Summary: Want to beat a hasty retreat from the noise, hassle and heat of the city? Escape to the Sedgwick Gardens and relax in a lovely and serene setting.

We visit the Sedgwick Gardens at least twice annually as a break from the busy pace of Boston. This beautiful 114-acre estate was the summer home of Ellery Sedgwick, editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and his wife Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, author of The Garden Month By Month. The estate remained in the Sedgwick family until 1979, when it was donated to a private, non-profit organization and opened to the public.

At Long Hill, the Sedgwicks created a magnificent home with a wonderful series of gardens. As you approach the estate, you will drive up a gradual slope, through a meadow lined with apple trees and flowering cherries. Then, on the hilltop in the circular turnaround of the original driveway, you will see a spectacular copper beech tree some fifty feet in circumference. This enormous beech is just one of the more than 500 types of trees, shrubs and flowering plants found on the estate.

The House
The estate house, which was built in 1921, is a copy of the Isaac Ball House in Charlestown, South Carolina. It contains original woodwork from the Ball House, which Mr. Sedgwick purchased after the house had been abandoned. Mr. Sedgwick also had bricks from an old mill in nearby Ipswich incorporated into the walls of Long Hill.

The house's hilltop site allows unblocked vistas to the north and south. These views are also fully exploited by the layout of the garden rooms on the perimeter of the house. Off the west porch, a croquet lawn is enclosed with hedges and arbors, punctuated by breaks that allow a view of the ironwork pavilion (and beyond) to the north, and the main terrace garden and lotus pool to the south. The main terrace is enclosed with white wooden fences which incorporate intricate Chinese ceramic tiles.

Enjoying the Garden
Grassy paths bordered with ornamental shrubs, trees and perennials lead off into the woods around the property. These trails incorporate landscape design elements such as decorative railings, stone steps and woodland pools. A small red wooden Chinese pagoda, which was actually a wellhead from a Beverly farm, is the focal point for the Horseshoe Garden.

Most plants are labeled with their botanical name, which makes it easier to identify the garden's over 500 species of plants. We especially enjoy admiring Long Hill's profusion of spring bulbs, as well as the collections of azaleas, rhododendrons, and Japanese maples.

The gardens may easily be seen in an hour, unless you are busily making notes about plants (as we often are), or enjoying one of the mile-long walks through the woods around the property. No pesky guards will interrupt a moment of reverie or romance in one of the quiet seating areas scattered throughout the gardens.

Our Recommendations
Don't forget to pack a lunch and a sketchpad (or camera) because picnicking and sketching are welcome in the gardens. (But sorry, the croquet lawn is just for viewing; no games allowed!) The gardens are also rented out for wedding receptions and other events.

On a hot day in the city, enjoying the hilltop breeze of Long Hill is the way to while away the steamy hours until sunset.

When to Go
Long Hill can be enjoyed any time of year, but pick a clear day to maximize views and vistas. Bring insect repellent if you plan to tour the woodland paths away from the gardens.

Getting There
From Boston, take Route 1 north to Route 128 east, to Route 22 north. At the fork, bear left (on Route 22) and enter the estate through a pair of understated, easy-to-miss brick piers 1.4 miles from Route 128. You will find signposts from the parking area that lead you along a gravel footpath uphill to the home.

Hours and Other Details
The gardens are open daily from 8 AM to sunset. For group tours, or for information on renting the house and gardens for private functions, call 508-921-1944. The main house is headquarters for the Trustees of Reservations, and is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

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