Wild Ones Capital Region NY offers tours of two gardens on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Learn more about Christine P’s “PQ Estate” in Guilderland below and Jenna & Sam’s garden in Schenectady here.
Register here to attend.
Christine writes:
I acquired the property a few years ago—I fell in love with the land more than the house. It was a rare find in Guilderland in the suburbs but feeling rural simply because of not having neighbors nearby. It made me want to retire in my 30s to just enjoy the quiet life! All the extra space inspired me to get out and garden more. I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey where There are several sections to the PQ Estate: The Island, The Mole Meadow, The Big Oaks, The Garden, The Orchard, and The Peony Field.
The Island is a small island in the middle of the driveway where I have been putting in native plants. The Island features two crabapples, lilacs, New England aster, Blazing Star Liatris, and geranium. It’s annoying to mow this little strip, so the goal is to eventually convert all the grass into plantings instead.
Adjacent to this is The Mole Meadow, aptly named for our discovery of many molehills but perhaps only a pair of moles. This is kept as a grassy field but is surrounded by pines and bushes. The goal in the Mole Meadow is to continue cutting back and removing vines that have been choking out the pines. I started a bed here with a small magnolia. Hoping to figure out other plants to add that are more deer resistant since the magnolia got chomped badly the past fall.
The Big Oaks are in the front of the house creating a large shady area. I plan to move more of the hostas here and find more shade plants to under plant in this section.
Moving past the oaks, we enter The Garden. Here, next to the small patio, I have added raised beds for herbs and vegetables. This year was my first year ever growing vegetables. It was daunting as a beginner grower, especially with the weather being all crazy this spring but I managed to grow spinach, radishes, and bok choy so far with plans for cucumber and zucchini next. The recent expansion to this section was adding in rose bushes to start defining a walking path to The Garden.
Beyond The Garden is The Orchard, where a large apple tree sits. 2 apple trees were added this spring, hoping to expand the fruit trees to make a nice little orchard. I’m looking for ideas for what to plant with the fruit trees. Everything is currently exposed to deer…hoping to add fencing eventually.
Across on the other side is my favorite discovery since moving in, The Peony Field. There are over 100 peonies in the field, producing a wave of beautiful blooms each year. After living here for a few years, I was inspired to start a peony farm, so the goal is to continue reducing the lawn and adding more peonies in this field. I plan to add hundreds more peonies every year.
There is also another section in the back where milkweed and goldenrod grows. I haven’t decided what to do in this section yet (or what to name it)! Overall, I welcome fellow gardeners to share your tips and ideas as I continue to grow the gardens at the PQ Estate.