Summer Rayne Oakes, widely recognized as Homestead Brooklyn, embraced the opportunity to swap her cozy New York City apartment for an expansive 90-acre property in the stunning Finger Lakes region. After nearly twenty years tending to over 1,000 houseplants indoors, she yearned for a more open, fresh-air experience.
In the last five years, Summer Rayne and her two friends have revitalized what is now known as Flock Finger Lakes. Upon their arrival, the land, previously a plant nursery, was surprisingly desolate, with no signs of wildlife. Today, its lush meadows invite nature back, while Summer Rayne designs beautiful garden spaces throughout the homestead.
Feeling constrained by her apartment gardening, Summer Rayne stepped into her new outdoor space and was amazed at the freedom it offered. 'Here, I can truly experiment and give back to the earth,' she shares. 'This place makes me feel alive.'
A New Chapter Awaits
Acquiring this land with friends Sander and Joey may seem unconventional, but it turned out to be a brilliant choice. Leaving city life was challenging, yet the dream of owning land was too enticing to resist.
Her houseplants served as a reminder of the joy nature brings, sparking her desire for a garden reminiscent of a Monet painting.
Finger Lakes captured her heart immediately, boasting 11 lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, and diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to farmland.
After viewing the property, they made an offer the very same day. Five years later, they've transformed it into their home and workplace.
Growing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania surrounded by farms, Summer Rayne always felt a connection to nature. With a background in environmental science, working on regenerative projects has been a lifelong dream.
Once a plant nursery, the land had lost much of its horticultural infrastructure when they arrived, inheriting wells, buildings, and barns in need of renovation. The previous owner's illness left the land unattended, letting nature reclaim it until Summer Rayne and her friends took over.
Flock Finger Lakes spans 90 acres, but they currently manage about 25 acres, which includes a native insect meadow, an orchard, a bulb lawn, a half lake, and multiple gardens.
Transitioning from indoor gardening to this expansive space has brought new challenges, yet she's excited about the possibilities. She sometimes wishes for established plants, but starting fresh has taught her patience and appreciation for the growth journey.
Restoring Life to the Land
With her ecological background, Summer Rayne approaches gardening as a systems thinker, finding joy in how plants provide food and shelter for wildlife while transforming the landscape.
Initially managed as a container nursery, the property was littered with debris and lacked native plants. They removed nearly 96 tonnes of trash and countless invasive species from just nine acres.
Now, the native insect meadow, one of her favorite sections, hosts over 80 plant varieties that support pollinators and other beneficial insects, in turn attracting birds like bobolinks and orioles.
Her focus is on fostering wildlife interactions, prioritizing food sources for birds and insects before even considering growing their own produce.
The meadow features ornamental grasses such as panicgrass and purpletop grass, along with blooms like echinacea and daisies. Managing expectations is crucial; sometimes plants don't grow where we anticipate.
Taking lupines as an example, an expert once doubted their success, yet they thrive here, likely due to the soil's drainage from the stones.
It's fascinating to witness plants thriving where they choose to grow.
Crafting Unique Garden Areas
While embracing wildscapes in her meadow, she enjoys experimenting in other areas. The shade garden, her first major project, serves as a tribute to the nursery's former owner.
She extended the path around the Norway spruce, Japanese maple, and weeping white pine, planting a diverse mix of spring ephemerals beneath.
Foam flowers, trillium, and various geraniums fill the ground cover, showcasing around 70 or 80 plant varieties in that compact space.
This project taught her about shade gardening, which looks beautiful throughout the year, with peak beauty in May and June.
The transformation of their lawn space is noteworthy; they planted 80,000 bulbs in fall 2021 and 2022, which have since naturalized, requiring minimal maintenance.
These blooms serve as crucial early nectar sources for pollinators, with flowers emerging as early as February.
Finding harmony between nature and her vision is key. Around the ponds, she allows natural growth, letting edges become a little wild instead of maintaining a mowed appearance.
This new management style has proven fruitful; she recently introduced native swamp mallow, which flourished rapidly.
Embracing Experimentation
One significant lesson came from Tulipa sylvestris, or woodland tulip. Although it produced vibrant yellow blooms initially, it eventually became more foliage than flower.
This experience taught her the value of patience and research in selecting reliable plants.
Summer Rayne enjoys conducting small experiments, unafraid to learn from failures.
She has fun experimenting with plant placements, although she consults her partners on larger decisions. They were not thrilled when she planted an American chestnut in the middle of a pathway.
This carefree approach, even with its setbacks, feels liberating.
Looking Ahead for Flock Finger Lakes
Summer Rayne believes her homestead journey is ongoing, with countless ideas still to explore.
Currently, she's enhancing the six garden spaces near the Meadow House, each with unique shapes that require time to flourish.
A deer fence protects these gardens and introduces vertical growing opportunities for clematis, roses, and native honeysuckle. She's also training raspberries along the fence.
Her love for coreopsis, native anemones, and achillea is evident, and she plans to include dahlias and other dramatic blooms.
A hummingbird garden, filled with red and purple flowers, is also in the works.
As this section faces the road, she envisions it as a beautiful sight for passersby.
Long-term, she hopes Flock Finger Lakes will host creative and gardening residencies, inviting individuals to connect with nature and work on projects together.
This regenerative space is invigorating, and she's eager to share this experience with others.
Although she still maintains her Brooklyn apartment, it's become a secondary thought. Her dedication to the homestead, along with caring for her ducks and chickens, keeps her rooted here.
Every morning brings new surprises in the garden, with growth happening rapidly. Leaving for just a couple of days feels like missing something transformative.
This journey has broadened her horizons, evolving from indoor gardening to a dynamic homestead shared with Sander and Joey.
There's so much more to anticipate, as she reconnects with her environmental science roots in a more organic, experiential way.
Garden Diaries features inspiring stories about cultivating unique garden spaces, showcasing how creative individuals have crafted personal environments that foster joy and creativity.
