By late July, the Hudson Valley garden is entering its glory days. Tomatoes are ripening on the vine, pollinators are working overtime, and the lush optimism of spring has matured into summer abundance. It’s a season that arrives slowly, then seems to vanish all at once.
If spring is when gardens make promises, late July is when they begin keeping them. Flowers are still blooming, vegetables are ripening, pollinators are everywhere, and the season’s early optimism has matured into abundance.
On July 25, gardeners, plant lovers, and the merely curious will have a chance to savor it during Growing Together: A Tour of Mid-Hudson Gardens, a new free, self-guided event that links eight distinctive gardens across Dutchess and Columbia counties into a single day-long celebration of horticulture, history, community, and wellness.
Running from 9am to 3pm, the tour invites visitors to chart their own course among a diverse collection of sites that range from grand historic landscapes to community gardens focused on food access and environmental stewardship. Participants can visit as many—or as few—gardens as they like.
The lineup includes the formal beauty of the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield in Hyde Park, the historic landscapes of Clermont in Germantown, the riverfront grounds of Montgomery Place and Blithewood at Bard College in Red Hook, as well as community-centered projects including Eden Share, Garden of Eatin’, and the Pleasant Valley Community Garden. Wilderstein in Rhinebeck rounds out the roster, offering another glimpse into the region’s rich horticultural heritage.
While garden tours are hardly new, Growing Together distinguishes itself by bringing together organizations that might not otherwise share a common stage. Historic estates, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and community gardens are all participating under the same banner, creating an event that showcases the many ways gardens serve their communities.
“Growing Together is an opportunity to celebrate the gardens of the Mid-Hudson Valley including those that support community involvement, wellness, sustainable agriculture, and food equity,” says Scott Pidgeon, cofounder of Eden Share. “We are honored to participate in this event.”
For Amy Parrella, arboretum director at Bard College, the appeal lies partly in the variety. “Blithewood Garden is thrilled to participate in this new self-guided garden tour celebrating the diversity and beauty of Hudson Valley gardens, all located within a one-hour radius,” she says.
That diversity extends beyond aesthetics. Some stops showcase carefully preserved historic landscapes. Others focus on growing food, teaching gardening skills, or creating spaces where neighbors can gather and connect. Together, they offer a portrait of the region’s evolving relationship with the land.
Pamela Brown of the Beatrix Farrand Garden at Bellefield sees public gardens as an essential community resource. “Public gardens, especially in an urban area, bring to the community a haven where everyone can experience the beauty and awe that nature inspires,” she says. “I appreciate all the donors, volunteers, and caregivers who make them possible.”
