Art and Garden Tour of Northeastern CT
2026-06-13 12:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Ashford, Coventry, Mansfield, Willington, Multiple, Multiple, Connecticut
Art and Garden Tour 2026
Art and Garden Tour of Northeastern Connecticut
Saturday and Sunday, June 13 & 14, 10 am to 5 pm
Visit the private gardens of ten professional artists. See the art that their gardens inspire and the art of fellow guest artists.
The Art and Garden Tour, the annual self-guided tour through the towns of Ashford, Coventry, Mansfield and Willington, is an opportunity to see these very special gardens and experience the art on display. There are paintings – watercolors, oils, pastels and acrylics – plus indoor and outdoor sculpture, ceramics, glass, pyrography, jewelry, and metal, cement and wood work. The diverse gardens include informal and formal ponds, meandering woodland paths, garden gates and swings. Lavish plantings of Canterbury bells, foxgloves, nepeta, peonies, roses, herbs and poppies fill the beds. The fruit and vegetable gardens are as attractive to look at as they are productive.
Art work, much of it horticulturally inspired, will be available for purchase. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Bring your camera or sketch book if you wish. Pose with a sculpture or beneath an arbor. The Art and Garden Tour is free.
For more information and a map, please visit:
ArtGardenCT.com

Ashford

Lance Glass Studio, 162 Amidon Road, 860-933-7953
Garden: Lance Arnold’s flower and vegetable gardens offer peace and daily pleasure. There’s a red carpet – visitors are royalty! – in his garden, creating bright paths between his beds of vegetables, hollyhocks, dahlias and gladioli. You might even glimpse a fairy who has stepped out from one of Lance’s fairy houses.
Host Artist: Lance Arnold is a flotsamist sculptor, a stained-glass artist and a painter. His varied palette consists of found object material from the forest and the sea, stained glass, and paint. Making use of driftwood, animal bone, oxidized metal, dump debris and other retrieved detritus, he creates unique pieces: glass panels, table sculpture, wall sculpture and fairy houses.
Willow Tree Pottery, 24 Bebbington Road, 860-287-8056
Garden: This is an old-fashioned and rustic country garden. Foxgloves, peonies, nepeta, roses, and perennial geraniums color the borders. There are benches and chairs for sitting, arbors, a small stone terrace and an old hay rake. Josephine (the scarecrow) watches over the cutting garden. In the midst of it all, is the green corrugated kiln shed with an outdoor Szalay hummingbird print.
Host Artist: Suzy Staubach is inspired by the country pottery of ancient Korea, early America and 18th and 19th century England and France. She throws on a simple kick wheel and makes her own glazes from feldspars, clays and sand. Her elegant and quiet pots are meant to be used and enjoyed in the kitchen and at the table. She makes rolled rim mixing bowls, oval bakers, covered dishes, platters, tableware, lanterns and garden bells.
Guest Artist: Barbara Katz is a potter and sculptor working with clay. She creates simple forms based on and evocative of ancient rituals, artifacts and shamanic figures. When she discovers forms in clay she is conscious of her continuity with other artists as they have created objects for thousands of years using the same methods of shaping and processing this most elemental material available. Barbara makes vessels, bowls, wall art, and sculptures.
Guest Artists: Gretchen Geromin and Lauren Merlo work as a team, collaborating on cutting and serving boards and signs they make from local downed trees. After the trees are dried and milled, Lauren painstakingly crafts them into cheese, charcuterie, and bread boards. Gretchen then wood burns them with her original art: frogs, hummingbirds, sunflowers, roses, dragons, fish and more. Finally, Lauren gives them multiple coats of oil, making them satiny smooth and a pleasure to use.
Coventry
Barbara Timberman Watercolor Paintings 1194 Main Street, 959-929-2112
