The Gardens of Trade Secrets
Treat yourself to a celebration of the senses by touring the carefully selected Trade Secrets Gardens on Sunday, May 19, 2013 from 10am to 4pm. Inspiration is there for the taking! As Litchfield’s beloved garden writer and journalist, Tovah Martin, once put it, “You’d be insane not to go.”
Stroll along lichen-softened, 18th-century stonewalls and take note of the exquisitely designed garden paths at Plum Creek Farm, where Lea Davies and Larry Powers reveal their love of land. Gasp at broad views of the Berkshires as you ascend a series of terraced gardens, designed by Old Farm Nursery’s Judy Murphy, to reach Mudge Manor, a 200+ year-old Colonial nestled sweetly among lacey shrubs and flowering vines. Meet the challenge to remember your favorite plant combination, architectural feature, or spiritual spot from the treasure trove of ideas you’ll glean from a visit to Lee and Fritz Link’s garden. Savor every niche of quiet space in the perfectly appointed “garden rooms” created by interior designers Bunny Williams and John Rosselli.
Stand in the midst of an apple orchard in full bloom; study luscious perennial borders bursting with the promise of summer’s rich abundance; and sit in quiet contemplation of the powerful and transformational experience of a beautiful garden. These are real treasures.
Generosity of spirit, love of nature, and a cultivated respect for design combine at Trade Secrets. All proceeds from the event, you may know, go to support Women's Support Services (WSS) whose mission is to create a community free of domestic violence and abuse through intervention, prevention and education. Take part in this great day of glorious garden visits and add your support.
Trade Secrets is a two-day event which began over 10 years ago. Saturday’s trade festivities have become, for many, the most anticipated garden gathering in the Berkshires. Peaked white tents adorn Sharon’s expansive Lionrock Farm. From 10am to 3pm dealers of fine antique garden features display extraordinary and unusual wares for sale. They are joined by some of the finest, cutting edge, nurseries in the country. Extraordinary gardeners of every stripe make Trade Secrets an annual pilgrimage.
Sunday Garden Tours are self-guided and open at 10am. One ticket purchases your admission and a map for all four gardens.
Listed below are links to each garden, just to whet your appetite.
Lee Link www.tradesecretsct.com/garden
Mudge Manor www.tradesecretsct.com/garden
Plum Creek www.tradesecretsct.com/garden
Bunny Williams www.tradesecretsct.com/garden