Connecticut's Historic Gardens Day
Thankful Arnold House Museum
Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day is June 22, 2025
Enjoy tours and activities at 16 distinctive historic sites & gardens statewide
STATEWIDE: Connecticut is home to a bounty of beautiful and unique gardens, many of them an integral part of historic landmarks dotted throughout the state. Connecticut’s Historic Gardens (CHG), a group of sixteen distinctive historic sites and gardens within Connecticut’s borders, hosts its annual CT’s Historic Gardens Day on Sunday, June 22, inviting visitors to experience the timeless beauty and rich histories of places that have delighted and inspired patrons for a century or more. With a variety of tours and special activities planned, CHG member gardens entice explorers of any age, or those simply seeking a peaceful retreat, to take part in this special day. Hours are noon to 4 pm unless otherwise noted. For details on each site’s activities, visit https://cthistoricgardens.org/chg-day.
From the simple, practical elegance of herb gardens that reflect the utilitarian needs of early settlers, to the ornate designs of the Victorian era, the charm of Colonial Revival sunken gardens, and the wild, natural beauty that inspired the Impressionist artists, Connecticut’s historic gardens offer a diverse and enriching experience that highlights the state’s vibrant heritage.
Special activities, in addition to historic house and garden tours, include hands-on craft projects, plein-air painting, special exhibition viewings, plant sales, master gardener Q&A, print-making workshops, live music, poetry readings, artist and author presentations, and yoga on the lawn. For details on each site’s activities, visit https://cthistoricgardens.org/chg-day.
More than picturesque, Connecticut’s historic gardens are immersive, living legacies. Perfect for history lovers, plant enthusiasts, and casual wanderers alike, these gardens offer a welcome escape into worlds shaped by generations past. Don’t miss this statewide celebration!
Be sure to take advantage of CHG’s Passport Program – at your first location, pick up a CT’s Historic Gardens brochure, have it initialed at three member locations, and you’ll receive a free packet of notecards featuring the works of the CHG Day Poster Art Contest winners.
CHG’s mission is to cultivate a passion for the diversity of historic gardens at distinctive historic homes in Connecticut. By partnering through shared marketing initiatives, CHG brings greater recognition and visitation to member sites, offering visitors experiences rich in beauty and history, and fostering learning. Formed 20 years ago with a small group of 9 sites, the group today consists of 16 sites throughout the state: Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, Bethlehem; Butler-McCook House & Garden, Hartford; Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme; Glebe House Museum & The Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Woodbury; Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford; Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington; The Mark Twain House & Museum, Hartford; Osborne Homestead Museum & Kellogg Environmental Center, Derby; Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, Suffield; Promisek at Three Rivers Farm, Bridgewater; Roseland Cottage, Woodstock; Stanley-Whitman House, Farmington; Stowe Center for Literary Activism, Hartford; Thankful Arnold House Museum, Haddam; Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, Wethersfield; and Weir Farm National Historical Park, Wilton.