Garden: Visitors in June will delight in the abundance of lettuces planted in red-and-green patterns; garden peas and snap peas coming into harvest: chard, broccoli, beans and other later vegetables all laid out in pleasing blocks of greenery with the startling explosion of color from the central poppy walk. The herb garden supplies all the culinary flavors needed in the kitchen. Surrounding the entire edible garden are the delightful flowers of late spring: foxgloves and roses, Canterbury Bells and columbines
Host Artist: Barbara Timberman begins her watercolors with a close observation of plant structure and form, drawing on her background in botany. She is keenly interested in color relationships. In her work, Barbara often juxtaposes her plant subjects with complex and beautiful handmade objects. The result – exuberantly joyful paintings that call attention to the “tangled, intertwining beauty of the material world.” Her art graces many homes and has won a multitude of awards. Barbara also makes finely crafted blank journals.
Maple Brook Studio, 950 Main Street, 860-916-4232
Garden: A stone labyrinth, its path defined by moss, graces this hidden garden. Visitors are invited to walk the spiral path one at a time, and feel the calming effects. The labyrinth is sheltered by a red Japanese maple and fringed with woodland ferns. There’s also a sanctuary garden punctuated with sculptures, set in a rough meadow.
Host Artist: Aline Hoffman calls her art “Emotional Realism.” An artist since early childhood, over the years her work has included pen and ink, graphite, oils, acrylic, stone and metal sculpture, colored pencil, pastel, Chinese brush painting, pyrography, gourd sculpture, and her forest delights series. She explains that transformation is her “constant in life and in art.” Aline is currently engaged with a series of birch tree paintings on translucent textured papers.
Guest Artist: Gerard Ferrari is a ceramic artist inspired by natural forms, insects, mechanical objects, robotics, masks, and ancient cave paintings. He makes sculptural teapots, ceramic sculptures, vessels, and flower pots. Gerard uses trompe l’oeil surfaces on both his functional vessels and sculptural artworks.
Guest Artist: Jason Hilley works in forged steel, iron and copper. He began blacksmithing when he was 13 and has followed his passion for the work ever since. He says he enjoys “the process of moving metal with the help of fire and an assortment of hammers.” Jason creates high quality artistic fireplace tools, functional art, home and garden decor, and high end gardening tools. His work is found in homes, art shows and exhibits throughout the US and elsewhere.
Storrs/Mansfield
FentonRiver Studio, 287 Gurleyville Road, 860-429-3646
Garden: This flamboyant cottage garden surrounds an old button factory located next to the Fenton River in the quaint, historic village of Gurleyville. It is resplendent with pink, purple, red and white peonies, iris, and poppies. The garden features large garden sculptures including two ladies, a peacock and a tortoise bursting with annuals. There’s also a beautiful pond with 25 inch Koi.
Host Artist: Shauna Shane works in oil, pastel, watercolor and sculpture. Her goal is to share her love of the natural world with others through color, light and energy. Her studio is filled with impressionistic paintings. Her garden is filled with her sculptures. Shauna has won many awards for her work and has been a teacher and mentor for many Connecticut artists.
Flying Dragon Farm Studio, 533 Chaffeeville Road, 860-429-5222
Garden: An expansive, colorful garden surrounds the spacious barn studio. Guests can wander through a lush mix of fruit trees, berry bushes, flowers and vegetables. Amidst this profusion of horticultural delight, there is a lovely fish pond. Birds and bees abound. Located near the historic Gurleyville Gristmill.
Host Artist: Mary Noonan works in oil, water colors, encaustic , graphite and collage. Using multiple styles and techniques, Mary reflects her relationship to the people and natural world around her in each of the pieces she creates.
Guest Artist: Elizabeth Clark creates jewelry, ornaments, Dragon Eyes, fairy doors and wands. She uses metals such as silver and bronze, various woods and stones, beads, resin, and glass. Her work reflects her love of nature and gardens. Indeed, she even makes miniature gardens!
