Harriet Beecher Stowe loved flowers. She was an enthusiastic flower gardener. Harriet was spiritually inspired by flowers. In tribute to Harriet Beecher Stowe's sentiments, The Stowe Center presents eight Victorian Gardens on the museum grounds.

Horticulturist Rob Fuoco of Burlington, CT has restored several of Harriet's own gardens and created others. Thus, the visitors may view a variety of Victorian Garden types.

The Woodland Garden The Blue Cottage Garden The Wildflower Meadow Garden The Formal Color Coordinated Garden The High Victorian Texture Garden The Antique Rose Garden The Pink & Red Cottage Garden The Yellow & Orange Garden

Discover the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center gardens and grounds at Nook Farm- an enchanting example of overflowing, intimate cottage gardening on a domestic scale. Inspired by Stowe's love of plants and colors, the gardens include wildflowers, high Victorian plants, an abundant display of tulips and ever blooming array of flowers from late March through late October (or until the killing frost.) The gardens include Connecticut's largest magnolia tree and a 100+ year old pink dogwood believed to be from Stowe's time at 77 Forest Street. Featured on HGTV's Great American Gardens in 2002.

The Stowe Center gardens are open every day. From May through October, special garden tours are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Garden tour visitors may purchase a combination ticket and also tour the Stowe and Day Houses."

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is part of Connecticut's Historic Gardens, a consortium of nine distinctive historic sites, all within Connecticut's borders.

Make a day of it-travel and revel in the serenity and beauty of gardens and landscapes that have charmed and inspired visitors for a century or more. View art and architecture, absorb history and enjoy enriching programs. Volunteer-make friends, learn new skills and help preserve a piece of New England heritage.

For more information, visit www.flogris.org/cthistoricgardens/index.html or contact individual sites for hours and information.

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden
9 Main Street North, Bethlehem, CT 06751
203.266.7596 / www.hartnet.org/als

Antiques-filled house, 1915 formal garden, and historic orchard and barns on a four-acre property.

Butler-McCook House & Garden
394 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06106
860.522.1806 / www.hartnet.org/als

1782 family homestead with garden oasis designed by Jacob Weidenmann in 1865.

Florence Griswold Museum
96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371
860.434.5542 / www.flogris.org

National Historic Landmark with gardens, riverfront gallery and renowned American art collection.

Glebe House Museum & The Gertrude Jekyll Garden
49 Hollow Road, Woodbury, CT 06798
203.263.2855 / www.theglebehouse.org

1750 farm house with 1926 English-style perennial garden, stone terrace and intimate rose allée.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
77 Forest Street, Hartford, CT 06105
860.522.9258 / www.HarrietBeecherStowe.org

Overflowing, intimate cottage gardens in Hartford's historic Nook Farm neighborhood showcase wildflowers, high Victorian plants and abundant displays of flowering bulbs.

Hill-Stead Museum
35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT 06032
860.677.4787 / www.hillstead.org

National Historic Landmark, French Impressionist paintings and Farrand-designed garden on 152 acres.

Promisek/Beatrix Farrand Garden at Three Rivers Farm
694 Skyline Ridge Road, Bridgewater, CT 06752
860.354.1788 / www.promisek.org

1921 Beatrix Farrand garden on 300 acres at the convergence of the Shepaug and Housatonic Rivers.

Roseland Cottage, Bowen House
Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281
860.928.4074 / www.spnea.org

National Historic Landmark with parterre garden inspired by landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing.

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109
860.529.0612 / www.webb-deane-stevens.org

Three 18th-century houses with Colonial Revival garden showcasing old-fashioned flowers.