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From Chickens to Chintz: Christopher Spitzmiller C hristopher Spitzmiller is a talented potter to presidents. The master c e r a m i c i s t b e g a n throwing clay in the back of Southampton's Mecox Gardens as its artist in residence; the late Albert Hadley soon commissioned his work, and the rest is well-glazed history. But his latest claim to fame is as the ultimate gentleman country farmer and gardener. When he isn't hand-throwing his fabulous lamps, tableware, and other ceramics for every A-list designer and the White House, he's raising handsome chickens, growing flowers, and jarring jam from his idyllic 1830s Greek Revival farmhouse in Design advice: "I firmly believe that each of us has a garden within us, and it's our own job to tend to it, nurture it, and let it flourish." — Christopher Spitzmiller Christopher Spitzmiller's Favorite Places in Upstate New York Orangerie Garden + Home / Creel and Gow, Millbrook, New York. Orangerie, the garden shop owned by my partner, Anthony Bellomo, carries garden objects, items for entertaining, and interesting perennials, houseplants, and topiary. Next door is Creel and Gow, a fabulous emporium of vintage and antique finds owned and run by my long-time friends Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani. A veritable cabinet of curiosities. Four Brothers Pizza Inn and Drive In, Amenia, New York. Our favorite local place for pizza and Greek salad, and they even show drive-in movies! They have an excellent lobster roll in summer. 100 Main, Falls Village, Connecticut. Bunny Williams' fantastic Connecticut shop filled with wonderful and creative items made by local artisans. Harney and Sons Teas, Millerton, New York. Locally made small-batch teas. Day trip to Hudson, New York. Antique capital of the world! Walk the entire street and leave no stop unvisited. You never know what you'll find. A few of my very favorite shops in Hudson include Sutter Antiques, Stair, and Red Chair on Warren. Wethersfield Estate & Garden, Amenia, New York. This beautiful Georgian home and garden was the creation of Chauncey Devereux Stillman and is my favorite local formal garden to visit. There's always something interesting in bloom, and the garden is open to the public. Innisfree Garden, Millbrook, New York. A charming and lovely teacup garden. I enjoy walking around the pond to see what's in bloom. The water lilies in the summer are magical! Kent Flower Market, Kent, Connecticut. The second Saturday of every month during the growing season, this stop offers a place to find great cut flowers and interesting plants. Have lunch at Swyft and visit RT Facts. Michael Trapp, Inc., West Cornwall, Connecticut. A fantastic shop that's like walking into World of Interiors. I always come out of Michael's store with something unusual and special, like the zinc dove that I placed on top of my dovecote in my garden at home. Visiting the historic houses of the Hudson Valley. Some favorites include Boscobel, the Vanderbilt Mansion, and Montgomery Place. New York's Hudson Valley. His book, A Year at Clove Brook Farm (Rizzoli), which he wrote with Clint Smith, went into its second printing on the very day it was published. Farm neighbor Martha Stewart — who brings him goose eggs from her flock — wrote the foreword to his beautiful ode to life on the farm. What, When, Where: Christopher Spitzmiller discusses chickens and chintz in a salon talk and book signing, Thursday, September 22, 1:30 to 3:30 pm, at Blue Print, 2701 Fairmount. Below: The garden at Christopher Spitzmiller's farm at its finest hour in late August with a profusion of dahlias — some six feet tall. Flanking the dovecote, six young apple trees flourish. CHRISTOPHER SPITZMILLER 142