Guest Artist: Leanne Peters loves to draw and paint, exploring the mysteries of nature and emotion. A cast of whimsical and loveable animal characters inhabits her work. Leanne accepts commissions of animal portraits and people and is a much sought after graphic artist, designing puzzles, cards and more.
Scott Rhoades Studio, 422 Browns Road, 860-423-9779
Garden: Ellie and Scott Rhoades have created a picture-perfect garden around their house and the studio Scott built by hand after a 35 year career as an art teacher. The garden features stone arches, formal borders, terraces, a pool, fruit trees, a highly productive vegetable garden, an old-fashioned swing and a wealth of specimen shrubs, trees and perennials.
Host Artist: Scott Rhoades works in the style of traditional realism using acrylic paint mostly on gesso primed panel. The smooth surface enables him to work with fine details. His award-winning paintings are inspired by his travels around New England: the wilderness, weathered barns, historic buildings, people, and animals. His works are shown and collected throughout the US and internationally.
Michelle Allison Metal Art, 638 Browns Road, 860-933-5072
Garden: A series of interconnected yet distinct spaces in Michelle’s garden showcase welded metal sculpture, dry stacked stone cairns, and installations of reclaimed metal objects. Her garden includes native stone work, perennial borders, shade gardens, the cairn meadow, a small pond, vistas, views and outdoor galleries. Michelle says she sees the landscape as her canvas. Visitors will immediately understand what she means.
Host Artist: Michelle Allison makes fabricated and welded metal sculptures using steel bar, rod, sheet and plate as well as recycled agricultural and industrial elements. Her work includes scaled up urns, bowls, spheres, cubes and triangular solids constructed of ribs and rings with a large amount of negative space. She finishes her pieces with the bold colors of modern automotive “Hot Rod” paints and, for some work, a natural rust patina. Recently Michelle has been exploring metal based “abstract expressionism.”
Willington
Holes in the Woods, 17 Lustig Road, 860-878-0768
Garden: A labor of love, this garden includes streams, a half-acre pond, a colorful wildflower meadow, and acres of blooming mountain laurel. Two miles of named woodland trails wind through a lavish display of ferns, moss, boulders and ledge. There are traditional flower beds too. Trail maps available.
Host Artist: John C. Starinovich uses natural holes from downed trees combined with metals, crystals, deer antler, bone, shells, seed pods, various woods, LED lights, and most importantly, mirrors to create his sculptures. He uses a lengthy, controlled natural process to help him debark the wood while preserving the cambium layer. John uses both hand and power tools to create his one-of- a-kind art. He was featured on CPTV and has won numerous awards for his work. He has more than 100 wall hung and pedestal sculptures in his gallery.
NC Bunnell Studio, 12 Red Oak Hill Road, 860-377-7817
Garden: Nancy calls her garden “a bit of heaven painted on earth.” Through the years, she and her husband, a retired landscaper, planted flowering shrubs including azaleas, lilacs, hydrangeas, dogwood and a towering thirty-foot rhododendron. There are flower beds and vegetable gardens and a fishpond surrounded by butterfly bushes.
Host Artist: Nancy Cooke Bunnell is an award-winning pastel and acrylic artist. Her work ranges from realism to energetic abstractions. She is inspired by Ireland, landscapes, flowers, cows, lambs and recently, octopuses. She divides her time between creating paintings and teaching others. She is presently teaching abstraction at the Glastonbury Art Guild and a skill and creative based program for homeschool children at Willington Library. Her awards, too numerous to list, include first in state at the Connecticut Pastel Society.
Guest Artist: Julie M Beckham‘s work is characterized by a vibrant, shimmering color palette which she transforms into flowing, whimsical abstract and realistic compositions. She draws inspiration from nature with the aim that her paintings summon a joyful and blissful response. Julie’s work reflects a lifelong fascination with nature and the movement of water.

