Connecticut Feature

Nine extraordinary Connecticut gardens form Connecticut's Historic Gardens, a "trail" of natural beauties across the state.

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum. The re-created Colonial-revival garden at the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum is a presentation of old-fashioned flowers such as peonies, pinks, phlox, hollyhocks, larkspur, and antique roses. 211 Main St., Wethersfield, CT, 06109. 860/529-0612. www.webb-deane-stevens.org. $10.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. A high-Victorian texture garden, a wildflower meadow, Connecticut's largest magnolia tree, an antique rose garden, a 100-year-old pink dogwood, and a blue cottage garden are the highlights of the grounds at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. 77 Forest St., Hartford, CT, 06105. 860/522-9258. www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org. $9.

Butler-McCook House & Garden. Landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann created a Victorian garden oasis amid downtown city life here. 396 Main St., Hartford, CT, 06103. 860/522-1806. www.ctlandmarks.org.

Hill-Stead Museum. The centerpiece of the Hill-Stead Museum is a circa-1920 sunken garden by Beatrix Farrand enclosed in a yew hedge and surrounded by a wall of rough stone; at the center of the octagonal design is a summerhouse with 36 flowerbeds and brick walkways radiating outward. 35 Mountain Rd., Farmington, CT, 06032. 860/677-4787. www.hillstead.org. $12.

Promisek Beatrix Farrand Garden. Farrand also designed the garden at Promisek Beatrix Farrand Garden, which overflows with beds of annuals and perennials such as hollyhocks, peonies, and always-dashing delphiniums. 694 Skyline Ridge Rd., Bridgewater, CT, 06752. 860/350-8226. www.promisek.org.

Glebe House Museum. Legendary British garden writer and designer Gertrude Jekyll designed only three gardens in the United States, and the one at the Glebe House Museum is the only one still in existence. The garden is a classic example of Jekyll's ideas of color harmonies and plant combinations; a hedge of mixed shrubs encloses a mix of perennials. 49 Hollow Rd., Woodbury, CT, 06798. 203/263-2855. www.theglebehouse.org. $5.

The Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden. An apple orchard and a circa-1915 formal parterre garden that blossoms with peonies, historic roses, and lilacs are the highlights of this garden. 9 Main St. N, Bethlehem, CT, 06751. 203/266-7596. www.ci.bethlehem.ct.us. $7.

Roseland Cottage. At Roseland Cottage, the boxwood parterre garden includes 21 flowerbeds surrounded by boxwood hedge. 556 Rte. 169, Woodstock, CT, 06281. 860/928-4074. www.historicnewengland.org. $8.

Florence Griswold Museum. The gardens at the historic Florence Griswold Museum, once the home of a prominent Old Lyme family and then a haven for artists, have been restored to their 1910 appearance and feature hollyhocks and black-eyed Susans. 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme, CT, 06371. 860/434-5542. www.flogris.org. $9.