Open Days

VISITATION CHOICES  

 

1. Open Days self-guided tours with tickets are offered about ten days in advance when a favorable weather forecast is possible. Horticulturists are usually on duty for questions. Check in by giving the name of the ticket purchaser. A ticket is $15 per car admitting up to six passengers. Always rain or shine. No refunds. Ticket giftable in purchaser’s name.
2. Private visitation self-guided half-hour tours.  Purchase the ticket below, $60 for one car admitting up to six occupants. With two days advance email to millpondgarden@gmail.com, and prior email response permission granted, the ticket purchaser may visit the gardens any day not already reserved for other use, but may not find the garden fully groomed or fountains on.  Hours for private visits allowed include 9 AM to Noon and 1 PM to 4 PM. No refunds.
3. Bus Tours are self-guided with reference to the recommended free fact sheet under the Visitation tab on this website.  Bus Tours are $300, must be solicited for a specific date and time by advance email to millpondgarde@gmail.com, must receive email approval reply, purchase ticket below. No refunds.
4. Any tours wishing a Director’s guided tour add $150 to the costs above.  No refunds.
5. Classes may have different per-person fees when listed with the ticket price.
6. For all other special private uses like photography, wedding, proposal, Quinceanera, etc., contact millpondgarden@gmail.com with details including date, time, number of people, and purpose.  If approved, full payment online under ticketing is required three weeks in advance to be put into the schedule.

Subscribe for free for email invitations to Mill Pond Garden Open Days and Events, please use the self-sign-up form. The email service we use is good and safe. Your information is never shared.  Unsubscribe easily at any time.

Please note that the purchased ticket is non-refundable.  If the event is ever closed, for an adverse weather event, an email will be sent to notify all Subscribers in advance.

When you arrive, give your name to the check-in agent through your open car window.  The admission agent has a list of the purchasers’ names.

If for any reason you can’t use your purchased reservation, consider making a gift of it.  Otherwise, take satisfaction that you have made a donation to this treasured, public, non-profit organization.

All visitors are asked to respect this residential neighborhood, not block driveways, and stay on pathways in the gardens.

 

GARDEN OPEN DAYS

NOTE – BELOW IS A GUIDE ONLY.  ACTUAL OPEN DAYS ARE PLANNED AROUND THE AVAILABILITY OF STAFF AND WEATHER FORECASTS SO THAT ONLY GOOD WEATHER DAYS ARE ACTUALLY SCHEDULED, THEN ADVERTISED AND ADDED TO TICKETING ACCESS. IF NO TICKETS ARE OFFERED FOR ONE OF THE BELOW OPEN DAYS, THEN IT IS NOT HAPPENING.  SOME FEW DRIVE-UP UN-TICKETED CARS MAY BE ADMITTED IF PARKING IS NOT ALREADY CROWDED.  ONLY CASH PAYMENT CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR TICKETS ON ARRIVAL.

 

DIRECTORS TOUR SUNDAY, MID-JANUARY FROM 11 AM TO NOON

A forty-minute walkthrough tour of the garden, guided by Director Michael Zajic, to learn how to look at the bones of a garden, the purpose of hardscapes, how to plan for the 60% evergreen 40% deciduous best garden for the Cape, with best examples and your questions answered.

SECOND SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY 10 AM TO 11:30 AM

See how colorful mid-winter can be.  Features mid-winter Hellebores and Camellias as well as ornamental Kales and Pansies, colored evergreen foliage, beautiful tree, and shrub bark, and the Coral Bark Maples fully colored. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.

SECOND SUNDAY IN MARCH 10 AM TO 11:30 AM

Winter flower color increases as early bulbs appear and late winter flowering shrubs unfold.  Features late winter Hellebores and Camellias, Spirea ‘Ohgon’, Crocus, as well as ornamental Kales and Pansies, colored evergreen foliage, beautiful tree and shrub bark, and the Coral Bark Maples fully colored. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase tickets on the invitation to Subscribers.

