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Stop and Smell the Roses at Sonnenberg Gardens

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2018-09-24 22:12:00

The Finger Lakes  region is home to plenty of beautiful scenery, but Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Site  is one of its highlights. Known for its stunning landscaping and elegant environment, the 50-acre estate, located in Canandaigua, provide a peaceful, beautiful oasis, a perfect place to spend a few hours strolling around the grounds and taking in the scenery.


Sonnenberg is German for “sunny hill”, which is an apt description of the property. Home to nine different gardens, including a rose garden, an Italian garden, a rock garden, a pansy garden, a Japanese garden and a Moonlight garden that blooms in the late afternoon through early evening, to name a few. The Greenhouse Conservatory Complex offers five greenhouses open to the public and is one of only a handful of Lord and Burnham greenhouses still intact in the United States. The property features a 40-room Queen Anne style Victorian mansion, built in 1887, which is open to visitors as well.


Stop by for a tour, guided by a passionate and knowledgeable docent who will explain the history of the mansion and gardens and provide an idea of what life was like for the Thompson family, who owned the property and built the gardens in the early 1900s. The tour includes a look at many of the rooms, including a library, drawing room, dining room, great hall, billiard and trophy rooms, master bedroom and several additional guest rooms. The mansion overlooks the Italian garden, which is landscaped to create an artistic design when viewed from above.


Sonnenberg Gardens is also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Center, which offers daily tastings of selections from local wineries. There’s also an on-site café  serving light fare, best enjoyed amongst the gardens with a bottle of signature Sonnenberg Gardens wine.


Sonnenburg Gardens is open to the public  from May to October, so whether you’re looking for an afternoon spent learning about history, tasting local wines and treats, touring a mansion, or just relaxing, exploring, and stopping to smell the roses along the way, make sure to include it in your plans before the weather gets cold.




Photo Credits:
Mansion view photo credit Doug Kerr
Conservatory sign photo credit Penny Higgins
Mansion interior photo credit Peter C
Pillar pavillion photo credit Doug Kerr
Pink Tulip by Onasill

 

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