Cape Cod Hydrangea Fest Garden Tours: Friday, July 14, 2023
Private garden tours are $5 per person per garden. You can pay cash at each garden on the day of the garden tour. Each garden is open from 10 am to 4 pm unless otherwise specified and only on the days specified. All Tours are Rain or Shine. Event Admission May Vary. Scroll down for more info.

FALMOUTH
Beautifully Private Cape Cod Living, Front to Back: 19 North Bournes Pond Road, E. Falmouth
Tour befitting Falmouth Garden Club
As you approach this property down a quiet street, you would never guess what waits behind the house.  With direct access into Bournes Pond and views to Vineyard Sound, this garden provides the house with a gorgeous yet serene extension of outdoor living space and naturalized and native plantings.  But wait: Don’t miss the clever use of space in the front, with ornaments and edibles adorning the entrance. Directions: Route 28 to Central Street then Eel River Road West to North Bournes Pond Road.
*Alternative scenic route:  Route 28 to Falmouth Heights Road, left on to Grand Avenue then follow coast to Central Avenue.  Along the route you’ll see Vineyard Sound, beaches, and saltwater ponds.  Parking: Along North Bournes Pond Road. Accessibility:  Discretionary. Open for Tours: July 14.

62 Southview Way, East Falmouth
Tour benefiting Falmouth Chorale
Hydrangeas highlight this varied garden surrounding the home of a Falmouth Chorale singer. Points of interest include a perennial border and a pool with running water. In addition to the displays of hydrangeas, visitors will enjoy day lilies, roses, and several varieties of native plants. The garden is open for tours July 13 & 14.

BARNSTABLE

27 Marble Road, Barnstable
Tour benefitting Cape Cod Hydrangea Society
If you embrace the beauty inherent in imperfection, you will enjoy this garden.  The owners built their home over 40 years ago and the gardens have evolved in both areas of bright sun and deep shade.  Newer rock retaining walls provide structure to a previously difficult hill. A red maple offers a shady canopy for a serene palate of hostas while astilbes add contrast when their wispy stalks bloom. The bright, rich colors of the sun loving plantings keep surprising as daylily, coneflower, phlox, daisy, hibiscus, and liatris burst with vivid colors combinations.  Stands of heirloom hydrangeas have been augmented through the years by newer varieties with wonderful colors, shapes and sizes which have proven easier to maintain.  Glowing Embers, Tuff Stuff, Let’s Dance and Bobo varieties are favorites with young Pinky Winky trees and white flowering Fairytrail Bride cascading hydrangeas showing promise after surviving their first winter. 
Open for Tours: Thursday, July 13 & Friday, July 14.

CHATHAM

Chance Encounter - 219 Training Field Road, Chatham
Tour befitting Chatham Garden Club
The name of this property seems fitting as the owners happened upon it while looking at other properties in the area. This quintessential Cape home has a meticulously maintained landscape that catches the eye of many passersby. Along the road are beautiful pale pink climbing roses that spill over the split rail fence. These are the perfect backdrop for the vibrant blue & purple hues of the Let’s Dance Rhythmic Blue hydrangea. Many brightly colored coneflowers, a favorite of the owners, create a lovely border for this garden with annual seasonal flowers. Beautiful tree specimens are planted along the foundation & perimeter of the entire property. Among these are multiple gorgeous river birches, magnolia, crepe myrtle and Leland cypress. Additional varieties of hydrangea, grasses and evergreens adorn the beautiful backyard patio area. The property is a peaceful oasis for relaxation & enjoyment. Open for Tours: July 14.
Accessible. Park on the right side of the street only. Be respectful of owners, neighbors and mailboxes.

Hydrangeas on the Hill - 230 N. Skyline Drive, Chatham
Tour befitting Chatham Garden Club
You’ll see hydrangeas, roses, grasses, and more as you walk up the driveway.  In 2021, the homeowners moved in and became familiar with the many gardens.  In 2022, they completed a backyard pool and landscaping project.  They added white spruce and arborvitae to line the back. A hillside pattern of Endless Summer hydrangea, oakleaf hydrangea, dwarf grass, and catmint are in combinations along a new rock wall.  Annuals near the pool give a pop of color.  Stella D’oro day lilies and Endless Summer hydrangea are planted as a backdrop of mature arborvitae.  Down the steps to the side yard, retaining walls were expanded with Miracle on the Hudson roses planted on the lower level and skip laurel on the top level.  The fairy rose bushes grow along the side patio wall.    Walking around to the front gardens, you’ll see dark pink shrub roses and white Incrediball hydrangeas, with Sky Pencil holly trees framing the front porch.  The lamp post garden highlights a Limelight hydrangea tree, a hardy hibiscus, white polyantha rose shrubs, shasta daisies, spirea, and ornamental grasses.  From there, enjoy the distant views of Pleasant Bay. Accessibility – somewhat (some inclines and stairs). Park on the right side of the street only. Be respectful of owners, neighbors and mailboxes. Open for Tours: July 14.

