Domesticities & The Cutting Garden

Manhattan may seem an unlikely place to take up gardening, but that was just what happened for Anne Hart and Fritz Mayer.  Back in the mid-eighties they signed up for a plot at a Community Garden in Hell’s Kitchen and became hooked on plants. They bought a weekend home in  Liberty 1994 and kept on gardening.  The desire to make plants a more central part of their lives influenced their decision to move here full time in 2001.

Now, they’ve opened  Domesticities & The Cutting Garden in their late nineteenth century building on Route 52 in Youngsville, NY.

The garden part is pretty simple; they grow the flowers, you come by and pick them, take them home or to a friend.  No muss, no fuss, no weeding.

There is a wide variety of cutting flowers now growing, ranging from amaranth to zinnias. You’re welcome to wander through the garden whenever the shop is open.

And then you come to the domestic side.  After you’ve cut the flowers you might need a vase in which to place them, and perhaps a table on which to set the vase, and perhaps a painting to place on the wall near the table.

Those things, as well as a variety of antiques, “rescued” furniture and other objects in need of rescue can be found in Domesticities. Part of the shop features home and garden accessories which were either found, created or rescued by Mayer, Hart and several talented local rescuers.  Hart’s experience in this area comes from years of working with jewelers, potters and other artisans.  Mayer’s background in journalism is absolutely useless for this pursuit.  He just likes to grow plants, make plant stands from found wood and work on old furniture.

And then there is the larger part of the shop.  Featured are paintings by three local artists, Elizabeth Kidder, Roland Knight and David Pruitt., as well as Terra Sigillata pottery by Anthony Biancoviso.  You’ll also find quilted wall hangings, footed glassware and other collectibles.  The old kitchen in the back of the shop is filled with linens and kitchenware dating from the 1930’s to the 1970’s.

                    4055 State Route 52, Youngsville

Fridays through Mondays, 10:00 –6:00 Memorial Day                                     through Labor Day. 

                                Weekends in Winter

                                     845-482-3333