Finkle Road (Dead End), keep left onto Mils Path (0.2 miles). Arrive at Mickey & Gene’s. Total Distance: 31.3 Miles, Estimated Total Time: 45 minutes
Directions from Koschara’s to Teresa Robinson’s, 193 Hoffman Road, Pine Plains, (518) 398-1924: Return down Mils Path and Finkle Road (0.4 miles) Bear RIGHT onto Route 199 for 4.9 miles. Turn Right onto County Route 83A (North Main Street) for 1 mile, to a STOP sign and turn right onto Hoffman Road. Continue for another 1.0 mile, to a tiny gray house with a white porch on the left side of the road. The driveway is before the house. Total Distance: 7.0 Miles, Estimated Total Time: 12 minutes.
Alternate General Driving Directions from the North or South to Robinson’s
and Koschara’s in Pine Plains, NY
From the West: From Exit 19 of the NYS Thruway (I-87), head WEST on Route 28 (Onteora Trail) for 0.2 miles then merge onto US-209 North toward Rhinecliff Bridge (3.6 miles). US-209 North becomes NY Route 199 E. (4.3 miles). Turn Left to stay on Route 199/Route 9G (1.8 miles). Turn slight Right onto Route 199 and continue to follow for ~15.5 mile to the traffic light at the center of Center of Pine Plains:
For Robinson’s turn LEFT at the light. Go 1 mile to a STOP sign and turn right. Go 1 mile, and I have a tiny gray house with a white porch on the left side of the road. The driveway is before the house.
For Koschara’s continue STRAIGHT on Route 199 for ~ 4.9 miles through the hamlet of Pulver’s Corners. Continue on NY 199 down a hill to a wetland area, as you start up the hill, bear left after ~0.2 mile onto Finkle Road (Dead End), keep left onto Mils Path (0.2 miles).
From the North on the East side of the Hudson River, take the Taconic Parkway south to Route 199 Pine Plains exit. Go approx 8 miles to the main traffic light in Pine Plains. Depending on which garden you are going to, follow the indented directions from the section above.
From the South: Take the Taconic to Route 44, Millbrook/Poughkeepsie exit. Turn right at the end of the ramp and go approx 1/4 mile to Route 82 North. Go ~16 miles north through the towns of Stanfordville and into Pine Plains. At the traffic light in Pine Plains:
For Robinson’s go STRAIGHT through the light. Go 1 mile to a STOP sign and turn right. Go 1 mile, and I have a tiny gray house with a white porch on the left side of the road. The driveway is before the house.
For Koschara’s turn RIGHT on Route 199 for ~ 4.9 miles towards the hamlet of Pulver’s Corners. Continue on NY 199 down a hill to a wetland area, as you start up the hill, bear left after ~0.2 mile onto Finkle Road (Dead End), keep left onto Mils Path (0.2 miles).
[Note: Koschara’s and Robinson’s are in the same town & only ~ 7 miles apart. If you go to either one, it’s worth stopping to see the other!]
2. 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Open Garden and (optional) Judges Training at Sorbello’s
Directions from the Center of Pine Plains, NY (after leaving Robinson’s or Koschara’s Gardens) to Frank and Rosemary Sorbello’s, 3 Parr Circle, Newburgh, (845) 561-5279: From the traffic light in the center of Pine Plains travel south on South Main Street (becomes Route 82 for ~11.1 miles. Turn RIGHT (West) onto Jameson Hill Road. Follow for 2.4 miles and turn RIGHT (North) onto Dutchess County Route 3 [Clinton Corners Rd] for ~0.1 mile. Take the Taconic Parkway South for ~3.5 miles and Exit onto Route 44 West. Follow Route 44 West for ~11 miles. Passing through Pleasant Valley and Poughkeepsie. Continue one Route 44 / Route 55 West crossing over the Mid-Hudson (Franklin Roosevelt) Bridge. After crossing the Bridge, keep right onto Ramp towards US Route 9W / US Route 44 / Route 55 for 0.1 miles, and then turn Left onto Route 9W heading South. Travel South on Route 9W for approximately 10.1 miles to a right onto Morris Drive. Morris Drive is between Clear Abstract Inc. & Overlook Farm Market. On Morris Drive travel approximately 0.3 miles to 3rd right onto Parr Circle. Total Distance: ~42 Miles, Estimated Total Time: 60 minutes.
