Garden Conservancy Open Days

The mission of the Garden Conservancy is to save and share outstanding American gardens for the education and inspiration of the public. Their “Open Days” program provides tours of the best private gardens nationwide. The admission fee of $10 per garden (free for children under 12) goes to the Garden Conservancy to preserve important public gardens. Mark your calendar for Sunday June 2, 2019 at 10-4 PM for four gardens right here in Rehoboth that will be part of the Garden Conservancy Open Days program:

134 Hillside Avenue - The landscape in the front of the house has three Juniper torulosa Hollywood surrounded by wintergem and baby gem Boxwood to create a “wave” effect. A path leads to the “key-hole” garden with a bench and surrounded by fragrant shrubs. A Smokebush, Calycantus and Carol Mackie Daphne, Climbing Hydrangea and “Ruby Slipper” blend with previously existing Rhododenrons. The other gardens surround a pool and overlook fields in the distance. The biggest garden on the left has perennials that bloom from spring to fall. To the right is a garden that features grasses and to the far right is a garden with plants that especially appeal to hummingbirds. Annuals are added to the gardens every year for color. A straw bale vegetable patch is behind the cabana.

37 Medalist Drive (off Hillside Avenue) - This garden abuts the Hillside Country Club golf course, providing expansive views. Optimal plantings have been chosen for the range of challenging ecosystems from rocky/dry soil to windy sites with wet soil. A cluster of trees with filtered sunlight hosts rhododendrons, azalea, pieris, enkiantus, hellebores and more. Most of the garden enjoys full sun. This is a garden for all seasons with spring ushered in with the blossoms of Okame cherries, saucer and star magnolias, daffodils, grape hyacinth, Spanish bluebells, ground phlox and PJM azalea. May sees the arrival of tulips, azalea, sweetly fragrant Viburnum carlessi, lilies of the valley and lilacs followed by bearded iris, chives, allium, bleeding heart and rhododendrons. The blooms in June are dogwoods, lemon-scented Virginia magnolia, peonies, Dutch iris, gumpo azalea, coral bells, catmint, campanula, clematis and geranium bikova. By late June summer has arrived with hydrangea, roses, foxgloves, garden phlox, daisies, veronica, lavender, astilbe, blue salvia, anise hyssop and Russian sage. Fall color comes with mums, fall foliage of Japanese maples and red berries on the viburnums, holly trees and winterberries.

Carpenter museum herb garden (parking lot is located off of Bay State Road, after the red house and before the Rehoboth Congregational Church) – no admission fee
This event will start at noon at 37 Medalist Drive and continue at the Carpenter museum herb garden that is maintained by the Rehoboth Garden Club. The herb garden at 37 Medalist Drive contains catmint, oregano, anise hyssop, lemon balm, tarragon, chives, parsley and basil. An armillary sphere is underplanted with alpine strawberries is flanked by a blueberry/raspberry patch, pergola, and roses. The Carpenter Museum herb garden contains sage, catmint, comfrey, lemon balm, oregano, tansey, Alpine strawberries, yarrow, thyme, lamb’s ear, Egyptian onion, several varieties of chives, wormwood, lavender, Lady’s bedstraw and rue, as well as flowers (lily of the valley, foxglove, peonies, echinacea). Learn about the history of herbs, their medicinal and culinary uses, and cultivation tips. All Rehoboth third grader children visit this herb garden each May; it is open to the public throughout the year.

Subsequently, visitors are invited to linger at the Carpenter Museum for their annual strawberry festival (free) held 1-5 PM --- strawberry shortcake, lemonade and baked goods for sale. An afternoon for the whole family - try your hand at historical crafts like candle-making, weaving, hearth-cooking, and much more. (Information on events: http://www.rehobothantiquarian.org/museum-events)

Tranquil Lake Nursery (45 River Street) – free admission and plant sale.
Talks by Warren Leach at 10 AM (foliage, texture and structures) and 1 PM (color and fragrance). Tranquil Lake Nursery is a farm growing and specializing in ornamental perennials and woody plants, exemplifying excellence in horticulture and landscape design while affirming environmental stewardship. The nursery offers distinctive plants as well as creative gardens and design services to further their passions for horticulture. Wander among two acres of display gardens, showcasing a diverse variety of perennials, grasses, trees, shrubs, vines, and tender plants. Pollinators and birds abound. You will see a number of mixed perennial and shrub borders, as well as an entry garden, ornamental vegetable garden, pond-side water garden, purple garden, bog garden, rain garden, dry-scree garden, and a pool with a water rill. There are also eight acres of fields of Siberian iris, Japanese iris, and daylilies.