When secret gardens open their doors
by
Douglas Hunt
(IC: professional)
If a gardener can’t be in his or her own garden, where’s the next best place? Someone else’s, of course. And thanks to the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program, you can walk through the gate of private gardens that you might not otherwise ever be able to see.
The program began in 1995 and is modeled on England’s National Gardens Scheme. Since then, thousands of gardens from coast to coast—including my own garden in New York’s Hudson Valley—have been included.
Each year, almost 50 percent of the gardens are new to the program, and I knew a road trip was in the offing when I found out the Garden Conservancy was going to have its first Open Day in Jacksonville, an hour and a half up the coast from me, last weekend. Just as I expected, the gardens offered beauty and inspiration at every turn.
This year the program includes gardens in 16 states and runs through the beginning of November. To find an Open Day near you, see the schedule here:
https://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/open-days-schedule
The program began in 1995 and is modeled on England’s National Gardens Scheme. Since then, thousands of gardens from coast to coast—including my own garden in New York’s Hudson Valley—have been included.
Each year, almost 50 percent of the gardens are new to the program, and I knew a road trip was in the offing when I found out the Garden Conservancy was going to have its first Open Day in Jacksonville, an hour and a half up the coast from me, last weekend. Just as I expected, the gardens offered beauty and inspiration at every turn.
This year the program includes gardens in 16 states and runs through the beginning of November. To find an Open Day near you, see the schedule here:
https://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/open-days-schedule
Enjoyed the project?
Published March 24th, 2014 2:34 PM
Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 59 comments
-
Rose S on Apr 07, 2014Where us Longwood Garden? Which zone? I tried covering mine up with layers of burlap, but didn't' have any luck. So the two I have left will stay confined in their pots until further notice. My fear is that possibly the deer might want to nibble on them when I bring them out - so I will keep them on the porch. Thanks so much for sharing. :-)
-
-
David Rupp on Apr 16, 2014Love your yard! Grate photos.
-
Douglas Hunt on Apr 17, 2014@David Rupp Would that these were my yard, David. The photos were taken at gardens I visited.
-
-
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?