Cape Cod Hydrangea Fest Garden Tours: Friday, July 15, 2022
CHATHAM
East Keep - 255 Seapine Road, North Chatham
Tour benefiting Chatham Garden Club
This property was purchased in North Chatham partially because it had previously been professionally landscaped, and it offered a beautiful opportunity to start with a blank slate. Since the home is used primarily during the warmer months, the design is informal with extensive use of flowering perennials, shrubs and trees. Initial planting was completed in June 2021 and supplemental plantings will continue. The property overlooks Crow’s Pond in front and the back is an oasis for outdoor entertaining. The owners love color, so the color theme is the more the better. There are 20 areas filled with a plethora of perennials. Among the many plants are Drift rose “sweet” and “coral”, Lamian, Coreopsis, Rudbekia, Monarda “Blue Moon”, perovskia “Blue Jean Baby”, Buddleja white and black, salvia, phlox “Blue Paradise”, “David” and “Nora Leigh” and oriental lilies “Stargazer” to name only a few. The many pops of color are a garden lover’s elixir. Parking on one side of the street only.
Harbor Coves - 196 Seapine Road, North Chatham
Tour benefiting Chatham Garden Club
Like many gardens labored in by gardening lovers, this beautiful property is a work in progress. When the owners moved to Chatham 14 years ago, they inherited many of the plantings but have done a lot of tweaking over time. Two large perennial beds with David Austin roses flank the rear terrace with additional rose beds in the back yard. The Spring front garden features hundreds of daffodils and later in the Summer Asiatic lilies and perennial hibiscus. The rear gardens include an azalea garden with dappled willow and dozens of hydrangeas, including Endless Summer, Summer Crush, Nikko Blue, Oakleaf and Peegee Varieties. It is a labor of love as all the gardening is done by the owners themselves. Parking on one side of the street only.
Harborside Retreat - 55 Linnell Lane, N. Chatham
Tour benefiting Chatham Garden Club
A charming walk down a private stone lane brings you to this retreat. The original home, built in the 1940s, has been added to several times over the years. The landscape of the 1940’s home was redone in 2006 by the current owner. Along the drive on the left are native seaside varieties of mallow, goldenrod, beach grass, Carolina Rose, native cedar and other salt resistant shrubs. The foundation plantings feature varieties of hydrangeas and caryopteris. Looking toward the water are many perennial plants providing a subtle color palette. These include geraniums, bellflower. Lavender, coneflower, Russian sage, Montauk daisies, yarrow and Joe Pye weed. To the rear of the home are lemon-colored daylilies and hydrangeas. The backyard, including the spa house, is filled with various species of hydrangeas. Pale blush roses climb the picket fence and the fish house features cutting and vegetable gardens.
Parking on one side of the street only.
Seal Watch - 126 Shore Road, Chatham
Tour benefiting Chatham Garden Club
As you proceed down the driveway that takes you to the harbor, there are white shrub roses that flank the way. Blue hydrangeas go all the way down the drive on the other side. At the bottom of the drive is a former tea house for the grandchildren which now stores water skis and beach gear. Iconic New Dawn roses climb up the guest cottage which includes a rose garden. Next to the main house is a perennial garden. There are many pots filled with white geraniums, blue lobelia and tall white climbing Mandevilla in the back of the house. They mirror the blue of the water with white caps. There is also a cutting garden with many sizes of Dahlias, Zinnias and daisies. Tomatoes are also in the back that the grandchildren love to pick.
Parking on one side of the street only.
Hydrangea Walk - 123 Shore Road, Chatham
Tour benefiting Chatham Garden Club
This elegant property has been one of Chatham’s most photographed sites. The walkway is flanked on each side with two double rows of stunning blue hydrangeas and yellow daylilies. The property consists of six acres encompassing velvety lawns abutting conservation land. By the house are various gardens. Among the patios are pink knock out roses, Nikko blue hydrangeas, low boxwood hedges, Russian sage, peonies, phlox, Shasta daisies, tickseed, lamb’s ear, yarrow, nepeta and coneflowers to name just a few of the perennials which are mostly in a blue, pink and white color scheme with pops of yellow from yarrow and black-eyed Susan’s. The hydrangeas are the link tying in the back gardens with the front. One of the daughters of the owners was married in these gardens and the other had her wedding reception here. Both special ceremonies dictated the July dates when the hydrangeas were in peak bloom. Parking on one side of the street only.
DENNIS
Hydrangea Tour – 61 Nobscusset Rd., Dennis
Tour benefiting Village Garden Club of Dennis
This original Cape home was built in 1825 and is known as the “Zenas Howes Homestead”, named after a Sea Captain of the early 1800’s. It was also known as “Nobscussett Farm” where highland cattle, goats and chickens all made their home. The property borders Chase Garden Creek on the north side and boasts many garden beds which have been nurtured and propagated by the work of two amateur gardeners. The yard contains a tasteful but wild mixture of vegetables, perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees such as mulberry, dawn cyprus, red horse chestnut, weeping cherry, weeping willow and dogwood. The scenic, 2-acre, park-like view from the back yard gives the feeling of an old farmstead surrounded by a small village-like setting of 3 cottages camped around a restored 1840 barn, each one housing gardens in their midst. A variety of hydrangeas, rose of sharon, lilac, stewartia, knock-out roses and azaleas are abundantly dispersed among a mixture of perennials and annuals. The homeowners enjoy watching the hawks in the back yard swoop over the marsh and woodlands just beyond the surrounding split-rail fence.
HYANNIS
Deborah Sokolow - 14 Grouse Lane, Hyannis
Tour benefitting Cape Cod Synagogue Food Pantry/Ukraine Relief Fund
The garden at 14 Grouse Lane is a work in progress. Among many flowers are two dozen hydrangeas with many varieties, shapes of blooms and colors; lilacs, vines, rhododendrons, two fruit-bearing apple trees, and a rare Harry Lauder’s walking stick that remains purple until the summer is hot. All shrubs are labeled. There is a shade and hosta area with Solomon’s Seal and an abundance of ground covers. In addition, there are many flowers including lilies, peonies and butterfly weed. The owner has added several additional species of lawn flamingoes, all of questionable taste, and plans to play Jimmy Buffet on the front lawn. Directions: Grouse Lane is a cul-de-sac that is accessible from just one street: Old Town Road near Craigville Beach Road in Hyannis. Old Town Road intersects Craigville Beach Road about ¼ mile west of Hyannisport . Old Town Road also intersects Old Craigville Road, which is the corner of the Star Market on Main St. From either direction, Craigville Beach Road, which parallels Nantucket Sound, or Old Craigville Road, Grouse Lane is a minute or two away.
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, Hyannis Country Garden, , Bloomin' Easy and Shorelines Illustrated.
