Boston Flora

Category: garden tour

  • Saturday, July 11, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm – Gloucester Garden Tour

    This year on Saturday, July 11, Generous Gardeners welcomes you to Gloucester. Our primary fundraiser, this event began in 2013 to raise funds for flowers at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial. Each year’s tour is in a different part of Gloucester, as generous garden owners open their private spaces to the public for one day.

    This year, tour the scenic, coastal, and historic eastern shore of Gloucester, a popular summer destination for affluent Boston families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the grand homes from that era with equally beautiful gardens still stand, and several are included on our tour. Each owner approaches gardening differently, so you will be treated to a range of formal designs to cottage gardens, and an amazing garden that is a garden tour in itself. There is a tea house, a classic orchid greenhouse, and spectacular ocean views. Tickets/booklets and wrist bands will be picked up at the Stop and Stop parking lot at 6 Thatcher Road near the CVS. Given the exclusivity of the tour area, there are four different parking locations to be shared when you pick up your ticket. Parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is not guaranteed.

    Rain or shine. No pets. Photography welcome. Tickets: $35. Purchase tickets at https://generousgardeners.org/staging/2026/02/04/2026-gloucester-garden-tour-tickets-on-sale-now/

  • Saturday, June 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Braveboat Harbor Farm Tour

    This York, Maine garden, which has been evolving over the last 75 years, surrounds and complements a Georgian-style stone house. There are formal and informal borders, a vegetable garden, orchard, and collections of various flowering trees and shrubs. Apples and pears are espaliered on the house and along the walls of the formal front garden. Water features include a pond in the woodland garden, a farm pond with rustic bridge, and the Atlantic Ocean. This treasure is protected by a sculpted arborvitae hedge on the northwest, a mature stand of hickory on the northeast, and an extensive screen of old lilacs on the southeast.

    Ongoing projects include expanding the collection of magnolias and rhododendrons, a new shrub border in the old orchard, a woodland walk, a summerhouse with views to the pond and the sea, and the constant refreshing of the front walled garden. The Garden Conservancy is sponsoring this garden as part of its 2026 Open Days schedule. To register, visit www.gardenconservancy.org

    Read more about Braveboat Harbor Farm via this feature in Down East magazine.

    Open Day 2026: Saturday, June 27
    Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Sunday, July 12, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – PAAM Secret Garden Tour

    The Annual Secret Garden Tour welcomes hundreds of visitors every July for a self-guided journey through private residential gardens in Provincetown.

    Tickets include access to a free parking lot, admission to gardens, and admission to view the exhibitions in the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. We are incredibly grateful to the homeowners that help raise money for PAAM by sharing their beautiful oases with us. Advance tickets are available for purchase online at https://paam.org/support/the-secret-garden-tour/ at a discounted rate ($45) may be picked up the morning of the tour no earlier than 9:45AM. Tickets bought on the day of the event will cost $55.

    Tickets are available for pick up in one of these three locations:

    PAAM: 460 Commercial Street, Provincetown
    The parking lot at BY&D Insurance (56 Howland Street, Provincetown).
    The first garden, the location of which we’ll announce the day of the tour at 9:45AM on Facebook and Instagram

    We are able to offer three free parking options the day of the tour: 94 Harry Kemp Way, BY&D Insurance (56 Howland Street), and OCHS (49 Harry Kemp Way). The parking lots are self-service (no attendants), first-come, first-served, and available at your own risk. If no spaces remain when you arrive, you can pick up your ticket from a volunteer and then go park your car elsewhere before beginning the tour.

    PAAM staff and volunteers offer a “shuttle service” in their personal vehicles between the parking lot, PAAM, and the neighborhood where the gardens are located, but most places in Provincetown are within walking distance if that’s your preference.

    Your ticket also grants you admission to PAAM on the day of the tour, where you can enjoy a restroom and air conditioning in addition to five beautiful art exhibitions.

    This event happens rain or shine, and tickets are non-refundable. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and plenty of sunscreen, and bring your own filled water bottle.

  • Thursday, February 25 – Wednesday, March 10 – AHS Sojourns: New Zealand

    Explore New Zealand’s extraordinary gardens and wild coastlines on a 14-day journey from Queenstown to Auckland, timed for late summer when landscapes are vibrant and inviting. After an overnight in Queenstown, sail aboard the 140-passenger Heritage Adventurer, cruising through the dramatic fjords of Fiordland National Park. Along the way, discover celebrated botanic gardens, rare wildlife, and the powerful natural settings that shape the country’s horticultural traditions.

    Visits to Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington—including Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, dedicated exclusively to native plants—are paired with guided nature walks, expert lectures, and a private Māori welcome in Rotorua. Hosted by renowned horticulturists Holly and Osamu Shimizu, this expedition offers meaningful insight into New Zealand’s living landscapes and cultural heritage.

    This custom trip is part of the American Horticultural Society Sojourns travel program collection. More information and complete itinerary may be found at https://ahsgardening.org/travel-study-program/new-zealand2027/

  • Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 19 – Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival 2026 at Heritage Museums & Gardens

    As part of the annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, we celebrate the iconic plant that makes the Cape so stunning. Enjoy fabulous photo opportunities as you stroll through the gardens and be sure not to miss two featured gardens which together make up the most comprehensive collection of hydrangeas in North America. The Cape Cod Hydrangea Society Display Garden boasts a collection of over 155 exceptional cultivars, around 60% of which are legacy varieties no longer in cultivation anywhere else. The North American Hydrangea Test Garden showcases over 240 of the newest varieties of hydrangeas being vigorously tested and evaluated here. Featuring hydrangeas in combination with companion plants growing alongside them, this garden provides incredible garden design inspiration!