South Windsor Garden Tour and Plant Sale
2026-06-14 09:30 - 16:00 | South Windsor Public Library, 1550 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor, CT, 06074
Come smell the flowers! Down to Earth Garden Club and Watershed History Collective host a South Windsor Garden Tour. Visit 6 beautiful gardens. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the tour. Tickets and information: https://www.swgardenclub.org/garden-tour.
Saturday, June 13- 8:30-4, Plant sale -SW Public Library-front lawn. Sunday, June 14- 9:30-4 – Garden Tour

Art and Garden Tour of Northeastern CT
2026-06-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Ashford, Coventry, Mansfield,Willington, Multiple, Multiple, CT

"Gardening for ALL Ages," CT Hort's Symposium, is scheduled for Oct. 24
2026-06-16 08:00 - 17:00 | CT
Connecticut Horticultural Society Presents: 2026 Symposium: “Gardening for ALL Ages”
featuring Rebecca McMackin, Christine Darnell, Jennifer McGuinness and a panel of experts
Saturday, October 24, 2026, in Cromwell
The Connecticut Horticultural Society’s biennial symposium, “Gardening for ALL Ages,” returns in person on October 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marriott Hartford Cromwell. The daylong event will feature presentations by garden experts Rebecca McMackin, Christine Darnell, and Jennifer McGuinness, followed by “Gardening at Every Age,” a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Jim Sirch. Panelists include gardening experts at various stages of life and career: Karen Bussolini, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, Dan Furman, Eric Mason, Jennifer McGuinness, and Jillian Shea.
The symposium is designed to inspire, enlighten, and educate novice and expert gardeners alike—of all ages.
Our keynote speaker is Rebecca McMackin, whose talk is “Adventures in Ecological Horticulture.” Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically.
Christine Darnell’s will present “Approaching the Garden.” She is a garden and planting design specialist. Her firm, Christine Darnell Gardens, offers naturalistic planting design services in the CT area, and specializes in biodiverse landscapes and beautiful sustainable gardens. Christine is the vice-chair of Lyme’s Inland Wetlands and Conservation Committee, serves on the Building and Grounds Committee for the Florence Griswold Museum, and teaches landscape design for the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association, training the next generation of gardeners, designers and nursery men and women.
Jennifer McGuinness will discuss “Designing for Birds: Lessons from an Evolving Garden.” Jen McGuinness is a lifelong gardener and the author of the award-winning Bird-Friendly Gardening, published by Cool Springs Press. She is also the garden writer and photographer behind Frau Zinnie (FrauZinnie.com), where she shares personal gardening insights, expert interviews, and seasonal inspiration. Based in Connecticut, she champions organic, wildlife-friendly gardening and brings a background in journalism, communications, and visual storytelling to her work.
Between speakers, symposium attendees can meet our many vendors.
Admission, which is the same as it was in 2020, includes coffee, buffet lunch. Parking is free. Register by October 1 and the cost is $95 for members, $125 for non-members, and $40 for students with a valid ID. From October 2-14, members are $120, non-members are $150, and students are $65. Seats are limited to 225. Sorry, no walk ins. Go to CTHort.org to register.

POSTPONED: Digging Deeper into Ecological Horticulture with Uli Lorimer
2026-06-18 19:00 - 20:30 | CT
Due to an unforeseen personal situation, Uli Lorimer’s scheduled presentation, “Digging Deeper Into Ecological Horticulture,” originally set for this Thursday, will be rescheduled for the fall, the Connecticut Horticultural Society announced today.
The presentation had been scheduled to take place at CNTR in Middletown, Connecticut, at 7 p.m. and to be livestreamed on Zoom. Members will receive notice when a new date has been confirmed. CT Hort and Mr. Lorimer apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Those who purchased a ticket for the presentation will be reimbursed.

Uli Lorimer
Digging Deeper into Ecological Horticulture
June 18, 2026, 7pm
CNTR and on Zoom
725 Main Street
Middletown
Brought to you through the generosity of the Lois and Herb Isaacson Endowed Lecture fund and the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones.
Free for members; $10 for non-members (register here)
What is Ecological Horticulture? What distinguishes it from mainstream horticulture? Why is genetic diversity important?
Ecological Horticulture takes a different approach from traditional gardening by focusing on nature-friendly principles. This talk will dive into key ideas and challenge common gardening practices. For example: Why is genetic diversity essential? Can I use cultivated versions of native plants? How should climate change influence my gardening choices? These questions and more will guide a discussion on creating and caring for gardens in harmony with the environment.
Uli Lorimer serves as the Director of Horticulture for the Native Plant Trust, a leading non-profit dedicated to preserving the native flora of the Northeastern United States. In this role, he oversees the acclaimed Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Nasami Farm in Western Massachusetts, which focuses on native plant propagation and research. Uli’s impressive career includes positions at the National Arboretum, Wave Hill, and as the Curator of Native Plants at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. A lifelong enthusiast of plants and biodiversity, Uli continues to study the region’s ecosystems, collect seeds from the wild, and introduce new plants to collections.
He is also a prolific author and speaker, well-known to audiences across the horticultural community. His publications include Tough Natives for Tough Places and A Native Plant Reader. His latest work, The Northeast Native Plant Primer, reflects his deep commitment to native plants and their ecological value. With a science-based approach and a passion for biodiversity, Uli offers invaluable insights into selecting plants that maximize the ecological impact of our gardens while celebrating the beauty of native flora.
Free for members; $10 for non-members (register here)

