Aerial Views of Skylands

August 15, 2016

Many of you have often mentioned how much you love seeing photos of Skylands. A few weeks ago, Lucas Acuna, the grandson of my longtime housekeeper, Laura Acuna, visited my home on Mount Desert Island and took a series of glorious photos with his drone. Lucas has a small business called Full Focus Films, and when he's not at school, he loves to create videos for special events and business advertising.

Enjoy these aerial views...

: This is the front entrance of Skylands. Architect, Duncan Chandler, worked closely with landscape designer, Jens Jensen, to build this majestic pink granite structure for Edsel Ford in the 1920s – I am awed by its beauty every time I visit.

: I love this view of the front entrance circle, with all the lush green plantings – purple smoke bushes, hay-scented ferns, and yellow spruce trees, Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’. Everything looks so pretty surrounded by the pink granite driveway.

: Here is my large terrace overlooking Seal Harbor. During summer, this terrace is a hub of activity for many parties and gatherings.

: Towering red spruce trees surround the space – one never tires of this spectacular view of nature.

: Here, the drone captured a nice view of my “cracked ice” pavers. Over the years, I have worked hard to restore the terraces and gardens that Jens Jensen envisioned.

: Every summer, I fill this area with exotic plants for all to enjoy. Most of these specimens spend winters at my Bedford, New York farm and then make the long drive to Skylands every spring.

: My two Emile Muller glazed terra-cotta sphinxes keep watch over the terrace and its many planted urns.

: These are the steps to the West Terrace, where the pergola above is covered with kiwi vines that provide lots of shade.

: The West Terrace is a wonderful spot for serving brunches and lunches on pleasant summer days.

: And, lying on a lower level just beneath the West Terrace is the lady – La Riviere by Aristide Maillol – resting so comfortably in her bed of ferns.

: Here is Lucas “driving” his drone. Lucas works very hard to capture the many artistic views from above, and loves creating videos for business advertising and personal keepsakes.

: At Skylands, the vegetable garden and the flower cutting garden are in the same location, all protected by this good, strong fence.

: My garden has been growing very nicely this season. The soil is comprised of lots of red granite, and loam. It is also very well-drained and very fertile.

: Here is another view of the beautiful garden from above.

: And a view into the woodlands.

: Here is an aerial shot way above my large terrace, and the magnificent views of the woodlands beyond.

: This wonderful and distant view shows Skylands nestled among the trees.

: Rising even higher above Skylands, the drone captured this view of Seal Harbor, and Sutton Island – a small, private island south of Mount Desert Island, and north of Cranberry Isles, Maine.