Enchanting Garden Tour In Greenwich Connecticut

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some truly special experiences. Although my thoughts may be more closely tied to Mother’s Day, I’m excited to share with you an incredible adventure I had recently.

Last weekend, I embarked on an unforgettable garden tour in Greenwich, Connecticut.

My beautiful friend, interior designer, blogger, influencer, and fellow design hound, Deborah Von Donop invited me to go with her.

It was an unforgettable day in early June, reminiscent of my mother’s oft-repeated phrase: ‘Nothing so rare as a day in June.’ As promised, I’m excited to share the photos from that special day. Although I wish I had taken even more, I’m pleased with the selection I have, which showcases the unique homes, eclectic architecture, picturesque scenery, and beautiful gardens that made it such an unforgettable experience.

This annual garden tour in Greenwich Connecticut is called Grandiflora and is produced by the Greenwich Botanical Center.

The private residences that hosted the garden tour are nestled in Greenwich and its neighboring towns of Cos Cob and Riverside, all situated within Fairfield County, Connecticut’s affluent region. This picturesque area is located on Long Island Sound, with Long Island lying across the water and New York City to the left. For those who may be unfamiliar with the area, Greenwich and its surrounding towns are easily accessible via various driving routes.

In fact, I met Deborah, a local resident of Old Greenwich, at the Greenwich Botanical Center before she kindly drove us from house to house during the tour.

We began our garden tour at a classic Clapboard home on Lake Ave in Greenwich.

While it might be expected that Laurel would capture stunning images of the gardens, she actually focuses on the house instead. The classic Georgian-style front door area is a particular standout, evoking the charm of NEW England. Interestingly, Deborah has also created her own impressive blog post featuring this tour, showcasing her photography skills alongside her many other talents.

Readers are encouraged to visit her site and sign up for her blog, as well as follow her on Instagram if they haven’t already. Although some photos may share similarities, Deborah’s post offers a unique perspective, with several incredible shots that Laurel didn’t manage to capture – much to her envy, as she admits to wanting to ‘swipe’ them!

Then, somehow I forgot to take pics of the gardens in the back and exquisite pool.

As we journey further along the property’s winding path, it eventually descends down a gentle slope until we arrive at a serene babbling brook. Unfortunately, no visual representation of this idyllic scene is available, but rest assured that the beauty will continue to unfold. The absence of photographs should not detract from the experience, as other captivating moments lie ahead.

In fact, Deborah cleverly captured me walking towards her in that very area, and I must admit I do look rather radiant in the shot. This chance encounter might even have played a role in my securing a small but memorable part in an 1983 film – just one of many intriguing anecdotes.

Moving on… The next garden on the tour couldn’t have been more different.

The property boasts a striking contrast between its modern architecture and the lush, natural surroundings. The heavily wooded garden provides a serene backdrop to the sleek lines of the home. As you can see, the house is partially visible on the right-hand side of this image. I’m particularly fond of the vibrant red bridge that adds a pop of color against the verdant greens.

It’s easy to imagine how charming it would look during the winter months, with the snow-capped trees and icy hues adding an extra layer of beauty to the scene.

Deborah and I chatted with the incredibly delightful homeowner who does all of her own gardening.

The sprawling garden, likely spanning at least an acre, is a testament to its owner’s evident passion and dedication. Her enthusiastic demeanor and twinkle in her eye as she shared stories about the spring and summer months only reinforced this notion. According to her, the constant gardening effort leaves a permanent stain under her fingernails that refuses to budge – a trade-off for not wearing gloves.

I can understand her perspective; there’s something special about connecting with nature through tactile experiences. Nevertheless, upon closer inspection, I noticed a stark contrast between her self-proclaimed stained nails and the perfectly manicured, polished ones she actually sported. As for the peculiar plant with grape-like appendages, I’m stumped – but I’m confident that someone reading this will be able to identify it.

Meanwhile, let’s appreciate the vibrant hues of green that seem to dance across the garden’s verdant expanse.

The next place on the garden tour in Greenwich Connecticut, I also didn’t take photos of.

I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened, but it’s become an amusing anecdote for me. The garden was surprisingly natural and largely comprised of tall grass – really impressive, actually! The only thing is that I forgot to capture any photos. Although, I did manage to snap a picture of the pergola and two women on the tour taking a break.

What caught my attention, though, was the cold glass of lemonade discreetly cropped out of the frame – a lovely touch!

Additionally, Deb and I had a fantastic conversation with Olivia Graham, the homeowner and a renowned fashion photographer. If you’re interested, please follow her on Instagram.

Olivia said that only a couple of weeks earlier, the wisteria was in full bloom on the pergola, but alas the blooms had finished.

For fellow wisteria enthusiasts, I highly recommend exploring this stunning garden post. Meanwhile, our home tour continued in Riverside, CT, with two unique properties just a stone’s throw apart. The contrast was striking! On a separate note, I recently experienced an unpleasant encounter with someone who took issue with my use of the phrase ‘holy crap.

‘ While I understand that not everyone will share my enthusiasm for colorful language, I believe it’s crucial to preserve individual expression and freedom of speech. As this blog is meant to be a welcoming space, I’ve decided to politely terminate our interaction. For the remaining 99% of subscribers, rest assured that your voice matters and is valued.

But, yes, HOLY CRAP!!! I don’t really need to say anything else about this architectural gem amongst gems.

When I posted a photo on Instagram, it quickly dominated my feed. The high-quality images taken with my new iPhone X are truly impressive. One of the most striking aspects is the clear view of the Long Island Sound directly behind the front door. It’s nothing short of extraordinary.

Now don’t worry your pretty little heads for one second. ;] I took a LOT of photos of this place! The house AND the gardens!

As we delve deeper into the details, let’s take a closer look. It’s quite fascinating, don’t you think? Before I reveal something truly remarkable, bear with me for just a moment. If you’re following along closely, you might have noticed that a significant property is currently listed for sale. This information becomes particularly relevant when considering the house featured in these photographs.

In fact, if you reference the maps above, you’ll see that the area of interest – the curved piece of land at the top of the image – shares a border with this very property.

I found the image by googling the address.

Okay, let’s go around to the back of the house.

That majestic tree, situated behind the black fence to the right, is not the only impressive feature in this scene. My attention is also drawn to the vibrant white shrub that adds a pop of color amidst the lush greenery. I’m particularly fascinated by the plant growing out of the ancient tree’s trunk. If you’re an arborist or simply have a passion for botany, can anyone shed some light on the identity of this extraordinary specimen?

As it turns out, we were provided with detailed sheets listing all the trees and shrubs on the property, boasting dozens of unique species each.

We walked through the neighbors’ property to the last house on this garden tour in Greenwich Connecticut (Riverside)

The photo of the stunning botanical center is courtesy of an unknown photographer. The house itself is a charming New England clapboard style residence with breathtaking property and a lush English garden that truly stole the show. One feature that caught my eye was the beautifully manicured bed of boxwoods, which added to the overall sense of serenity. Another highlight was discovering another gorgeous pergola – it’s always exciting to find new structures like these!

Our grand finale was a selfie, followed by lunch at an excellent eatery near Deb’s home in Old Greenwich. I’m grateful to Deborah for hosting me and showing me such a fantastic time. Additionally, I want to extend my thanks to all the people who worked tirelessly to put together this incredible grandiflora garden tour in Greenwich, Connecticut.