Got Your Watering Done for the Day?

Around the first of July I start getting a little itch to drop the pruners, ignore some weeds and actually get the heck out of Dodge. When a visit to my friends at the local T-bird convenience store is yet again my big social connection for the day, I know it's time to stimulate my mind and eyes by appreciating other folks' gardens. If you're perusing your own gardens and all you see is the stuff that still needs to get done, you might be ready to appreciate somebody else's hard work. Here's some gardens to visit to inspire you! Distant Hill Gardens, Walpole www.distanthillgardens.org Open the first and third weekend June through September, this garden and trail system is a spectacular nonprofit labor of love created by Michael and Kathy Nerrie. Their mission is to connect young and old, agile and disabled people to the natural world around them and "to teach the importance of nature-based play and recreation to overall health and wellness." With both beautifully cultivated gardens and miles of well-cared-for trails to roam, a day can easily be spent here. Importantly, the grounds and the trails are also accessible to all. I wrote an article about Distant Hill years ago and just visiting their expansive website, www.distanthillgardens.org, I can tell another full piece on them is due. They've got a lot going on there and their mission of learning and inclusiveness is as noble as their gardens. Shin-Boku, Wentworth www.shin-bokunursery.com I haven't visited but this sounds very cool. Shin-Boku (shin-bo-kooh) means "specimen tree" or "principal tree" in Japanese and that's exactly what this nursery specializes in. If you've never experienced the peaceful calm of a Japanese garden, their garden stroll looks divine. Plus, since it's a retail nursery, you could take home one of their curated trees that are all at least 25 years old and have been grown in-ground, root-pruned and then potted for sale. Each specimen tree has been pruned in the Japanese style so just wandering among the retail section itself looks fascinating. The Fells on Lake Sunapee www.thefells.org The gardens and grounds will be spectacular all summer long at the John Hay Estate at The Fells. An early 20th Century summer estate, the home of statesman John Milton Hay, this 83-acre property offers not only a tour of the 22-room mansion, but also woodlands, grounds, pathways and both formal and informal gardens. And, yes, it's also got a half mile of undeveloped Lake Sunapee shoreline. A visit to The Fells is like immersing yourself in a period film. You'll feel resplendent wandering the estate and admiring gorgeous gardens and scenery. Check their website for hours and admission info. Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish www.nps.gov Under the National Park Foundation umbrella, Saint-Gaudens is the preserved home, studio and gardens of August Saint-Gaudens, including many of his bronze sculptures. It's an enchanting meander as you wander the well-kept grounds and suddenly come upon one of the sculptor's stunning pieces. I haven't visited in many years, and I've never been inside the home or the studio at Saint-Gaudens so it's been added to my list and should be on yours, too. Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden Museum, Portsmouth www.moffatt-ladd.org This is another I've not visited and when I opened up the website an interior shot of the winding staircase of the mansion immediately made me add this property to my must-see list. It's a National Historic Landmark and has been a museum since 1912. John Adams named it the grandest house in Portsmouth and it has been meticulously restored and maintained. First occupied in 1764 by Samuel Moffatt and his new wife, Sarah Catherine, the Moffatts and following two families to own the property all have interesting stories. Even though the house sits right on what's now Market Street in the bustling city center, the gardens are still worth the trip alone. Originally designed by Alexander H. Ladd, the gardens feature a harbor view and multiple pathways amongst garden "rooms." This is just a handful of the beautiful gardens that surround us and for a peek at private gardens both here in the region and throughout the country, jump on The Garden Conservancy's website, www.gardenconservancy.org. It highlights Open Garden Days happening in the Monadnock Region and all throughout the country. Typically each private garden is only open one weekend a year so it's important to look at the entire lineup before the daffodils have even bloomed. You'd hate to miss a single secret garden. You deserve a break from all the ticks and toil. Go see something beautiful!