So pleased to return here and share Day 2 of the Edith Wharton Summit, albeit in a much shorter format than my previous post. The outdoors dominated this time around, offering stunning views of the house and grounds – here we go!!

As on the first Day of the Summit, and upon completion of the scheduled panels, a number of “breakout sessions” took guests on guided tours – either of Wharton’s library, as seen previously; her gardens; the upstairs exhibitions; or, as seen below, a guided walk through the heart of the property, known as, “In the Footsteps of Edith Trail Walk.” Our guide kindly gathered us together as we entered the wooded pathway just before the front entrance to the mansion. As we gradually became immersed in the heart of the forest, our guide encouraged us to breathe deeply and meditate, to connect and become one with our surroundings. This was certainly a respite much appreciated from the hustle and bustle of presentations!!

As we crossed a small stream and footbridge, we veered around the edge of where Wharton’s Italian garden is walled in, and emerged into the bright glade that defines the main view from the terrace of the mansion. Surrounding us were high grasses and wildflowers, followed by another stepping bridge that emptied us into the heart of this majestic open space. From here, we had a spectacular view of the mansion, in all its grandeur and relief, set against the setting sun, the rays of which glistened through the trees, casting shadows of their trunks stretching outward to reach us. Turning towards the other direction, our guide pointed out Beaver Pond, a small body of water beyond the edge of the glade, and the pines that obscure the once dominant view of Laurel Lake. Though Laurel Lake can no longer be seen from this vantage point, there are other trails that join that particular spot if the hiker is so inclined to explore further.

Upon leaving this peaceful dale, we re-entered the woods, this time on the opposite end and moving northward. Here, the many lindens, hemlocks, elms, and white pines, as seen in the previous wood, towered over us and invited us further. As we neared the edge of the wood, back towards the stable house, our guide ended the tour with the following Edith Wharton quote, which can also be seen engraved in stone at the beginning of the path: “In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.”

Stay tuned for my third and final post next week, to be published on June 29th, with a small peek into the town of Lenox, Massachusetts, home of The Mount!! As previously stated, please ask permission or give credit before reproducing any photos, and as always, thank you for visiting!!