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New England Gardening

Garden Conservancy Open Days

Sue W (CT zone 6a)

18 years ago

For those of you who don't get the open days directory from the Garden Conservancy, below is the link to the webpage listing of the gardens that are open in 2006. You can sort it by state. I usually try to get to as many of these gardens as possible every year. The cost is $5 per garden and it is always well worth it. If you plan to visit many gardens, I believe the Garden Conservancy sells bulk vouchers at a slight discount.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Open Days 2006

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Comments (9)

heirloomamy
18 years ago
Thanks for the link, Sue. I toured the English equivalent when I was there 2 Springs ago, and found I much preferred the "real" garden tended by one loving gardener than some of the National Trust gardens that had teams of hundreds...although of course they were beautiful too! Do you recommend any particular gardens on the CT tour? Thanks, Amy
Saypoint zone 6 CT
18 years ago
Hey, Sue. I just ordered my copy of the directory. Are you going to any of these on the shoreline or New London area? I'm going to try to make some of them, I always wanted to but never seemed to make the time.
Jo
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Way ahead of you! Already rejoined for another season (this will be my 9th), and can't wait for the schedule to arrive. I am so addicted to these Garden Tours, that I schedule them all into my calendar, then plan everything ELSE around them. . .but as you said, "they're great!" It gets really interesting, though, when you start making field trips further from home; in the past, I've ventured out to Washington and Oregon, down to North Carolina (thrice) and so far, every mid-Atlantic state and all of New England. A real treat several years back, was a one-day Open Days offering 17 gardens on Nantucket. . .now that was a challenge! Unfortunately, I missed the one on Martha's Vineyard last year. When I go on these longer jaunts for a week-end of Open Days, I always allot extra days to visit that areas' Botanical Gardens, major nurseries (the original Heronswood in Washington, for example) - and since I'm a rider, I always bring the bike along to check out the local RailTrails. . . Depending on where you are located in NE, I would heartily recommend casting your eye at the offerings in eastern New York - Westchester, Duchess, Putnam and Columbia counties all stretch along the Connecticut-Mass. border and offer a wealth of choices, If you are curious about any gardens of exceptional interest in that area, feel free to E-mail me; it looks like Paige Dickey's garden will be open again this year, and if you've never been to Gertrude Shurs' garden, "Rocky Hills", it's a must-see ! Carl
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It was just coincidence that I visited two of the NH gardens last year when they were part of garden tours to benefit charities. Both were amazing and worth a drive. I think membership in the Garden Conservancy is about the same as what I paid to go on those two tours last year. It looks well worth doing.
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Hadn't even thought about gardens outside Massachusetts yet.... Agree that Linden Miller's garden is a must-see. I once had the extreme pleasure of having her give a personal tour of her Conservatory Garden in NYC's Central Park. Then, several years ago I attended an illustrated lecture that she gave at the Arnold Arboretum. Also intriguing is Suzanne Pierot's garden in Willow, New York. "Thousands" of astilbe and 20,000 hostas! Suzanne is president of the American Ivy Society (holding their 2008 convention in Boston this coming August). Looks like I'll be spending some gas money! ~ Hilda
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Comments (7)
Carl, thanks for posting this. I hope to make it to a few of these this year. I've already seen a couple that I would really like to go to. I also noticed one that Bill would really like...John N. Spain in Middlebury CT on May 22nd. He has a winter hardy cactus gar*den. And some on Martha's Vineyard for the first time. One that is a Waterfoul Sanctuary that Claire might like. A few that use a lot of natives for Terrene. I wonder if anyone has personal knowledge of any of the New England gar*dens on the tour this year? There are a LOT to choose from.
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chelone
18 years ago
I vouch for the beauty of the gardens featured on the Maine, York county tour!
martieinct
18 years ago
Any tuberous begonia lovers out there will want to take advantage of the June 17 or 24 Litchfield County Days in Connecticut. This is the same time that White Flower Farm's begonia house is in full bloom. If you want to see the difference between a $7 and $70 tuber, check it out. If it rains, all the better because few other people will be there and the begonias are inside.

Hmmmmmmmmm.........

Martie
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
Original Author
18 years ago
Amy, I've been to quite a few of the Hartford area gardens and they have all been very nice. If you have some time, Dr. Nick Nickou's garden in Branford is open this weekend. It's a guided tour and well worth the drive. Dr. Nickou is a well known plantsman and has an incredible collection of mature woody plants in his garden. I also highly recommend the garden in Plantsville. It was designed by George Trecina whose Meriden garden is also open at least once this season. You have to wait til September but don't miss Steve Silk's garden in Farmington and Jan Nickel in Avon.

Jo, I'll have to check the schedule. Because I always seem to be pressed for time I usually head for the local gardens but I'm intrigued by just about all of them.

Marty, Tom's family is all in the Litchfield area but I've never been to any of the open days out that way. Maybe this year. I used to go to the Litchfield historic house tour every year but the past two years it's been the same weekend as idyllunion. WFF used to have their open house the same weekend as the tour but a few years ago they changed it to earlier in the season-the end of June I think.

Too many garden events, not enough time, huh?

Sue
heirloomamy
18 years ago
Thanks for the tips Sue. I'll have to get up that way and check a few out! Amy
diggingthedirt
18 years ago
Ooh, tomorrow is also Trade Secrets, right?

May 20-21, Trade Secrets 2006 (860-364-1080) will feature more than 50 growers of rare plants and dealers in gardening antiques at LionRock Farm in Sharon, an early 20th century working farm. On the 21st there will be garden tours of three private properties.

Can't get there this year, but one of these days ...
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
Original Author
18 years ago
Yeah, I've always wanted to get to Trade Secrets too but the timing just never works out. This spring I'm realy trying to spend quality time getting my own garden in order rather than traipsing around to nurseries, sales, tours and whatnot. So far, so good...now if it would just stop raining...

Sue
marilyninconnecticut
17 years ago
just an fyi - visited George Trecina's beautiful garden in Meriden yesterday. It was wonderful...a mature garden with lots of new additions plus many creative containers, tropical plants, etc. He's lived there since the 1950's and has a masters degree in landscape architecture. He was very polite and spent a lot of time with me and my 15 year old son, answering our questions and listening to some of my garden problems. Clearly very knowledgeable and in love with plants! You should try to get there on future open garden dates to view a lovely space that will give you a multitude of ideas to transform your own space! Marilyn

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