Visit two private gardens in Doylestown and Solebury, through the Garden Conservancy Open Days program, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5.
Admission is $10 per garden and children 12 and under are free. Call 888-842-2442, or visit gardenconservancy.org/open-days for information.
Visitors may begin the self-guided tour at either of the following locations: Fordhook Farm of W. Atlee Burpee Co., 105 New Britain Road, Doylestown; or Paxson Hill Farm, 3265 Comfort Road, Solebury.
In 1888, W. Atlee Burpee acquired several hundred acres of farmland in Bucks County. Today at Fordhook Farm, hundreds of new vegetables, annuals and perennials are still grown, tested and evaluated on a 60-acre test farm and network of gardens to guarantee Burpee’s high standards of quality.
In addition, there are extensive display gardens of choice perennials, shrubs and trees for sun and shade. Over 30 new tree specimens have been added since the last Open Day. Large-scale sculpture by Steve Tobin and Daisuke Shintani animate the landscape. The 16-acre core of the property, including the original Burpee Seed House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Burpee horticulturists will answer questions.
Paxson Hill Farm’s garden and plant nursery encompasses 30 acres with winding, naturalistic paths leading visitors through a variety of ever-evolving gardens inspired by world travels and a keen eye for design. Included are elaborate ponds, a large hedge maze, a conifer garden, formal and “not so formal” gardens, and even a Hobbit House. The nursery will be open for plant sales.
All Open Days gardens are featured in the 2019 Open Days Directory, which costs $25 and includes a complementary ticket for admission to one private garden. Visit gardenconservancy.org/open-days or call 888-842-2442 to order or send a check or money order to: the Garden Conservancy, P.O. Box 608, Garrison, NY 10524. Discount admission tickets are available through advanced mail order.
