A Special Garden Day In Connecticut

An exceptional opportunity for garden lovers to visit two famed private Connecticut gardens – and to enjoy how-to talks by their celebrated creaters – will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 9:30 am to 4 pm.

The speakers and garden hosts are R. Kennard Baker, a director of the American Peony Society, and Donna Clark, a garden designer and teacher. The spectacular peony gardens of R. Kennard Baker in Redding Ridge are landscaped with more than 400 varieties of herbaceous, tree and intersectional peonies from around the world, probably the largest private collection in the United States. The romantic English flower gardens of Donna Clark in Ridgefield number more perennials and annuals than she can count.

The event was arranged by the Housatonic Valley Tourism District in collaboration with Keeler Tavern Museum and Caudatowa Garden Club. Host for the day is popular gardener Rea Lubar Duncan, the garden columnist for Connecticut magazine and author of the garden book Down to Earth.

Guests will be welcomed with morning coffee in the garden house at Keeler Tavern designed by the world-renowned architect Cass Gilbert (who also designed the Woolworth Building in New York and the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., among other noted structures worldwide), overlooking “Charleston Garden,” as Gilbert called it, one of Connecticut’s most beautiful sunken gardens.

Talks by the two speakers will follow. Next will be a buffet luncheon and then a visit to the gardens. As a charming end to the day, tea will be served at Red Lion Belzoni Grill, at 619 Danbury Road/Route 7.

The all inclusive fee is $50 per person. For visitors who wish to stay overnight and enjoy other Connecticut gardens on Sunday, a special price of $85 including breakfast has been arranged at the Hilton Hotel in Danbury. Mrs Duncan will suggest other notable gardens open to visitors.

To reserve or for further information, write to the Housatonic Valley Tourism District, 30 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810; call 800/841-4488; or visit www.housatonic.org/gardenhouse.htm. Reservations will be taken in order of receipt.