The Garden Conservancy will host its South Shore Open Day in Cohasset on June 10 from 10 – 4, featuring three fabulous Cohasset gardens. Pre-registration is required at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/open-days-schedule/south-shore-ma-open-day-2. $5 per garden for Conservancy members, $10 for nonmembers. You will not be able to register in person at the gardens, and tickets are limited.

“Roses by the Sea” pays tribute to classical European garden design. The layout replicates a sixteenth-century Elizabethan (UK) Pleasance Garden: symmetrical quadrants, level in layout with gravel walkways leading to a central object of interest (focal point). The quadrants are densely planted with ornamental roses, decorative herbs and obelisks, urns, and birdbaths. The parterre is located roadside where passersby can enjoy the ornate blossoms and the strong scent of 70 David Austin roses. The location encourages sharing of the garden with neighbors and friends. The parterre is managed organically: no synthetic fungicides or insecticides are employed. The parterre is nearly disease and pest free. The surprising health of the rose garden and its robust population of pollinators stands as testimony to what great results can be achieved avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals but through proper layout, attention to detail, and proper husbandry and no small amount of hard work. Further along in the middle of the property is a Japanese stone garden, planted out with black Japanese and Bosnian pines, various red and green Acer palmatum, Siberian irises, and an extraordinary large-leafed ginkgo shrub. Further down the slope is a border dedicated to native prairie grasses opposite an area of steely blue lace cap hydrangeas. The lower section is dominated by a raised bed vegetable garden surrounded by espaliered fruit trees. Nestled in back of the raised beds is a four-bin composting operation which feeds the beds and roses with highly nutritious soil amendments. At the far end is a wildflower garden planted with native East Coast wildflowers. Once again, all the above are organically and sustainably managed.

Also in Cohasset, Annette and Wayne Sawchuk’s property features several gardens, a greenhouse, a guesthouse, and so much more. The English greenhouse was erected seventeen years ago from a kit imported from England and took just two days to build. It houses a variety of citrus trees, including key lime, lemon, and orange trees from Florida. In addition, Annette grows more than 400 tomato plants each year, providing produce to local food pantries and area restaurants. This elegant structure doubles as an outdoor dining space for friends and family in the summer. The adjacent garden boasts various fruits and vegetables, including asparagus and blueberries. Notice the nearby beehive which keeps flowers pollinated and the garden humming. Continue your stroll to the guest cottage, an 1860s sail shed once owned by the Cohasset Sailing Club that was relocated here in 2013. A peek inside the cottage reveals an unexpected retreat for visiting guests. After you exit the cottage, meander through a classic English garden installed two years ago by Annette, Wayne, and landscape designer Heather Sullivan. Featured perennials include lavender, lambs ear, myrtle, and boxwoods. Look for the unusual lilac topiary grafted onto a cherry tree. As a final stop on your visit, don’t miss the fully stocked koi pond nestled into the rock formations so prevalent in Cohasset.

Finally, behind the stone walls of their 200-year-old homestead, Dana and Mary Ann Cushing have created a magical landscape that spans nearly two acres. The Cushings consider themselves to be nature keepers with an emphasis on fantasy and spirituality. The property hosts many private tours – from families with young children, to visiting shamans and druids – indeed, a visit to this property is a unique experience! As you stroll along paths with names like “fern way” and “the path of love and light,” you will notice large stone cairns created by Dana. Each cairn features a unique name and meaning. In a section of the property referred to as “the glade,” Dana designed and installed a labyrinth reflective of life’s unexpected journey using 1,500 stones from the property. Look for small fairy doors at the base of numerous trees. Behind each door, visitors will be delighted by miniature gnomes and fairies. Fairies may be seen sitting on tree branches, and fairy bells and crystals dangle from trees, enticing guests to offer fanciful wishes. The property also features ponds filled with koi, goldfish, and an occasional frog, and a chicken coop with a nursery for the young hens. Natural benches situated throughout the landscape offer guests relaxation and quiet enjoyment of the peaceful surrounding. Don’t miss Mary Ann’s charming vegetable garden, a 24-year-old two-story tree house, and a barn dating back to the 1780s. A selection of Dana’s beautiful handcrafted birdhouses are available for purchase during your visit.