St. Gaudens
Location: Off Route 12A in Cornish.
Cost: $10 per person over 16
Description: Lovely gardens, history, and trails abound at St. Gaudens (featured image). This is one of my favorite spots to go to again and again. I love the trails at the far end of the property especailly. I’ve had the chance to talk to artists in residence about their work and even take in a summer concert, so there are plenty of opportunities to keep this local treasure fresh for locals.
Cider Hill Gardens
Location: Hunt Road, Windsor
Cost: free
Description: A beautiful array of many different types of gardens that the owners of the property, Sarah and Gary, lovingly maintain. Cider Hill Gardens is a popular trip to take for garden clubs around New England and they regularly host large bus tours of people, which shows just how special these gardens are! You can see lots of pictures from my time there and highlights on my post here. 2020 is its last season.
The Song Garden
Location: Off 12A in Cornish. Turn into St. Gaudens. Continue past St. Gaudens and it’s on the corner of two roads intersecting.
Cost: $10-30+
Description: This is a pick and cut your own flower garden. Due to Covid-19, it is open by appt. only now.
Nathan’s Garden
Location: At intersection of Maple St. and Downing Rd. in Hanover. These are residential streets without parking spots. To park, go past the garden on Maple St. (last house on the corner) and drive onto Downing Rd., which is a dead end street. Park a ways down past the no parking signs. The latter half of the street you can park on.
Cost: free
Description: This is not your typical flower garden. It’s more of a relaxing shade garden. It was named for Nathan Hall, who tragically passed away while swimming in the quarry nearby. His family used part of their yard to honor him. There’s a pond and gazebo. It’s a favorite spot to relax and write and loved by wedding and family photographers. You can read more here.
Plainfield Sanctuary
Location: Off of River Rd. in Plainfield. Parking is a pull off on the right hand side.
Cost: free
Description: This is unique flower spot full of wild woodland flower species. It is considered a place for flower research and a critical area so it is important not to disturb the flowers’ habitat and just enjoy from the road. It is one of only two floral sanctuaries in NH. For more information click here. Flowers bloom late April to early June. I have yet to see it when it’s in bloom, but it’s a nice drive.
Eshqua Bog Natural Area
Location: Garvin Hill Rd. in Hartland (near the Woodstock town line). For specific directions click here.
Cost: free
Description: A natural area where you can see many wetland flowers especially, the endangered lady slippers. There’s a .5 mile trail to enjoy the flowers without disturbing them. There’s about 5 parking spots. The road there is dirt and can be rutty.
The Fells
Location: Route 103A, Newbury.
Cost: $10 adults, seniors and students $8; children $4, free for 5 and under
A little further off is The Fells, a historic estate and gardens in Newbury, NH with trails and a main house you can tour. You can see more beautiful photos here.
Have you been to any of these? What do you like about them? Any other gardens to recommend?
