Please join us in celebrating the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden’s inclusion into an esteemed group on Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day statewide celebration of Connecticut’s stunning historic gardens with special events and activities at Phelps-Hatheway. Speak with members of the Suffield Garden Club who have lovingly maintained the grounds for more than 55 years. Grounds admission is free; regular admission applies for historic house tour.
In 1963, the Suffield Garden Club adopted the restoration and maintenance of the Phelps-Hatheway gardens on the south lawn as a civic project. Hartford landscape architect Mary Wells Edwards was commissioned to design the formal parterre garden, as well as a large herb garden, in 1964. Inspired by the historic wallpaper in the house, Mary Edwards chose a combination of early Dutch formality and late 18th-century free design used in England. The garden features pink and white 19th-century peonies that are now 150 years old! Two raised beds serve as instructional platforms for the site’s youth programming and provide plant material for our programming, including salves, teas and textile dyebaths.
Connecticut’s istoric Gardens (CHG) cultivates a passion for the diversity of historic gardens at distinctive historic homes in Connecticut. By collaborating through shared marketing initiatives, CHG brings greater recognition and visitation to member sites, offering visitors experiences rich in beauty and history, and fostering learning. Fifteen historic gardens dotted throughout the state have joined to form Connecticut’s Historic Gardens, including three of Connecticut Landmark’s properties: the Bellamy Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem, the Butler-McCook House & Garden in Hartford, and the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden in Suffield.
These delightful places offer visitors an opportunity to explore a variety of garden styles and time periods. On Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day, enjoy this special statewide celebration of Connecticut’s stunning historic gardens with special events and activities at member sites, celebrating their gardens. Choose the gardens in your own backyard or plan a day trip to see those further afield. For more information, visit www.cthistoricgardens.org.
Events will take place RAIN OR SHINE, though activities may vary depending on the weather. The Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden is located at 55 South Main Street in Suffield and is open for regular tours from May – October. For hours and more information, visit www.ctlandmarks.org, www.facebook.com/PhelpsHathewayHouseAndGarden, or call 860-668-0055.