Enjoy a private view of five
spectacular Connecticut gardens as the Westport Historical Society hosts
its 15th Annual Hidden Garden Tour. Tickets are $45 on the day of the tour.
The Hidden Garden Tour, a widely
acclaimed and anticipated spring event, draws hundreds of visitors from
throughout the region. Patrons enjoy the opportunity to stroll at their
leisure and view private gardens that feature perennial beds, elegant
pools, historic stone walls, garden sculpture, scented shrubs, specimen
trees and sophisticated landscapes.
Tickets with a map and
directions to the gardens must be picked up on the day of the tour at the
Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, Westport, Connecticut.
Tickets for the Garden Tour may be picked up beginning at 9 AM.
The Tour runs from 10 AM to 5 PM.
New this year are two
“Dine
and Design!” seminars (10:15-11:15 and 11:45-12:45) to be held at the
Historical Society. An elegant buffet luncheon is included in
“Dine and
Design!”
A jitney is available for $60. The jitney leaves the
Historical Society at 1:00 P.M. add allows riders to disembark directly in
front of each of the gardens. The jitney returns to the Historical Society
at approximately 4:00 PM.
On the day of the tour, the
grounds of the Westport Historical Society and Veterans Green will be
transformed into a Garden Marketplace where visitors can browse through an
exciting array of fanciful and practical garden related items.
Tour Tickets
$25 WHS Members, $35 Non-members
$45 Day
of Tour
Jitney $60, 1-4 PM
Dine and Design Seminars and Lunch
Creating the Four Season Garden: 10:15 - 11:15 AM
Tabletop Entertaining: 11:45 - 12:45 PM
$20 for one seminar & lunch, $30 for both seminars and lunch
(Note: Due to a printing error, the
Ticket Reservation Form on the mailed Invitation
noted incorrect times for the Dine & Design Seminars. The correct times
are:
Creating the Four Season Garden from 10:15-11:15 and Tabletop
Entertaining from 11:45-12:45.)
Sponsors
The Gardens
One luxurious garden on this year’s tour displays a formal English
parterre edged in traditional boxwood surrounding a graceful fountain.
Avid gardeners will find fresh ideas and inspiration for their own
gardens, and casual observers will have a relaxing day enjoying the
beauty of these impressive properties. At another garden there is a
cornucopia of color around a magnificent brick building built in 1912
which served as a Boys and Girls Clubhouse for 35 years until 1948 when
it was transformed into a home. Overlooking a harbor dotted with
sailboats, this unique home is awash in deep purple buddleia, brilliant
blue hydrangeas, vibrant orange ‘Voodoo’ roses as well as large exotic
castors that sparkle in the sun. Black Beauty lilies, specimen trees,
roses, and clematis anchor and enclose this lush garden. On the day of
the tour, the grounds of the Westport Historical Society and Veterans
Green will be transformed into the Garden Market where visitors can
wander through an exciting array of fanciful and practical
garden-related items from 9 AM until 5 PM. Beautiful handbags, handmade
soaps, jewelry, and a wide variety of arts and crafts items will
definitely capture shopper’s attention for that “must have” item or the
perfect gift. In addition, the lucky winners of the Garden Raffle will
take home special garden items donated by several local businesses.
Dine and Design!
Seminars and Lunch
Enhance your Garden Tour experience by attending one (or both) of
our "Dine and Design!" seminars.
Creating the Four
Season Garden
10:15 - 11:15 AM
Experience master gardener
Mar
Jennings, the well-known “Lifestyle Guru” on WTNH Channel
8, as he leads you on a colorful interactive tour through the four seasons
of a Connecticut garden. Journey with Mar as he teaches you how to
showcase your own four season garden from the early buds of spring to the
majesty of snow-covered branches.
This special photographic
journey will document 10 years of vivid images as seen through the eye of
Master Gardener Mar. Mar's garden has been visited by thousands who
continue to be amazed by his talents and garden design concepts, and has
been featured in All About the House Magazine and Home Magazine.
Mar will teach gardeners to
plant and care for their landscape as a professional would, and he'll
share the types of favorite products he uses to get the job done. Season
by season, Mar will advise you on the species of trees, shrubs, and
perennials that have earned his trust and affection for the last decade,
and how you can make the best decisions for your own garden. This is a
fresh new way to garden design that won’t break your back or bank account.
You'll walk away with a little piece of Mar-- filled with new energy and
determination.
Tabletop Entertaining
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
Join local stylist Deborah Herbertson,
manager of Barlow Hill, a home and garden styling company, who will
demonstrate ideas and inspirations for creating perfect table settings
and centerpieces for your celebrations. Deborah believes that
entertaining is a lot like theater: you set the stage, and then you
share it with others. She also believes that flowers are usually the
star of the show. Deborah's years in the tabletop industry, and her long
time love of gardening have culminated in a passion for floral design
and entertaining. Journey with her as she creates 3 different
party venues, each with a its own unique theme and mood. Deborah
will take you step by step through each design, showing you ideas that
can be adapted to suit a host of special occasions, from intimate to
grand scale.
Following a question and answer period,
seminar participants will enjoy an elegant and delectable buffet. "Dine
and Design!" will take place the day of the Hidden Garden Tour and will
be held in the Sheffer Gallery at the Westport Historical Society.
Tickets are $20 for one seminar; $30
for both. Ticket price also includes a question and answer period
following each Seminar as well as a delightful and delectable buffet!
Don't miss this! Seating is limited!
Enjoy the opportunity to chat with
other garden lovers, view the current Women of Westport exhibit,
shop for a unique gift in the Remarkable Gift Shop, marvel at the
exquisite Victorian Period Rooms, and purchase tickets for a chance to
win our lovely garden-related Raffle items.
The Hidden Garden Tour, Garden
Market and "Dine and Design!" are made possible in part by the generous
support of our sponsors, Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, Contour
Landscaping Company and Vera Ruud, Jillian Klaff and Claudia Steinman of
WRG Homes at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
Contact
gardentour@westporthistory.org
or call 222-1424 for further information.
Garden Marketplace
Sunday June 11, 9 AM - 5 PM
Free Admission
On the day of the tour, the
grounds of the Westport Historical Society and Veterans Green will be
transformed into an open air Garden Market where visitors can browse through an
exciting array of fanciful and practical garden related items ranging from urns
and pots to embroidered linens, as well as a fabulous range of glass and pottery
for the home and garden.
Preview some of our vendor's wares:
View
details of the 2005 Garden Tour