New England Rose Show: Once Upon a Bloom
2026-06-20 10:00 - 15:00 | The Garden at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA, 02482, United States
Join the New England Rose Society for a day full of these fragrant and beautiful blooms at the Garden at Elm Bank! Listen to rose experts, make flower crowns, experience themed displays and buy roses to plant in your garden at the 2026 New England Rose Show: Once Upon a Bloom.
Included with Garden Admission: FREE for MHS Members, $14 Adults, $5 Kids 3-17 (2 and under free)
Presented by the New England Rose Society
Schedule:

7am-10am Exhibit Entry (Open to Public)
10am-2:30pm Rose Sale, Flower Crown and Bouquet Stations
10:30-11:15am Drop-In Seminar: Easy Roses, Happy Gardens by David Cannistraro
11:15am-12pm Drop-In Seminar: Structure in the Landscape by Rosemary Aldridge
12:30pm-3pm Show Exhibition Open to Public
2:30pm-3pm Awards Ceremony

Saturday, June 20, 2026
10am-3pm
The Garden at Elm Bank (900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482)

Learning with Nature | Tomato Loves Basil
2026-06-20 10:30 - 12:00 | Grace Farms, 365 Lukes Wood Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Discover the delicious world of tomatoes — from heirlooms to hybrids — and learn which varieties will thrive best in your garden. Grace Farms Horticulture Specialist Michael Poulin will share his favorite picks and provide expert growing tips including all you need to know about planting, pruning, and harvesting at peak flavor.
Cap off the experience with a small seasonal treat of a caprese skewer, then take home your choice of a tomato or basil plant to jump-start your summer garden.
This program takes place rain or shine; please dress comfortably for time spent both indoors and outdoors.

Screening of “The Extraordinary Caterpillar”
2026-06-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd., Avon, CT, 06001, United States
Join us for a screening of Homegrown National Park’s “The Extraordinary Caterpillar” on Monday, June 22 at 6:30 pm featuring Doug Tallamy, Sam Jaffee and David Wagner. It will be held at Avon Free Library, 281 Country Club Road in Avon.
This event is part of Avon’s “Growing a Greener Community” initiative and is sponsored by the Garden Club of Avon, Avon Land Trust, Clean Energy Commission, and the Avon Library.
Free to attend. Register at www.avonctlibrary.info

Take a day trip to Rhode Island’s South Coast Wed., June 24
2026-06-24 | CT
A day trip to Rhode Island’s South Coast
Wed., June 24

Join the Connecticut Horticultural Society with special guest, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, as we visit the South Coast of Rhode Island.
Sakonnet Garden is a secret garden in Little Compton. We’ll have a guided tour of this delightful garden.
Enjoy lunch at the Brick Alley Pub in the heart of historic Newport.
The Farmer’s Daughter in South Kingstown is the perfect spot to browse through this garden center.
Cost: $170 per person / $165 per person with CT Hort Member Discount
Register: https://www.friendshiptours.net/tours/cthort-sakonnet

A day trip to Rhode Island’s South Coast
2026-06-24 | Sakonnet Garden, 510 W Main Rd, Little Compton, CT, 02837, United States
Wed., June 24, all day:
Join the Connecticut Horticultural Society with special guest, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, as we visit the South Coast of Rhode Island.
Sakonnet Garden is a secret garden in Little Compton. We’ll have a guided tour of this delightful garden.
Enjoy lunch at the Brick Alley Pub in the heart of historic Newport.
The Farmer’s Daughter in South Kingstown is the perfect spot to browse through this garden center.
Cost: $170 per person / $165 per person with CT Hort Member Discount
Register: https://www.friendshiptours.net/tours/cthort-sakonnet

Climate Change in Connecticut
2026-06-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Enfield Senior Center, 299 Elm Street, Enfield, CT, 06082, United States
Please join us for an informative session with Susan Quincy from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), who will discuss how climate change is impacting Connecticut. As always, this event is free to the public and all are welcome!

