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We visited North Hill Garden for Daffodil Sunday, which was absolutely delightful. I would like to share some additional photographs from our garden tour. Gardeners in cold climates may be able to appreciate the fact that it is somewhat difficult to make their gardens into a showplace in early May, but Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd certainly managed to do so. For those that are not familiar with North Hill, it is situated on top of a hill in rural Readsboro, Vermont, and is considered by some to be one of the most spectacular private gardens in North America. The gardens include a planted rock wall and rock garden, perennial gardens, bog garden, vegetable garden, a greenhouse, and, of course, a daffodil meadow.  A pathway leads through a garden gate and then through a rustic pergola walk.  A gentle stream takes center stage while perennials and aquatic plants wait patiently for their turn in the spotlight. A wooden bridge and large, moss-covered rocks allow passage over the stream and connect to neighboring garden paths.  The perennial garden borders a grassy seating area, and will soon be jam-packed with shades of pink, rose, mauve, blue, and white.  A rustic arbor resembles a covered bridge, which are commonly found throughout the Vermont landscape.  Blooming azaleas line the pathway to the upper garden.  Various conifers command attention until the bog garden springs to life.  Pairings of species tulips light up the hillside.  Connecting the indoor and outdoor gardens, a planted rock wall contains campanula, rock daphne, dianthus, valerians, saxifrages, phlox, and, in the summer, sleeping lizards.  The various magnolias and abundant daffodils were the ones that really stole the show.
 The daffodil meadow, home to approximately 25,000 daffodils.
On a recent visit to North Hill Garden, we were witness to what 25,000 daffodils in bloom actually looks like. Yes, that’s right, 25,000. It was, as one might imagine, completely breathtaking. As we strolled along this daffodil paradise, we admired varieties such as ‘Mrs. R.O. Backhouse’, ‘The Bride’, and ‘Empress of Ireland.’ This was my first visit to North Hill, and the gardens are absolutely beautiful, as well as inspiring.
The tulips, daffodils, and crocus were out in full force this weekend at the Vermont Flower Show. The theme of this year’s show was “Child’s Play,” in support of a movement to reconnect children with nature. In an effort to encourage children to spend more time playing outside, this interaction with the natural world can set them on a path of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The theme was a great success, as there were many families present, and the kids seemed to be having a wonderful time playing in a giant treehouse as well as in and among the gardens. As I stood in line at the beginning of the garden tour, a small girl behind me strained to see what lie in the pathway ahead. Her eyes grew wide as she exclaimed, “It’s a plant forest!!” The highlight of the show for me was attending a seminar given by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd, of North Hill Gardens in Readsboro, VT. They spoke on essays from their recent book, Our Life In Gardens. I was going to use the seminar as kind of a “preview” of their new book, until I was encouraged by Mr. McGregor’s Daughter to purchase the book ahead of time and have them sign it. What a lovely idea! The book is beautifully written, and with each essay I found myself hungry for more. The first evening I opened the book and glanced through the table of contents, I was delighted to find entire sections devoted to Poppies, Hellebores, Magnolias, Lilacs, and more. The book is in part a memoir, and it was wonderfully entertaining to read of how their garden in Vermont came to be. I believe Our Life In Gardens will be a fabulous reference for a beginning gardener such as myself, with eyes for beauty, and the excitement I contain (or, try to contain) in creating my own garden. I dream about the future, and how one day I will walk through what will then be a lovely, mature garden. As I long for this, I try to remember not to wish too far into the future. This, the building of my garden, holds magic, too.
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