Posted on Mon, Apr 15, 2013
They're baack!
Despite a late snow and sleet storm last week, our hearty little crocus is 'springing up' all around our Vermont Inn. These resilient little flowers are the first to appear, soon to be followed by tulips, daffodils, and the amazing pink and white flowering trees. Mia, our Gardner made her first appearance yesterday, so it looks like the season is off and running!
Posted on Sat, Nov 10, 2012
This November we are featuring a daily selection of our guet's favorite items from our Chef's game menu. This Specials menu at The Four Columns Inn is in addition to our daily Signature menu. Click the image above to see the latest menu updates.
Click the image below to hear about our latest menus and features in our cozy and acclaimed New England restaurant!
Posted on Fri, Oct 26, 2012
Toby and I took a little break to catch some of the tail end of the foliage season and enjoy a couple of our favorite Vermont walks. These are a few shots from my iphone on our last two outings...
Of course our tour begins with Toby...Good dog!
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As we leave the Four Columns Inn and the Village of Newfane,
we have a nice view of the Congregational Church
This is a littl farm just about a mile up the road from the Four Columns...
This is the road leading to the farm..populated this year by sheep, goats and cows
(all very friendly)
Then we visited Jamaica State Park..a lovely walk along the West River
Some days the light is just fantastic!
We hiked the three miles back to the dam and river...a great view
You get to walk across this great little bridge just before you reach the dam
..and are treated to more incredible scenery and the light changes along the river
at the end of the hike you drive across this little bridge...
then home straight-away because after all that walking Toby is ready for dinner
Posted on Fri, Oct 19, 2012
What a busy fall this year at The Four Columns Inn.
After their garden wedding by the stream, this happy couple celebrated with a wedding carriage ride from the Inn provided by Fresians of Majesty. Friends and family all enjoyed a jaunt around the village before a private dinner in the Tavern
Posted on Tue, Oct 16, 2012
We enjoy sending guests to Mountain View Ranch for horseback rides through the mountains of Vermont. John and Letitia Sisters always host guests to a well managed expierence through the hills, matching the skill levels with the 'best match' horse. Here you see a few images of our equestrian adventure this past weekend as we took a break to admire the beauty of a fall afternoon.
This is ne of the views from our one-hour group ride. You can also reserve private rides, which give you a more personal experience in line with your skill level. Host John Sisters made sure Chris was set to go on his trusty steed, Bob. These rides are available all year, and believe it or not, winter horseback rides are one of our guest's favorite activities..just dress warm! We will be happy to make arrangements for this and other adventures when you make your Four Columns reservation
Posted on Thu, Sep 20, 2012
September is one of the best months for outside Garden Weddings and events. This past week we hosted a birthday celebration by the stream. Picture perfect weather added to the enjoyment of our guests, along with a dinner prepared by our talented chefs. Just a few weeks and this will all be a winter wonderland!
Posted on Sun, Aug 05, 2012
Each evening our creative chefs at The Four Columns Inn like to begin the meal with a surprise, 'amuse'. Last night was this tasty little creation consisting of shrimp resting on a home-made potato wafer, cucumber and tomato salsa...yumm! Click here to see a sample of our summer menus!
Posted on Tue, Jun 05, 2012
From gorgeous to disaster in just a few hours...
then back again by Spring.
The grounds and gardens by Smith Brook at The Four Columns Inn in Southern Vermont have always been a crown jewel, but in the wake of Irene in August, 2011, 20 feet of the grounds had disappeared, the gardens were destroyed, and about five feet of rubble and muck covered the site where weddings were held and people could peacefully while away hours. The mess here is what was left of the site in front of the garden overlooking the stream
Let's get to work!
Within hours the people of Vermont sprang into action. No waiting for FEMA or handouts, the highways were abuzz with activity and the sounds of a State on the mend.Students from The Putney School dropped by to lend a hand shoveling muck off of the gardens...
The Town sent in heavy equipment to begin repair on the stream and banks...
Then we began work to escavate debris and rubble, rebuild the grounds
and re-establish the contours of what had been a beautiful area.
This had to be completed before snowfall and the window was closing...
While we didn't have much snow this past winter, it did give us an early start
to complete the final phases of landscaping before a mid-May wedding.
Local contractor Tom Bloom and his team jumped in early to finish the job,
here unloading one of the many truckloads of sod, which would
be used to cover the final landscaping...
The sod was placed like carpet over the entire area,
a painstaking process and huge amount of work...
Gardener Mia Sheffey planned and planted the new site for the garden,
which Tom and his team had re-crafted from the ruins of the original site...
After much watering and care over the next few weeks, we were able to marvel
at the final product of so much hard work by so many people...
and then to host a very happy occasion...
Posted on Thu, Apr 05, 2012
Beyond Irene
Spring is upon us and The Four Columns is alive with activity as we prepare for the season. While work continues on painting the front Four Columns building, back by the stream the final stages of landscaping and repair from the damage of Hurricane Irene is in full gear. Here Tom and Mike are putting the finishing touches to the gardens next to the stream. Where you see equipment now will soon be a return to the flowers and the peaceful surroundings that provide the backdrop for weddings, or just relaxing with a friend, a glass of wine and the latest must-read book.
Posted on Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Getting ready for the season...
Spring is coming early to Vermont this year, so we are getting a jump start on sprucing up the Inn and grounds for the season. Norm Holden, our local painter extrodinaire is giving the front building a lot of TLC with prep and fresh paint. Mia, our gardner is busy this week cleaning out the gardens as our tulips and daffadils make the first appearance. Much more to do!