The AWE Program Wings & Wildflowers Workshop
2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 | 183 Windsor Ave. Windsor, CT 06095, 183 Windsor Ave, Windsor, CT, 06095, United States
Join us for a free, hands-on workshop exploring monarch butterflies, native plant ecosystems, and the impact of invasive species. Participants will learn how intentional planting supports pollinators and strengthens local biodiversity while gaining practical knowledge of native species and habitat creation. Discover how small planting choices can make a meaningful impact on resilient, thriving ecosystems.
This workshop will be led by Valerie Allgrove, a well-practiced gardener and master trapper with extensive experience in wildlife stewardship, native plant education, and ecological balance.

CT Historic Gardens Day
2026-06-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Throughout CT
Visit one or several stunning historic gardens and houses on this spectacular day!
Hours and activities vary; please check the CHG website for more information.

Day Trip and Private Tour of the Florence Griswold Museum and Gardens Wed., July 1
2026-07-01 | CT
Day Trip and Private Tour of the Florence Griswold Museum and Gardens
Wed., July 1

Spend the day at the Florence Griswold Museum! Starting at 10am, you’ll enjoy a private tour of the gallery and gardens with Gardens Coordinator Linda Turner.
For lunch at noon, you are welcome to have a picnic on the grounds, eat at the museum’s restaurant Café Flo, or go to a walkable restaurant nearby, before enjoying a garden tour and talk at 1:15pm. At 2pm, take a formal tour of the house with a docent or tour the house on your own.
An optional Q&A and coffee break will take place at 3pm in the barn on the property.
Cost: $35 Limit: 20 Register here.

Day Trip and Private Tour of the Florence Griswold Museum and Gardens
2026-07-01 10:00 - 15:30 | Florence Grswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Spend the day at the Florence Griswold Museum! Starting at 10am, you’ll enjoy a private tour of the gallery and gardens with Gardens Coordinator Linda Turner.
For lunch at noon, you are welcome to have a picnic on the grounds, eat at the museum’s restaurant Café Flo, or go to a walkable restaurant nearby, before enjoying a garden tour and talk at 1:15pm. At 2pm, take a formal tour of the house with a docent or tour the house on your own.
An optional Q&A and coffee break will take place at 3pm in the barn on the property.
Cost: $35 Limit: 20

On This Good Earth: A History of Gardening in America
2026-07-01 13:30 - 15:00 | Old St. Andrews Church, 59 Tariffville Rd, Bloomfield, CT, 06002
We garden for many reasons: sustenance, beauty, relaxation and ecology are just a few examples. Garden choices and practices reflect the larger society at any given moment. During this 250th birthday for the United States we will take a look at gardening trends throughout the years and how they were influenced by – and impacted – ideas and events of thei

Plant Chat
2026-07-01 19:00 - 20:00 | CT
Plant Chat is a free open forum where fellow gardeners can connect, share ideas, and learn from one another. Held quarterly on Zoom for one hour, each session offers inspiration, practical tips for fixing common gardening mishaps, and a chance to exchange ideas. Everyone is welcome—you don’t need to be a member to participate.

Nature Studio for Children
2026-07-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Grace Farms, 365 Lukes Wood Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Discover the tiny wonders of nature!

Using a digital scope and projector, look at monarch and white cabbage moth caterpillars, ladybugs, wildflowers, and other small creatures in incredible, larger-than-life detail. Children will love spotting colors, patterns, and movements not visible to the naked eye.

With friendly guidance from our Education Team, families will discover how these little creatures help keep the Grace Farms ecosystem healthy. This fun, hands-on exploration of the natural world is the perfect activity before or after walking the surrounding gardens and trails. Recommended for ages 4 – 11 with adult caregivers.

This will be offered weekly on Tuesdays in July and August.