Alternate General Driving Directions from all points to Sorbello’s in Newburgh, NY:
Look for Iris Flag on mail box. Park in driveway, on lawn in front of house or on either side of street.
Via NY State Thruway (I-87) from either the North or South: Take I-87 to Exit 17 at Newburgh. After toll move to right lane & take 1st right onto exit ramp & merge onto Route 300/Union Ave North. Stay in this merging lane. It is also the lane for the on ramp for I-84 East. Take I-84 East to exit 10 (Route 9W/Route 32). Caution: there is no Exit 9. Exit 10 is the last exit before toll bridge crossing the Hudson River. At end of ramp turn left at traffic light onto Route 9W North. There are 2 left turn lanes onto Route 9W either will work. On Route 9W North travel approximately 3.7 miles to a left onto Morris Drive. Morris Drive is between Overlook Farm Market & Clear Abstract, Inc. On Morris Drive travel approximately 0.3 miles to 3rd right onto Parr Circle.
Via I-84 from the West side of the Hudson River: Take I-84 East to exit 10 (Route 9W/Route 32). Caution: there is no Exit 9. Exit 10 is the last exit before toll bridge crossing the Hudson River. At end of ramp turn left at traffic light onto Route 9W North. There are 2 left turn lanes onto Route 9W either will work. On Route 9W North travel approximately 3.7 miles to a left onto Morris Drive. Morris Drive is between Overlook Farm Market & Clear Abstract, Inc. On Morris Drive travel approximately 0.3 miles to 3rd right onto Parr Circle.
Via I-84 from the East side of the Hudson River: I-84 West across the Newburgh Beacon Bridge to exit 10 North. Exit 10 North is the 1st exit after crossing bridge. At end of exit ramp merge right onto Route 9W North. Caution: there is no merging lane. Watch for oncoming traffic from your left. On Route 9W North travel approximately 3.7 miles to a left onto Morris Drive. Morris Drive is between Overlook Farm Market & Clear Abstract, Inc. On Morris Drive travel approximately 0.3 miles to 3rd right onto Parr Circle.
From the Mid-Hudson Bridge, Route 44/Route 55 East & North: At the intersection of Route 9W & the Mid-Hudson Bridge Overpass travel South on Route 9W for approximately 10.1 miles to a right onto Morris Drive. Morris Drive is between Clear Abstract Inc. & Overlook Farm Market. On Morris Drive travel approximately 0.3 miles to 3rd right onto Parr Circle.
3. 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Open Garden at Stiegler’s
Directions from Sorbello’s to Werner Stiegler’s, 999 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction, (845) 227-7426: Leave Frank and Rosemary’s, follow Parr Circle to Morris Drive to the bottom of the hill and turn right (south) onto Route 9W. Follow Route 9W for 3.7 miles, to the intersection with I-84 East. Follow I-84 East across the Hudson River for 13.6 miles to Exit 16N (Taconic Parkway – North). Take the Taconic Parkway for 4.2 miles to the Beekman Road Exit (Hopewell Junction – Sylvan Lake). Turn Right onto Beekman Road (Dutchess County Route 9) and follow for 2.7 miles. The Stiegler’s driveway is on the left (Box Number 999) just over the crest of the hill past Martin Road (Estimated Travel Time – 30 minutes, 23.4 miles).
4. 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Region Meeting, Open Garden, and Barbecue at Murphy’s
Directions from Stiegler’s to Jerry and Ella Murphy, 6 Forrest Way, Poughkeepsie, (845) 485-6209: Leave Werner’s and backtrack on Beekman Road (Dutchess County Route 9) for 0.8 miles. Turn right onto Sylvan Lake Road (Dutchess County Route 10) follow for 3.9 miles to the traffic light at the intersection with State Route 82. Turn Right (North) on Route 82 for 0.8 miles and bear right onto Emans Road. Turn left onto Emans Road for about 0.7 mile to the stop sign at the intersection with Noxon Road. Turn left onto Noxon Road and proceed for about a 1.5 mile, until the road comes to a stop sign where you must turn either left or right. Turn right (the road here is still called Noxon Road) proceed for about another mile to the traffic light. Turn right onto Old Noxon Road (the Elementary School will be on your right) proceed up the hill for about 0.5 miles and turn right onto Forrest Way. We are the third house on the right (white with dark green shutters).
