Find Inspiration In Public Gardens

Gardens are dynamic entities, changing from year to year, month by month. Each plant occupies its niche for a finite period of productivity before being replaced by another.

Daffodils and asparagus sweep away the winter blues, followed by the hot summer blooms of daylillies and the crisp green of zucchinis. Asters and apples herald cool fall afternoons. Each species possesses its own season and place in the garden.

Like our gardens, we gardeners thrive on change; replacing plants, trying new varieties and designs. Sometimes our experiments are serendipitous, other times disastrous. Gardeners often become overhwelmed when desire outstrips vision. Even those who can easily conjure up the results of a garden plan may get bogged down in details.

A great way to find inspiration for garden design, layout, structure, and plant material is to visit public gardens.

You don't have to travel to Longwood to see marvelous public gardens, we are blessed with hundreds of facilities right here in northern New England. They range in size from modest to spectacular and display every type of garden plant from waterlilies to wiildflowers.

Massachusetts offers a wealth of public gardens. Old Sturbridge Village has something for everyone with flower, vegetable and herb gardens set against the backdrop of a charming colonial village.

The New England Wildflower Society maintains its headquarters in Framingham. The showpiece here is the Garden In The Woods with 1600 varieties of wild shrubs and flowers on display. If you've always dreamt of creating a breathtaking walk through dappled shade this is the place for you.

The American Elm is making a comeback from the devastation of Dutch Elm Disease, thanks in part to Bruce Carley of Action. He propagates and grows disease resistant strains of this stately shade tree. An example can be seen at the Acton Arboretum.

One of the most delightful places to visit in New Hampshire is Canterbury Shaker Village. An entire way of life that revolved around gardening, as well as spiritual belief, is portrayed here. Besides the tour and gardens they offer workshops and other events throughout the year.

Many Maine gardeners may not realize they can pay a call to the test gardens of Johnny's Selected Seeds in Albion. Dozens of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and grasses are grown each year and put through rigorous testing before being included in their catalog.

Vermonters may tour the trial gardens at Cooks Garden in Burlington. Visit their home page for a map to the facility. Next door is Gardeners Supply that recently began stocking bareroot plants from Royall River Roses, a grower in Yarmouth, ME.

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