The AWE Program Farm-To-Table Day
2026-07-11 10:00 - 12:00 | 183 Windsor Ave. Windsor, CT 06095, 183 Windsor Ave, Windsor, CT, 06095, United States
Join us for a free, hands-on workshop where participants will gather fresh ingredients from the garden and collaboratively prepare a seasonal table experience that honors local abundance and shared meals. Learn how harvesting, preparing, and sharing food together strengthens community while deepening connections to the land and the seasons.
This workshop will be led by Liz Stanley, who brings experience in seasonal cooking, garden-based learning, and creating meaningful shared food experiences rooted in local abundance.

Emberborn Gardens created out of a fire-ravaged forest
2026-07-18 10:00 - 16:00 | 126 Kennerson Reservoir Rd, 126 Kennerson Reservoir Road, Eastford, CT, 06242
Gothic revival house surrounded buildings and a landscape based on the writing of 19th century Garden writer and designer Alexander Jackson Downing. Kitchen garden, Italian garden, a dry garden, a wildflower meadow, native shrub borders. The Woodland is covered with native blueberries and huckleberries. Fences, bottle trees, a bridge, arbors, lots of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

SOLD OUT! Tour two breathtaking gardens: Private Tour of Cheryl Fox & Chrissie D’Esopo gardens Sun., July 19
2026-07-19 13:00 - 17:30 | CT
Sorry, this tour is sold out!
Tour two breathtaking gardens: Private Tour of Cheryl Fox & Chrissie D’Esopo gardens
Sun., July 19, 1-5:30pm

Tour two breathtaking gardens in one summer afternoon: Cheryl Fox’s astounding daylily garden and Chrissie D’Esopo’s famed Flower House in Avon, on Sunday, July 19 from 1pm-5:30pm. First, it’s off to see Cheryl Fox’s daylily collection as well as her perennials and shrubs in a scenic area of Bloomfield, from 1-3pm. Then, we’ll go to Chrissie D’Esopo’s Flower House in Avon, where quality and quantity combine for an amazingly beautiful outing. It’s all grown by Chrissie; a true labor of love.
Cost: $10
Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/46ywq3p

Private Tour of Cheryl Fox & Chrissie D’Esopo gardens
2026-07-19 13:00 - 17:30 | CT Hort, 27 Duncaster Rd, Bloomfield, CT, 06001
Tour two breathtaking gardens in one summer afternoon: Cheryl Fox’s astounding daylily garden and Chrissie D’Esopo’s famed Flower House in Avon, on Sunday, July 19 from 1pm-5:30pm. First, it’s off to see Cheryl Fox’s daylily collection as well as her perennials and shrubs in a scenic area of Bloomfield, from 1-3pm. Then, we’ll go to Chrissie D’Esopo’s Flower House in Avon, where quality and quantity combine for an amazingly beautiful outing. It’s all grown by Chrissie; a true labor of love.

The AWE Program Mini Greens & Microclimates Workshop
2026-07-25 10:00 - 12:00 | 183 Windsor Ave. Windsor, CT 06095, 183 Windsor Ave, Windsor, CT, 06095, United States
Join us for a free, hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to cultivate microgreens and build simple mini-greenhouse covers. Explore practical techniques for extending the growing season and increasing sustainability in compact spaces, whether at home, in classrooms, or community gardens. Participants will leave with foundational skills for growing fresh food year-round in small spaces.

NEW TRIP Maine Getaway Aug. 30-Sept. 3
2026-08-30 - 2026-09-02 | CT
It’s off to charming Maine! Travel with Friendship Tours and Federated Gardens Clubs of Connecticut for a three-night, coastal Maine trip packed with sites, gardens, and delightful dining.
We focus on Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Portland Maine where we meet our Maine garden club friends! Come along and enjoy the fun!
We’ll be stopping at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Coastal Maine Botanic Garden, Wicasset and Boothbay Gardens and Portland Gardens. We’ll spend two nights at Smuggler’s Cove and one night at the Courtyard Marriott Portland Waterfront.

Tour Limited to 30 Passengers
$1799 Per Person Double Occupancy
$2229 Single Occupancy
Non-Member Guest Add $50
INFO: Kathy Lindroth Tour Coordinator at kathleen.lindroth@gmail.com or 860.836.3407.
Click here for the trip brochure.

