Donald Dreifuss Bio
At Britton Hill Farm on a remote New Hampshire hilltop, Donald Dreifuss breeds exotic species of birdlife, sheep, goats, and reptiles; he also cultivates rare species of orchids among hundreds of other beautiful and unusual examples of plant life. He collects exotica from all over the world, and his farmhouse has been transformed into a living museum of sorts, unique to his vision, all in service to his constant quest for a kind of perfection and beauty.
Dreifuss, a New Zealander, brings this island vision to his world in New Hampshire, insisting on rare cultivars and all manner of flowering species of plants to warm and enliven his environment. Birds screech from their perches above the kitchen, calling to the hundreds of birds in the greenhouse just beyond the pantry. The birds fly in amongst the most beautiful and rare of flowering orchids, banana trees, 12-foot high fig trees, lemon trees… a Shangri-la, heaven sent for brightly colored macaws, parrots, Amazon grays, and lovebirds. The ambrosia of his greenhouse has overwhelmed hundreds of uninvited birds as well – native sparrows and finches that now roost and nest happily in the greenhouse rafters.
At his heart, Donald is an artist. His entire world on the farm is an expression of his artistry: the beauty of the landscaping, the vision of the gardens – always a work in progress – the careful cultivation of the next generation of plant life, the color of this leaf in concert that blossom. Each decision is thoughtfully considered, experimented with, delighted upon. It is the same with his formal artwork, paintings, three dimensional forms, and works on paper that are manifestations of the world he has created around him, each vibrating with color and with the intensity and passion of his inquiry into the sheer abundant beauty of nature.