From the intersection of I-84 West and the Taconic Parkway (Exit 16): Take the Taconic North for about ~6.5 miles above Interstate 84 (Dutchess County) and exit onto Route 82 North. From the Exit Ramp, turn right onto Route 82 North and proceed straight through the traffic light (an A&P will be coming up on your left), for a total of ~1.0 mile. Turn left onto Emans Road for about 0.7 mile to the stop sign at the intersection with Noxon Road. Turn left onto Noxon Road and proceed for about a 1.5 mile, until the road comes to a stop sign where you must turn either left or right. Turn right (the road here is still called Noxon Road) proceed for about another mile to the traffic light. Turn right onto Old Noxon Road (the Elementary School will be on your right) proceed up the hill for about 0.5 miles and turn right onto Forrest Way. We are the third house on the right (white with dark green shutters).
From the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge: Continue on I-84 East to the Route 9 (Exit 13) North towards Fishkill for about 1.0 miles and turn right onto Route 52 East. Follow Route 52 for about 1.8 miles and bear left at traffic light onto Route 82. Follow Route 82 for about 3.0 miles and turn right at traffic light (just past the Stewarts Shoppe) onto Lake Walton Road. Proceed on Lake Walton Road for ~2.8 miles to a traffic light at the intersection with Route 376. Continue straight across the intersection onto Robinson Lane. Follow Robinson Lane for ~3.2 miles to a traffic light. Proceed straight through the intersection onto Old Noxon Road (the Noxon Road Elementary School will be on your right). Proceed up the hill (~0.5 miles) and turn right into Forrest Way.
From Upstate New York, and points North via Interstate 87: Take I-87 South to Exit 18 (Sign is marked - New Paltz - Poughkeepsie) at Mile Marker 76. Exit straight through the toll booths for less than ¼ mile to the traffic light at the intersection with Route 299. Turn right on Route 299 (heading East) for ~5.2 miles to the intersection with Route 9W. Turn right on 9W (heading South) and proceed for 2.3 miles to the turn on the right to the entrance to the Mid-Hudson Bridge and cross the Hudson River towards Poughkeepsie on Route 44 and 55 East. (Directions continue below).
From the Mid-Hudson Bridge - Poughkeepsie: Continue on NY Routes 55 & 44 East through Poughkeepsie for about 5 miles (when Routes 55 & 44 diverge, bear right and stay on Route 55). Approximately ¼ mile past H.G. Page & Sons Lumber, turn right at a traffic light onto Noxon Road. Continue on Noxon Road for about 2 miles to the intersection with Titusville Road (Traffic Light - Sunoco Station on Left & Mobil Station on right). Drive straight through intersection staying on Noxon Road for another 1.7 miles. Just over the crest of the hill, bear Left onto Old Noxon Road and take your first left onto Forrest Way.
From Upstate New York, and points North and Northeast via I-90 and the Taconic Parkway:
From I-90 take Exit B2 (Taconic Parkway, South) for a total of 60.5 miles. On the way south you will pass Route 82, (Hudson, Ancram) at ~25.0 miles, Route 199 (Pine Plains, Rhinebeck) at ~37.0 miles, Route 44 (Pleasant Valley, Poughkeepsie) at ~50.5 miles and Route 55 (Poughkeepsie) at ~58.2 miles. Approximately 0.8 miles south of the intersection with Route 55, turn right onto Todd Hill Road. Bear right at 0.2 miles onto Stringham Road. Follow Stringham Road for 1.3 miles, and turn right at the stop sign onto Noxon Road. Proceed for 0.3 miles, at the traffic light, turn right onto Old Noxon Road (the Elementary School will be on your right) proceed up the hill for about ~0.5 miles and turn right onto Forrest Way. We are the third house on the right (white with dark green shutters and iris in the yard!).
[Note: A very special “Thank You” to Euthemia Matsoukas from Capital Hudson Iris Society for taking several hours to help proof and consolidate these driving directions. I very much appreciate it, and several trees owe her their lives!]
Please Remember! To help us better plan the refreshments and the barbeque, it’s very important that you let us know if you plan to attend. Please confirm by e-mail to Jerry Murphy (irisguy@optonline.net) or by phone to Rosemary Sorbello (845-561-5279) or Ella Murphy (845-485-6209). If you get the answering machine, that’s OK, but please leave your name, and the number of folks who are coming. If there is room in your car, please bring folding chair for the barbeque. Remember also to bring an umbrella – the gardens will be open – rain or shine, but being prepared for rain seems to improve the chances of a sunny day!
Thanks, and see you in the gardens,
Jerry