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New England's Gardens

Public gardens of all types are found from one end of New England to another. They range from formal and traditional, like the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford, CT, to the wide and whimsical, like the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine. Rhododendrons bloom wild at a park in southern New Hampshire and butterflies have their own garden habitats in parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. And in the warm months, you can take garden tours at museums, farms and historic sites throughout Vermont.

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Lake Morey Resort

82 Clubhouse Road Fairlee, VT, 05045 Phone: 802-333-4311 Toll-Free: 800-423-1211

Gardens with reflecting pools, fountains, a highlight of this picturesque resort by the lake

Exquisite gardens in full bloom are just one of the many attractions that make a stay at the Lake Morey Resort so memorable. The 100-acre resort property includes gardens perfect for strolling and for small gatherings. The Maple View Gardens, in front of the hotel, feature a gazebo, trellises, a reflecting pool and fountain. It also has a wood-fired pizza oven! The Hemlock Gardens are bordered by hemlocks and old-growth maples. Some of the resort’s 130 newly renovated guest rooms look out over the gardens; others offer lake views. The resort’s year-round activities include hiking, lawn games, bocce and tennis courts, lake activities from boating to paddle boarding, and an 18-hole championship golf course. There’s an indoor pool, sauna and restaurant and pub dining.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

105 Botanical Gardens Drive Boothbay, ME, 04537 Phone: 207-633-8000

New England’s largest botanical garden features acres of spectacular ornamental gardens and stonework, waterfront and woodland trails, a beautiful visitor center with café and gift shop, and a shorefront Fairy House Village – all on 248 acres of coastal landscape. Special events and programs for all ages, year-round, include a house and garden tour, book fair, Maine Fairy House Festival, Kitchen Garden Series, college horticulture courses, and more.

Florence Griswold Garden - Old Lyme, CT - Photo Credit Connecticut's Historic Gardens

Florence Griswold Museum Gardens

96 Lyme Street Old Lyme, CT, 06371 Phone: 860-434-5542

In the early 20th century, Florence Griswold’s boarding house in Old Lyme was the hub of one of the most important summer art colonies in America. Visitors may explore the beautiful property alongside the Lieutenant River and walk through the “old-fashioned” historic gardens.

The Elms

367 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-847-1000

A National Historic Landmark, The Elms is a French-style chateau built in 1901 by architect Horace Trumbauer as a summer house for millionaire entrepreneur Edward Julius Berwind. It contains every technological marvel of its time, and was one of the first Newport houses to be fully electrified. The estate includes a 10-acrre park and elaborate sunken garden. Consult mansion website for public hours, which may change seasonally.

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Boston Public Garden

Boylston, Arlington, Beacon and Charles Streets Boston, MA, 02116 Phone: 617-723-8144

The Boston Public Garden, located in the heart of Boston, is adjacent to the Boston Commons. Together, these two parks are the northern end of the Emerald Necklace, a long string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Public Garden is bounded on the south by Boylston Street, on the west by Arlington Street, on the north by Beacon Street, and on the east by Charles Street, which divides the Public Garden from the Boston Common.
The Public Garden contains formal plantings and a four-acre lake where the Swan Boats, a famous Boston tourist attraction, operate. People can sit in the ornamental swan-shaped boats, which are pedaled around the lake by a guide. A famous feature of the Boston Public Gardens is a set of bronze statues based on the main characters from the children's story Make Way for Ducklings.

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

11 French Drive Boylston, MA, 01505 Phone: 508-869-6111

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a nonprofit organization located in Boylston, Massachusetts. A regional destination, we are operated on 171 acres by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, one of the oldest of its kind in the country, and are open to the public for garden viewing, trail walking, activities, private events, educational classes, weddings, exhibitions, and more. We are an AAM-accredited museum that includes an irreplaceable collection of plants. We hope to engage you in our life-long passion for growing plants for their ornamental, economic, and ecological value. Learn all about New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill including its history, mission, and its staff, please visit our website by clicking the name above.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

101 Ferry Road - RI Route 114 Bristol, RI, 02809 Phone: 401-253-2707

The magnificent English country mansion on a hilltop above Narragansett Bay has wonderful gardens and lots of seasonal events, classes, and demonstration at which guests may enjoy them. A Giant Sequoia and centennial rose grace the many garden plots and winding paths.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

77 Forest Street Hartford, CT, 06105 Phone: 860-522-9258

At the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, interesting things to look at are found outside as well as inside. Inside the center, exhibits inform visitors about the life of the famous activist, abolitionist and author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Outside, the gardens are instructive about the author’s knowledge of and appreciation for Victorian-era flowers and plantings. The gardens, one of Connecticut’s Historic Gardens, include a woodland garden, a wildflower meadow, a high Victorian texture garden, heritage roses and and formal color-coordinated gardens. The property also includes the state’s largest magnolia tree and a dogwood that is more than 100 years old.

Rhododendrom State Park - Fitzwilliam, NH

Rhododendron State Park

Rhododendron Road at Rockwood Pond Road Fitzwilliam, NH, 03447 Phone: 603-532-8862

Named a National Natural Landmark in 1982, this rhododendron garden produces a glorious show at peak time in July. A nearby wildflower trail blooms from spring through fall. - Trail Maps

Heritage Museums and Gardens - Sandwich, MA - Photo Credit MOTT

Heritage Museums & Gardens

67 Grove Street Sandwich, MA, 02563 Phone: 508-888-3300

Here are 100 spectacular acres of trees, shrubs, beautiful flowers and sweeping lawns. This extraordinary environment offers unmatched horticulture, garden design, outdoor discovery, the exhibition of great collections and a year-round blaze of vibrant color. The region’s moderate temperatures and rainfall mean happy plants totaling more than 500 cultivars spread over Heritage in the Labyrinth, the Hart Family Garden Maze, Hidden Hollow, Flume Fountain, the Parade Field, the Wicked Plants Garden, and the Windmill Garden where some of the most spectacular blooms can be found. Enjoy garden-related workshops, lectures, and activities throughout the year. Three gallery buildings house special and permanent exhibitions. Plan a special event or group tour and be sure to visit the Shop at Heritage.