Hollister House Garden Rare Plant Sale and More Sept. 6 -7

The Garden Conservancy and Hollister House Garden located in the Litchfield Hills has announced the fourth biennial Hollister House Garden Study Weekend, to be held the weekend of September 6 - 7. For more information about the Hollister House Garden in Washington Connecticut visit www.hollisterhousegarden.org.

On Saturday, September 6, New Plants/New Gardens, a symposium at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, CT, will provide an opportunity to hear some of the most interesting voices in landscape architecture, ecological design, and horticulture at work today.  The symposium will be moderated by garden writer Stephen Orr,  and will begin with breakfast on Saturday at the Heritage Hotel. Speakers include: Dan Hinkley, plant explorer, founder of Heronswood Nursery, and winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's Veitch's Medal, presenting "Shade, Shadows, Sun: Life and Living in Two Gardens" Margie Ruddick, Cooper-Hewitt National Design award-winning landscape architect, sharing her pioneering approach to landscape design in a talk entitled "Wild by Design" Darrel Morrison, native plant expert and landscape architect, whose work includes Storm King Art Center, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the Native Flora Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, exploring the idea of landscape design as ecological art Ed Bowen, proprietor of Opus Nursery and working gardener, introducing new plants that will serve as the garden archetypes of the 21st century

The day will continue with a Plant Show-and-Tell with noted plant connoisseur Marco Polo Stufano, garden writer Page Dickey, and nurseryman Adam Wheeler showing favorite plants and discussing the special merits of each. Hickory Stick Bookshop will be at the Saturday symposium selling garden-related gifts and books. After the symposium, participants are invited to a cocktail reception at Hollister House Garden in Washington, CT, with early access to the Rare and Unusual Plant Sale that will be open to the public the following morning. A silent auction of a few choice plants will also take place that evening.

Admission to the reception and early buying is included in admission to the symposium. Admission to just the cocktail party and plant sale preview is also available to those not participating in the symposium. Registrations for Saturday-- for the symposium and cocktail party, including early buying at the sale of Rare and Unusual Plants, is $175 per person for registrations purchased by August 1 and for members of Hollister House Garden and the Garden Conservancy. After August 1, registrations for non-members are $190 apiece. A special rate at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury is available for symposium participants by contacting the hotel directly at 800.932.3466 and mentioning "Garden Study Weekend." Tickets for cocktails and early buying for Rare and Unusual Plant Sale (held at Hollister House Garden, Washington, CT) are $40 for Hollister House Garden members, $45 for all others. 

On Sunday, the Litchfield County Open Day Sale of Rare and Unusual Plants brings on the public portion of the plant sale at Hollister House Garden and the opening of five exceptional gardens (Hollister House Garden, Greyledge Farm, Maywood, Lagniappe Garden, and the Pearsall garden) in Washington, Bridgewater, and Roxbury as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days program. For more information on the Litchfield County Open Day, including hours, maps, and descriptions of each garden, visit the Open Days schedule on www.gardenconservancy.org No pre-registration is necessary for Sunday programs. Open Days admission is $5 per person, per garden. Children 12 and under free.

Twilight in the Garden at Hollister House July 12

Horticultural enthusiasts and bon vivants are cordially invited to savor the enchantment of Twilight in the Garden in the cool of the evening from 6 to 8 pm on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Hollister House Garden. In a remarkable setting of charming views in all directions and the company of like-minded gardeners and friends, Twilight in the Garden guests can enjoy the garden with a glass of wine and cheese and hors d'oeuvres.

An exciting aspect of the garden this year is the new rill, a very narrow, 28-foot long water channel on the upper lawn behind the house. The rill is a classic but uncommon element of landscape design that places the sound and movement of water into the garden.

Stars of this very English garden at its early-summer peak are an exuberant abundance of daylilies, hydrangeas and old-fashioned phlox, plus various other happy plants spilling onto walkways, tumbling over walls and climbing up arches. Dahlias add masses of color and also offer quiet moments in certain places in the garden that are surrounded by a profusion of texture and form.

A 36-year labor of love by Washington resident George Schoellkopf, gardener extraordinaire and respected Early American antiques dealer, the romantic Hollister House Garden is beautifully situated on a gently sloping hillside behind a rambling 18th century farmhouse. The garden 's intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and the natural landscape, are lavishly planted with both familiar and exotic species in often surprising color combinations and open onto stunning vistas. 

Like many great gardens, it continues to be a work in progress. Hollister House Garden is one of only 16 exceptional gardens currently designated a Preservation Project by the Garden Conservancy, whose mission is to identify and preserve important and historically significant gardens across America for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Hollister House in 2010 achieved its prestigious listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the property was also named a Town Landmark Site by the Town of Washington.

The Twilight in the Garden party is priced at $30 per person, or for HHG members at $25 person. Reservations must be made in advance either on the Special Events page of the website a www.hollisterhousegarden.org or by phone at 860-868-2200. Hollister House Garden is open to visitors every Saturday through September. For June, July and August, hours are 8 to 10 am and 3 to 6 pm; September hours are 10 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Directions to the garden's 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are also available on the website.

For information on the Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Hollister House Garden Fair

The Hollister House located in beautiful Washington Connecticut on 300 Nettleton Rd. is one of only 16 exceptional gardens currently designated a Preservation Project by the Garden Conservancy. In 2010, Hollister House achieved its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and was also named a Town Landmark Site by the Town of Washington. 

Hollister House Garden is beautifully situated on a gently sloping hillside behind a rambling 18th century farmhouse. The intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and the natural landscape, are lavishly planted with both familiar and exotic species and open onto stunning vistas.

The Hollister House is hosting a late summer garden fair featuring rare plants not usually available in the trade and one of a kind garden artifacts and containers will be held in the beautiful historic barn at Hollister House Garden on Saturday, September 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.  

Unusual plants such as specialty peonies, hard-to-find shrubs and trees, and herbaceous perennials that are traditionally planted in the fall will be on offer from four outstanding nurseries: Broken Arrow Nursery (Hamden, CT), Cricket Hill Garden (Thomaston, CT), Falls Village (CT) Flower Farm and Opus (Little Compton, RI). Each of the knowledgeable vendors will present an informative show and tell with timely tips on late season gardening and autumn to-do's such as dividing peonies, a task best done in September.

In addition to plants, playfully eccentric garden ornaments salvaged, restored and created by Kent, CT-based RT Facts and simply elegant Ben Wolff pots, each hand made in Goshen, CT and signed by the artist will also be available for sale.

Admission to the garden fair is $10 and includes entrance to Hollister House Garden. The $10 donation supports educational programs for the non-profit Hollister House Garden.

Hollister House Garden is also open to visitors every Saturday through September. August hours are 8 to 10 am and 3 to 6 pm; September hours are 10 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Information and directions to the garden's 300 Nettleton Hollow Road location are available on the website at www.hollisterhousegarden.org or by calling 860-868-2200.

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com