The Garden Conservancy Open Day Program continues Sunday, August 7 in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. Stop in at Sally and Bruce Larsen’s Garden at 30 Harkness Road in Jaffrey. Sally and Bruce planted the various garden spaces at their village home following a 2006 renovation that required extensive regrading and stonework. Sally’s main interest in designing the terrace gardens was to create a subtle juxtaposition of contrasting form, color, and texture. Bruce designed the barn (built in 2007), necessitating even more stonework and gardens. The “barn” gardens were designed for continuous showy bloom to be looked down upon from the upper terrace and sun porch. All the bedding gardens incorporate small trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals and are connected by grass, stone, and brick walkways. They are on several levels with interconnecting stairs and terracing, creating the effect of garden rooms. Both Gordon Hayward and Maude Odgers contributed to the design and planting of the gardens.

From there move on to a Garden Club of the Back Bay member’s home, Sunnycrest, pictured below, at 24 Parsons Lane. This property, dubbed Sunnycrest by the original owner and builder in 1907, sat on the top of a hill surrounded by open meadows. Twenty years ago, the current owners began planting a series of garden spaces created by stone walls and curving pathways. The garden has crept into the tree line on the west, moved into the south meadow with swaths of ornamental grasses separating two large vegetable gardens, and appeared around the foundation of the house with beds of perennials, shrubs, groundcovers, and many unusual trees. Interesting garden features include a shingled tree sculpture, a wood-fired oven, and small frog pond fountain.

Cornish Place is located at 29 Cornish Road in Peterborough. The owners purchased this property thirteen years ago after falling in love with the 1763 cape surrounded by big maples, wandering myrtle, and lichen-covered stone walls. They set about creating a long, curving perennial border along the stone wall facing west with a view of the rolling hills beyond as a backdrop. Over the years, the character of the border has evolved from traditional perennials to a mixture of perennials, shrubs, bulbs, ornamental annuals, and specialty trees. Tried-and-true heirloom plantings with newer and more unusual plants have been used to create an eclectic, yet harmonized, landscape. They’ve added numerous shade gardens and a kitchen patio that serves as an ideal location for containers of unusual annuals and succulents. The property also includes an organic vegetable garden, pumpkin and berry patches, plus bees, and chickens.

On to the Gardens of Maude and John Odgers, 130 Four Winds Farm Road, also in Peterborough. Thirty years ago John and Maude cleared this land and began building their home. The gardens quickly emerged, drawing inspiration from English border gardens and Maude’s work as an artist who is intrigued by texture, color, and design. John built wooden arbors, granite steps, a unique bluestone patio, and pond. A soft palette and flowing shapes were used to create tranquility. There are many places for quiet reflection: a flowing bluestone patio, an indoor garden room, a retreat in the woods, or sitting by the small pond complete with frog song.

The Peterborough Town Gardens, including Depot Park, Putnam Park, and Teixeria Park, are also open on this date from dawn to dusk. Maps and directions to all town gardens will be available at the entrance to Depot Park, Depot Square, School Street, Peterborough. Admission to the Open Days Gardens will be available at each address. For complete directions, visit www.gardenconservancy.org.