Lavender Walk - 594 Shore Road, Chatham
Tour befitting Chatham Garden Club
This home was originally the Farm Site of Menekish, the last Sachem of the Monomoyick Tribe.  Today, the owner is the landscape gardener. Spring arrives with hundreds of daffodils, lilies of the valleys, white trillium in the holly dell, while yellow magnolia, redbud, and Kousa dogwood trees add color and shade.  Spring blooms are followed by lush hostas and allium by early summer. Walkway lavender perfumes the air, and hydrangeas begin to bloom along the front of the house.  Varieties include oakleaf, Ruby Slippers, white climbing, Nikko Blue, French lace cap, bobos, and everlasting.  To the south of the home, a faux English haha*, was created by using limelights and a 20’ tall privet hedge and is punctuated by a black lace maple tree. Looking east one will see a Little Lime hydrangea peeking around the corner. As the summer ends the crepe myrtle is in full bloom. Finally, autumn concludes with holly berries, and the colors of October Glory maple brighten the evergreen landscape.  Of note, the 21-panel solar array is one of only a handful of privately owned in-ground arrays on Cape Cod.  The property has 300 feet of beach at the foot of the steps down the wooded bluff. Accessible. Park on the right side of the street only. Be respectful of owners, neighbors and mailboxes. * haha is a buffer meant to prevent deer and other animals from entering the gardens. Open for Tours: July 14.

“Horsin’ Around” - 92 Harbor Hill Road, Chatham
Tour befitting Chatham Garden Club
This tasteful one and three-quarter acre estate features well cared for trees, shrubs, perennials and eye-catching touches of whimsy. As you enter the shell driveway there is an island with a captivating wind-powered red sculpture. The island has a stately oak tree, holly, Dwarf Norway spruce and perennials. To the right of the property are little bluestem and other ornamental grasses. Along the home’s foundation are varieties of hydrangeas, lavender, Russian sage and arbors of climbing roses. Next to the arbor gate that opens to the pool is a PeeGee hydrangea paniculata. The pool area boasts ornamental grasses, butterfly bush, ornamental trees, and pollinating perennials. Colorful overflowing planters border the corners of the pool. The property has numerous large rhododendrons and stately evergreens. A large expansive lawn offers room for leisure and recreation. This is a home for entertaining family and friends. In 2011, an addition at the rear of the home was added by Patrick Ahearn Associates increasing the curb appeal even more. Please note the interesting carousel horse in back of the pool. Perhaps that is where the name “Horsin’ Around” is derived. Accessible. Park on the right side of the street only. Be respectful of owners, neighbors and mailboxes. Open for Tours: July 14.

86 Plum Daffy Lane, Chatham
Tour befitting Chatham Garden Club
In 2014 this home and property were designed by Patrick Ahearn Associates and Landscape Architect Philip Cheney. Upon entering the driveway, one will see a stone wall covered with Sweet Autumn clematis on the front and behind are panicle hydrangeas and a Kwanzan cherry tree. Behind the hedge, providing shade are six Baby Blue Eyes Colorado spruces with magnolia and dogwood trees.  The garden contains several varieties of hydrangea, pink shrub roses, snow queen oak leaf hydrangeas and ruby spice clethra. Along the car park a row of pink rose of sharons, lilacs, and Nikko Blue hydrangeas welcome visitors.  Through the arbor a sunken garden features three Hinoki cypress trees and a Bloodgood maple tree. At the corner of the garage, a dwarf Hinoki cypress grows. The window boxes filled with annuals define the home while a hedge of Leland cypress define the yard’s border. Along the home’s foundation are Minuteman hosta’s.   Autumn Twist azaleas flower next to the grill with nepeta and bearberry in the back. Facing the house are Canadian serviceberry trees and Varden Valley boxwoods that frame the house and patio.  Along the overlook are little bluestem grass and summersweet clethra.  There is a marble slab with an 1868 measurement and next to the slab are remnants of the original marker used to survey the coastline. Accessible. Park on the right side of the street only. Be respectful of owners, neighbors and mailboxes. Open for Tours: July 14.

ORLEANS

East Orleans in Town Garden - 209 Main Street East Orleans
Benefits Master Gardeners of Cape Cod
Diane & Brian McGurk bought this historic home in East Orleans village in 2015. They saw the potential for restoring the old garden beds and adding new more ecofriendly beds. One goal was to eliminate some lawn and develop an environment friendly to nature.  The property has amazing trees-alder, weeping beech, Kousa dogwood and a wonderful Norway Fir that provide a great backdrop for a variety of perennial and pollinator gardens. In addition, the gardens have over 50 hydrangeas that were restored by Linda Coven of Strictly Hydrangeas.  Raised bed vegetable gardens were added in 2022.  The varied gardens/trees offer a place to sit and enjoy nature in an in-town setting! Open for Tours: Tuesday, July 11 & Friday, July 14.

Pollinator Paradise - 272 Tonset Road, Orleans
Tour benefiting The Sampson Fund For Veterinary Care
Forever evolving over 20 years the garden is for birds, butterflies and bees. Enter next to the garage along the damp garden with winterberry and clethera. The hummingbird garden surrounds the sunroom. Wander the yard past the Pagoda Dogwood and up into the woodland which is planted with American Holly and native shrubs under the canopy of Eastern red cedars, which are slowly dying out. Return to the yard along the pollinator native plant border and note the large central garden that blooms in August/September. On your left you will pass the stone riverbed designed to control erosion. Stop on the patio for a rest and enjoy the pollinator container garden. Exit on the north side to the shade hardscape garden. Notice all the whimsical statuary, including birdhouses, many of which are occupied. Make sure to look for the oriole nest, but mostly ENJOY.
Open for tours: Sunday, July 9 and Friday, July 14.

Private garden tours are $5 per person per garden. You can pay cash at each garden on the day of the garden tour. Each garden is open from 10 am to 4 pm unless otherwise specified and only on the days specified. All Tours are Rain or Shine. Event Admission May Vary.

A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS!
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival Principal Sponsors are Monrovia Plants, Proven Winners, Bloomin' Easy, Endless Summer Hydrangeas and Hyannis Country Garden.