Hollandia’s Fall Festival Going Strong At Sweet 16

 

By John Voket

BETHEL — Hollandia Nursery enjoyed stellar fall weather as the family-owned garden and agricultural center celebrated its 16th Annual Fall Festival the weekend of October 6-7. The entire rear of the Old Hawleyville Road property was humming to the chugging of antique tractor engines and other pieces of assorted vintage farm equipment.

Proud owners lounged beside antique tractors, trucks and cars, answering questions and hoisting an occasionally curious child into the driver’s seat.

Others stood beside displays of old-world farm equipment and tools, some which likely served generations of gardeners and fa rmers before they were relegated to collectible status and mounted for all to see.

Throughout the weekend, another newer and possibly more hearty tractor pulled a huge trailer piled with visiting families instead of the customary bales of  hay.

While some came for the autumn bounty of corn and late blooming fresh-picked tomatoes, many others strolled through display gardens, browsing and loading vehicles with a broad selection of chrysanthemums and other seasonal blooms.

Even the folks gathered around the grill waited patiently for their burger or dog, some hoisting cups of hot apple cider.

The 20-acre facility boasts barns and several shop configurations, some already outfitted for the coming holiday season.

Since opening at its present location in the mid-1960s (Hollandia has a second location, Hollandia Gift & Garden, at nearby 95 Stony Hill Road), Hollandia has gained a reputation as Connecticut’s premiere garden center, with hundreds of thousands of plants, first-class display gardens, and annual community events. The Spring Flower Show is Hollandia’s main spring event, popular for its series of lectures, garden tours, a season kick-off sale, and representatives from major garden brands.

But the crowds converging on the Old Hawleyville Road growing center and the recent Fall Festival seemed certain to give the nursery’s spring event a run for its money.