Conservancy Open Garden Day

RIDGEFIELD — On July 22, the public is invited to visit “The Garden of Ideas,” 647 North Salem Road, from 10 am to 4 pm.

The garden features a fine collection of both woody and herbaceous ornamental plants, a large vegetable garden, hand-built cedar structures, and water features, all along a stunning natural marsh.

This is one of 15 private Connecticut gardens open as part of The Garden Conservancy’s National Open Days Program on this date. Also included on July 22 are the romantic English-style gardens of Donna Clark, 264 North Salem Road in Ridgefield, which offer old favorites and the newest perennials and annuals intertwined with whimsical sculptures in an informal country setting.

In Roxbury, the home of Martine and Richard Copeland, 12 Eastwoods Road, will also be open. The public is invited to visit the Copelands’ three-acre hillside garden bordered by stone walls and staircases which connect multi-level terraces with a variety of plant material. The garden offers structures and features of French and Italian countrysides including vistas, parterres, hedges of yew and box, potted plants, water features, statues and seats.

The gardens of Wesley Rouse, 237 Pine Meadow in Southbury, offer five acres of landscaping including a pond, pool and garden with herbaceous borders throughout, a blue and white garden, and a shade garden.

Gael Hammer’s garden, 63 River Road in Washington Depot, is a cottage garden designed to engulf the house with flowers and shrubs and provide different spaces for outdoor lving including oversized borders, a grass garden, a white moon garden, a “step” garden and a container garden.

There will also be gardens in Avon, Cornwall, Manchester, Meriden, Wethersfield, Windsor, and two gardens in Southport open on July 22.

Admission to each garden is $5, no reservations are required, and the Open Day is rain or shine. For more information, call The Garden Conservancy toll-free, 888-842-2442.