Boston Flora

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program continues June 14 in Worcester County, Massachusetts with stops at three spectacular gardens.

The Garden in the Burrow in Holden (named after the Weasley household of Harry Potter fame) is a one-acre plot divided into many different growing areas, including a year-round interest shrub border, a peony and lilac hedge, a new woodland area, fruit trees and multiple borders with perennial and woody plants tucked in everywhere. The shrub border has blooming ornamentals from February to October and colored dogwood and a few conifers for the remaining months. There are two things that stand out about the garden here. First, this was a cleared acre, dug from a working sand pit in 1996, and every single tree, shrub, vine, plant, and rock was brought in and placed by the owners’ hands. They make their own soil, compost and leaf mold on site and have made what was a barren place into a haven for birds, insects, small mammals and humans. The second is that although they grow roses, hydrangeas, and loads of woody plants and perennials, clematis is the favorite, and you will see them everywhere. They grow into the trees, into the shrubs, romp along in the gardens and some decorate the porch and a few arbors or other free- standing supports. In June and July, they are the stars of the garden, if the rabbits cooperate and leave them alone. The former rock garden (devastated by a brutal winter with no snow cover) is currently being reworked to a more natural space. There are many covered seating areas, and our guests are most welcome to take a seat on our porch, or under a pavilion or pergola to get out of the sun and take in the constantly changing views.

Candlewood Farm in New Braintree is a second-generation perennial garden and orchard ofers a vibrant display of seasonal blooms inspired by English garden design. In 1967, Magi Durham, a recent émigré from England, purchased this 10-acre property with her husband. She began cultivating a traditional English flower garden, complete with terrace and central lawn for playing croquet, hedged of from the road by lilacs. Magi developed the garden for over 35 years and added a greenhouse in the ’90s to house her orchid collection and start seeds. In 1970, Magi planted a willow tree to celebrate the birth of her daughter, Sarah. Today, that tree towers over the garden’s western edge. Sarah and her husband, Craig, who now live there, planted two additional willows in honor of their daughters, to carry on the tradition. Craig, who is passionate about trees and meadows, also planted a multi-genus orchard composed of 16 fruit trees in 2012. The couple added raised beds, where they grow vegetables, herbs, and cut flowers for fun. Their newly acquired honey bees add to the charm of the dynamic garden spaces where they also serve as a retreat and family oasis.

Swift River Farm (pictured) is in Petersham. When Bruce and Gus acquired this 87-acre property in north central Massachusetts in 1998, there wasn’t even the hint of a garden to be seen. Over the next few years, an orchard of heirloom apple varieties was planted, stone walls built, and the first of several perennial gardens was installed. A woodland garden filled with spring ephemerals, epimediums, hellebores, mukdenia, hostas, and small flowering trees and shrubs now stretches from the front of the house down along the north side of the property to a bed of tree peonies. There is also a large rock garden, a spring garden with primulas, and spring bulbs. In 2010, Gordon Hayward created a master plan designed to unite the gardens, adding a water garden, a large pollinator meadow garden, an oak walk, and gravel paths allowing easy access between different areas. Since 2012 Helen O’Donnell, garden designer and plantswoman extraordinaire, has been consulting on planting design and new garden projects.

Admission to each garden is $10 for nonmembers of the Conservancy, You may order tickets to one or all of these gardens online at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/garden-directory/open-days/