    Special daily activities include:

    10 am-5 pm – Self-Guided Walking Tour: Discover hydrangea highlights while learning about each of the six major species of this signature plant
11-11:30 am – 30-Minute Hydrangea Guided Tour: Guides share the story of hydrangeas at Heritage and highlight spectacular specimens during this walking tour of both the Display Garden and the Test Garden (tours meet at the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society Display Garden)
    On Saturday, July 11 this tour will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted.
11:30 am-3 pm – Hydrangea Discovery Cart: Learn tips for identifying, selecting, and caring for all six types of commonly-grown hydrangeas
Get your hydrangea questions answered by Cape Cod Hydrangea Society volunteers in the gardens

    All extra hydrangea-focused activities are free with museum admission or membership. No advance registration is required. Hydrangea University is a separate fee. For more information visit https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/hydrangeafest/

  • Saturday, June 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Rockport in Bloom Garden Tour

    Saturday, June 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Rockport in Bloom Garden Tour

    Plan a day trip to Cape Ann for “Rockport in Bloom” this year—and keep a copy of Boston Magazine’s Rockport guide handy when you go. The festival’s self-guided tour threads through nine gardens in three neighborhoods. Some frame views of the ocean, while others feature one-of-a-kind granite sculptures that hearken back to Rockport’s granite industry history. Plein air painters will be positioned in some gardens, recreating the vibrant petals and grasses on canvas.

    Saturday, June 27, 10 a..m.-4 p.m., rockportgardenclub.org.

  • Friday – Sunday, June 26 – 28, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Secret Gardens of Newport

    Eight to ten gardens will be open in this summer’s Secret Gardens of Newport Tour. Order your tickets online at https://www.secretgardentours.org/faqs.htm Advance sale tickets are $30. On the days of the tour, tickets may be purchased for $35, if there are any tickets available. On the day you arrive, present your PayPal receipt under the tent in Storer Park at 32 Washington Street in Newport and you will be given a program with a map and directions to each of the gardens.

    The Newport Secret Garden Tours is proud to partner with Bike Newport and the “Get There By Bike” initiative. We encourage you to bike to the Newport Secret Garden Tour, helping to reduce traffic congestion, parking stress, and carbon emissions. We will have temporary bike racks set up at Storer Park. More information on bike parking and other related information can be found here:
    https://bikenewportri.org/bike-to-newport-secret-garden-tours/

  • Thursday, June 25, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Plymouth Public Library Foundation Garden Tour

    Start at Plymouth Public Library’s Dr. Richard M. Shiff Garden at 132 South Street in Plymouth at 10 am and meet sponsors and fellow non-profits. Talk to a Master Gardener, have your soil tested, and learn more about the wonderful resources available to you in our community.

    At noon, the tour commences and all ticketed guests are free to visit the five gardens at their own pace. Each of these gardens is extraordinary and as an added bonus a Plein Air artist will be on-site to add yet another colorful and breathtaking element to the tour!

    There will be opportunities galore to take home a beautifully decorated birdhouse, fabulous gift certificate and so much more — thanks to the generosity of our community!

    All proceeds will be used to continue the work to improve the Dr. Richard M. Shiff Garden and create an oasis for all to enjoy! $30 in advance, $40 on day of tour. Click HERE to purchase in advance, or to make a donation.

  • Saturday, June 27, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – A Summer Walk in the Gardens of York

    Spend a special day enjoying a scenic walking tour through some of the finest gardens in York, Maine. This leisurely stroll covers approximately 1.2 miles, guiding you through nine beautiful residential gardens, each offering its own charm, creativity, and inspiration.

    Along the way, take in sweeping views of the water, thoughtfully designed landscapes, and the warm hospitality of friendly hosts. The tour concludes with a special Art in Bloom surprise, adding an extra touch of beauty and creativity to the experience.

    Please join us in supporting the Piscataqua Garden Club, as they present this wonderful event as part of their Centennial Celebration. Tickets are $30 – $150. Purchase through Eventbrite HERE. Ticket pick up will be at Olde Yorke Historical Society, 3 Lindsay Road in York.

  • Saturday, June 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Historic Homes, Gardens & Houses of Worship Tour

    For the last 23 years, Sagadahoc Preservation, Inc. (SPI) has annually opened some of Maine’s most beautiful and historic homes and gardens to the public. This year’s tour, to be held on Saturday, June 20, will also feature several of Bath’s historic houses of worship.

    From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., attendees are invited to visit private gardens and historic homes and buildings, featuring many of the city’s striking architectural styles including Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate.

    A self-guided map allows participants the opportunity to tour the properties at their leisure, and the Montsweagers musical group will be on hand performing live.

    All proceeds go to support SPI and its mission of preserving and protecting Bath’s architectural heritage, and in particular the iconic and historic Winter Street Center.

    Advance tickets are $40 for this rain or shine event ($45 the day of the tour) and may be purchased until June 18 on-line. All tickets are picked up the day of the event at the Winter Street Center, 880 Washington Street, Bath, Maine, starting at 10:00 a.m. As a charitable event, all ticket purchases are considered donations and are non-refundable. For tickets, visit https://www.sagadahocpreservation.org/house-and-garden-tour