FIRST SUNDAY IN APRIL 10 AM TO 11:30 AM

Early Spring flowers in lovely sweeps of color with many species in bloom including early bulbs, Tulips, Daffodils, early spring ephemeral perennials, and early flowering shrubs unfold.  Features: spring Hellebores and Camellias,  Spirea ‘Ohgon’, Crocus, Anemone Blanda, Pulmonaria, Bloodroot, Ipheion, ornamental Kales and Pansies, colored evergreen foliage, and beautiful tree and shrub new foliage.  One may see frogs in the frog pond, pond turtles basking on turtle logs in Red Mill Pond, hunting Osprey, Great Blue Heron, and many other garden and water birds.  An extravaganza of Spring! Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.

THIRD SUNDAY IN APRIL 10 AM TO 11:30 AM

The crescendo of mid-spring, in bloom Redbud trees, Dogwood, fragrant Lilac, Crabapple, Peach Tree, sweeps of Tulips, sweeps of a hundred Azaleas, fragrant Wisteria, spring ephemerals like Virginia Bluebells, Daffodils

FIRST SUNDAY IN MAY CELEBRATES MOTHER’S DAY 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Peak of Rhododendrons, Late Azaleas, Spring ephemeral plants, Dogwoods, Van Houteii Spirea, large diverse collection of Clematis. Purchase tickets on the website.

THIRD SUNDAY IN MAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Rhododendrons, Kalmia, Roses, Water Lilies, Alliums, Siberian Iris, Clematis, Bearded Iris, Baby Geese, and more. Purchase tickets on the website.

FIRST SUNDAY IN JUNE FROM 10 AM TO 11:30 AM

Roses spectacle and a whole lot more! Purchase tickets on the website.

THIRD SUNDAY IN JUNE FROM 11:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Masses of Hydrangeas and Lilies, Water Lilies, Daylilies, flowering shrubs, pollinator plants, and perennials, sweeps of tall Phlox, basking turtles, frogs, Koi, and more. Purchase ticket on website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.

SECOND SUNDAY IN JULY FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Fragrant Orienpet ‘Tree’ Lilies,  Tall Phlox, Water Lilies, Daylilies, flowering perennials pollinator plants, and more.

SECOND SUNDAY IN AUGUST FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Peak of Butterflies.  Featuring in bloom: tree-like paniculate Hydrangeas, Benary’s Giant Zinnias, the peak of Butterflies, pollinator plants, tall Phlox, Roses, Salvia, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus moshuetos and coccineas, Liriope, tropical plants, epiphyte garden at peak, Caladiums, Taro, Colocassias, Begonias, African Blue Basil (the superior purpurescens), and a spectacle of Sun Coleus, and Sun Patience, (cultivars of annuals we recommend for this climate). Purchase tickets on the website.

SECOND SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Featuring a lavish display of Diamond Grass, the favorite of all garden ornamental grasses, last flush of Rosses, summer annual Coleus, Sunpatience, Colocasia, Taro, Caladium, Hibiscus coccineus, and a driveway art show and sale by local artists. Artists are invited to contact in advance to enter work in show at millpondgarden@gmail.com to enter for details and to reserve a limited space. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.

SECOND SUNDAY IN OCTOBER FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Featuring a lavish display of summer annual Coleus, autumn Chrysanthemums, berries, foliage plants, the rare native Frost Asters, blue Butterflies, Camellias, and more. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase tickets on the invitation to Subscribers.

SECOND SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER FROM 10:00 AM TO 11:30 AM

Peak of fall color including brilliant native Red Maples, Coral Bark Maples, and more.  The garden is planted with an outstanding abundance of brilliant leaf color and berries to make it the richest fall color experience you may ever see. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase tickets on the invitation to Subscribers.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER FROM 5:30 PM TO 7:30 PM

(Possibly discontinued) Garden of Lights Show – A walk through thirty thousand lights fill the garden with magic! Timed reservation and ticket required. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.

FIRST AND SECOND SUNDAY IN DECEMBER FROM 5:30 PM TO 7:30 PM

(Possibly discontinued) Garden of Lights Show.  A walk through thirty thousand lights fill the garden with magic!  Timed ticket and reservation required. Purchase tickets on the website or by clicking on purchase ticket on the invitation to Subscribers.