Maine Garden Getaway
2026-08-30 - 2026-09-02 | CT
It’s off to charming Maine! Travel with Friendship Tours and Federated Gardens Clubs of Connecticut for a three-night, coastal Maine trip packed with sites, gardens, and delightful dining.
We focus on Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Portland Maine where we meet our Maine garden club friends! Come along and enjoy the fun!
We’ll be stopping at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Coastal Maine Botanic Garden, Wicasset and Boothbay Gardens and Portland Gardens. We’ll spend two nights at Smuggler’s Cove and one night at the Courtyard Marriott Portland Waterfront.
Cost: $1799 Per Person Double Occupancy / $2229 Single Occupancy
$1799 Per Person Double Occupancy
$2229 Single Occupancy
Non-Member Guest Add $50
INFO: Kathy Lindroth Tour Coordinator at kathleen.lindroth@gmail.com or 860.836.3407

Editing the Garden: Advice from the High Line with Yuki Kaneko • September 17
2026-09-17 08:30 - 19:00 | CT
Editing the Garden: Advice from the High Line with Yuki Kaneko
Thursday, September 17 • 7pm
On Zoom and in person at Congregation Beth Israel 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford
(Members will receive the Zoom link the Sunday before the talk.)
A naturalistic garden may appear effortless, but its beauty is the result of intentional care and thoughtful curation. Drawing from her work stewarding one of the world’s most influential naturalistic gardens, Yuki Kaneko will share strategies for managing dynamic plant communities while preserving design intent. The talk covers practical techniques to cultivate naturalistic aesthetics that remain vibrant and intentional across all four seasons. Attendees will walk away with a new perspective on plant selections that enhance texture and structure, learning how to balance ecological function with an artistic vision. Join us to learn the art of “editing”—an essential practice to refine ever-evolving naturalistic gardens.
Yuki Kaneko is the Senior Horticulture Manager at the High Line where she manages the landscape of the internationally celebrated urban public park in New York City. Born in Japan, Yuki earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Tama Art University and was awarded the Blanchette H. Rockefeller Fellowship to study art in the United States. She received certificates from the New York Botanical Garden in horticulture and botany and further trained through the John Nally Internship at Wave Hill. Since joining the High Line in 2016, she has stewarded its iconic naturalistic gardens designed by Piet Oudolf. With a passion for interpreting designed landscapes in the context of ecological conservation, she manages the High Line’s horticulture operations, plant curation, and programming to provide a naturalistic landscape corridor that supports biodiversity and connects people with nature.
Registration link coming soon!

Longwood Gardens Christmas • Dec. 11-13, 2026
2026-12-11 - 2026-12-13 | CT
Longwood Gardens Christmas
Dec. 11-13, 2026

Experience the beauty of the holidays in Pennsylvania and more. Over the course of our three days together, we’ll travel to Lyndhurst Mansion, the famous Winterthur Museum, and then, to Longwood Gardens, before catching the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show.

Includes two nights at the hotel, two breakfasts and one lunch and one dinner (with $50 in dining dollars), sightseeing and admissions.

Trip cost: $1169 per person double occupancy / $1119 with CT Hort member discount
$1359 single person single occupancy / $1309 with CT Hort member discount

Register: www.friendshiptours.net/tours/longwood-gardens-christmas-ct-horticultural-society or call Barbara at Friendship Tours at 860-243-1630.

Philadelphia Flower Show and more • March 12-14, 2027
2027-03-12 - 2027-03-14 | CT
Philadelphia Flower Show with New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show & Longwood Gardens Orchid Extravaganza March 12-14, 2027

Join CT Hort, Friendship Tours, and special guest Nancy Du-Brule-Clemente for this incredible annual trip to see the famous Philadelphia Flower and more.

Includes: -Philadelphia Flower Show Admission – Help Celebrate Penn Hort Society’s 200th Birthday! -New York Botanical Gardens Orchid Show -Longwood Gardens -Two Nights Hotel Accommodations at the Mendenhall Inn with Welcome Reception -Two breakfast & two dinners -Friendship Tours Escort

Trip cost: $1045 per person double occupancy / $1219 per person single occupancy (CT Hort members receive a $50 discount).

Register here. Or call Barbara at Friendship Tours at 860-243-1630.
