Hollister House Garden is welcoming guests to visit four private gardens plus their own location for one day only.
The single-day event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Hollister House Garden: “Proceeds from this event provides critical funding for the educational programs and community outreach at Hollister House Garden.”
“Each of these gardens is a reflection of personal vision, creativity, and a deep love of horticulture,” says Pamela Moffett, executive director of Hollister House Garden. “We are delighted to share this rare opportunity with fellow garden lovers and supporters.”
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Curious about what to expect? Here is a full breakdown, courtesy of Hollister House Garden:
The Sumacs — features a stately home designed by Ehrick Rossiter and built in 1894. Rock outcroppings, specimen trees, boxwood hedges and gardens surround the house. A formal potager enclosed by a hedge of yews, a cutting garden, orchard, and perennial gardens make an elegant nod to the classic English garden. Fall is ushered in with a colorful dahlia collection. A hidden woodland trail includes an array of specimen trees, shrubs, and shade-loving perennials. Washington, CT
Platt House — completely organic gardens surrounding the 1898 Rossiter-designed Senator Orville Platt House are an explosion of Dahlia exuberance and color in September. The original Rossiter retaining wall is the foundation for the upper-level veranda garden. A Purple Fountain Weeping Beech is the focal point of the top garden and 1000+ dahlias of approximately 75 varieties are planted throughout the property. The kitchen garden, wisteria pergola and a meditation house are of particular interest.
Washington, CT
Treetops — an eight-acre property that boasts breathtaking views of Steep Rock Summit and south to Roxbury. In 2024, a complete reimagination of the landscape was undertaken by D.J. Noyes of Water Street Designs in Stonington, CT. The property has a long winding driveway through mature woodlands. The gardens around the house feature specimen trees, perennial gardens, a pool rose garden, a blue garden and a shade garden. Washington Depot, CT
The Steinman Garden — Mature trees encircle this private east-facing hillside garden. Woodland plantings feature swaths of heuchera, epimedium, tiarella, ferns, perennials and shrubs, big and small. Anchoring evergreens are found along pebbled stone paths and stairs. (These stairs do not have railings so care must betaken) Beds encircle the front and back lawns where a small pergola sports more shade perennials. A lovely garden developed over twenty years of learning. Washington, CT
Hollister House Garden — an American interpretation of classic English gardens: formal in its structure but informal and rather wild in its style of planting. Begun in 1979, the garden since that time has evolved into a unique synthesis of the formal and the natural, with paths, walls and hedges forming a magnificent backdrop to the garden’s exuberant plantings. 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT
“Advance Reservations for all five gardens is $40,” and is available through Saturday, Sept. 6, according to Hollister House Garden. “Individual gardens may be visited on the day of the tour $10 per person (cash or Venmo only). The event will take place rain or shine.”
