It’s been awhile since I’ve added gardens to the Public Garden section of this website. I’m now adding the following seven gardens:
- Two gardens in Connecticut:
Palmer Arboretum in Woodstock
Hill-Stead Museum Garden in Farmington - Two gardens associated with the University of Maine:
Lyle Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden in Orono
Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden in Old Town - Two gardens in Massachusetts:
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Gardens in Boston
Beauport, Sleeper McCann House Gardens in Gloucester - One garden in Vermont:
Marsh-Billings-Rockerfeller Garden in Woodstock
I have not forgotten New Hampshire and Rhode Island! Those gardens will be in the next batch.
I don’t think you’ll find a more interesting mix of gardens – they’re each so unique. I received requests from members of the Palmer Arboretum and from the University of Maine to include their gardens. They either sent information or sent pointers to information on the internet. I welcome such requests because very often these gardens are not listed in any book or are on any garden or arboretum websites. So if you know of a public garden that generally would not be known, please send me the information or a pointer to information and I will include it in the next batch of gardens.
Palmer Arboretum in Woodstock, CT
Founded in 1914, this arboretum fell into disrepair over the decades but was restored in 1985 by a group of concerned citizens. Trees include a huge purple beech, a grove of false cypresses, gingko, English oak, amongst many others including a grove of Devil’s walking stick that kids will enjoy.
Hill-Stead Museum Garden in Farmington, CT
This estate took five years to create starting in 1896 and belonged to the industrialist Alfred Pope. It was his daughter Theodate, a pioneering female architect, who designed the house and, with landscape architect Warren Manning, created a landscape that echoed that of the 18th century farmsteads. With Beatrix Farrand, the renowned landscape designer, she redesigned the asymmetrical sunken garden with tall drystone walls, a summer house, brick paths, and flower beds.
Lyle Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden in Orono, ME
Started in the 1960′s, this garden allows you to view a collection of over 2500 woody and herbaceous plants.
Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden in Old Town, ME
This garden includes several gardens including an All-America Selections Display garden, a Japanese garden, a native plant garden as well as a perennial border.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Gardens in Boston, MA
The museum has been undergoing renovations and expansion the past several years including that of the outdoor gardens. The interior courtyard garden is constantly changing its display of plants and so there is always something new to see.
Beauport, Sleeper McCann House Gardens in Gloucester, MA
The gardens here have also been undergoing renovation since 2009, restoring them to how they looked in the 1920′s and 1930′s. They reflect the Arts and Crafts movement of the day where a naturalistic landscape gradually changes to more formal garden “rooms.”
Marsh-Billings-Rockerfeller Garden in Woodstock, VT
Part of the Marsh-Billings-Rockerfeller national park, the garden was started by Mary Rockerfeller in the 1950′s. It reflects her love of color especially of blue. There are also an azalea and rhododendron garden, a rock garden, and a cutting garden.