Meteor Shower + Sunrise Viewing + Optional Sunrise Sound Bath

In many cultures, gardens are where the glories of nature as art are witnessed and celebrated. Join us for just such a morning. Innisfree will open at 4 am—two hours before sunrise—for those intrepid souls willing to get up early (or stay up late) to experience an unforgettable series of natural wonders and optional cultural and wellness programs.

The changing light during this natural sky show will create kaleidoscopic patterns across the 185-acre garden’s undulating glacial terrain and the wide natural lake at its center. As the sun intensifies, summer greens as well as the pink blossoms of native rose mallows and hardy lotuses will emerge from the morning mist on the lake. Wildlife abounds in the early hours: we could shift from great horned owls and barn owls calling in the dark to our resident bald eagles fishing for breakfast. Bring a blanket, yoga mat, or folding chair, and if you like, a camera, easel, birding binoculars, perhaps even a picnic breakfast.

MORNING OVERVIEW

• Innisfree Opens: 4 AM

• Meteor Shower Viewing: 4 AM to almost 5:30 AM Peak viewing of the prolific **Perseids Meteor Shower in this region is Friday night until dawn on Saturday, so you can see up to 150 meteors over 90 minutes here. A waning crescent moon will be up, but the sky will be quite dark and there is very little light pollution. According to the *New York Times*, the best way to watch a meteor shower is just to lie down and look at the sky, allowing half an hour for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. Volunteers from the (link: https://midhudsonastro.org/ text: Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association) will be available to point out Jupiter, Saturn, and key constellations. Some will set up telescopes and allow visitors to observe these celestial objects. Visitors may bring their own telescopes, but set up must be done using red light only.

• Dawn + The Blue Hour: Before and After Dawn at 5:30 AM As the night moves toward day, experience the blue hour, when the sky and ambient light become a cool, mysterious blue.

• Sunrise Sound Bath: 5:45 AM – 6:45 AM Opt-in and lie back for a different sort of sun salutation led by sound practitioners Ben Brown and Elana Bell, when a gentle focus on listening soothes mind and body, bringing participants to a relaxed, even meditative state.

• Sunrise + The Golden Hour: Before and After Sunrise at 6 AM Soak in the sunrise and surrounding golden Hour, when this iconic landscape is flooded with warm light, making everything and everyone look extra beautiful.

• Exclusive garden access ends at 10 AM but visitors are welcome to stay until 5 PM

Advance registration for these early morning events is required.

MORE THAT DAY

• Curator’s Tour: 10:30 AM Take a 90-minute walking tour of Innisfree. Learn more and get tickets HERE.

• Wish Tree: Write your wishes on a paper tag and send them into the wind by tying them to a magnificent old white oak, our WISH TREE, part of a global interactive work started by Yoko Ono.

• Today's events are part of the continent-wide Gardens for Peace (G4P) program in honor of the United Nations International Day of Peace and the county-wide Great Estates Garden & Landscape Weekend).

INNISFREE MEMBERS GET FREE GARDEN ADMISSION & FREE OR DISCOUNTED SPECIAL PROGRAMS. Want to join or renew your support for this remarkable place and reap these rewards? Add a membership contribution to your ticket order today.