Pressed Flower Cards and Journals- SOLD OUT
2026-05-09 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | CT
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a crafting workshop! Using a colorful selection of pressed plants and flowers, create a one-of-a-kind greeting card and journal, perfect for Mother’s Day gifts or meaningful keepsakes. Each student will create a 5×7 greeting card on high quality cardstock (envelope included) and decorate the hard cover of an unlined journal using decoupage techniques. Work at your own pace and enjoy the simple pleasure of crafting with high-quality botanical materials. Your instructor will be on hand to get you started and provide guidance along the way. No experience necessary and all materials are provided. Families with older children welcome. Come have fun crafting in the barn and leave with something handmade and heartfelt.
SOLD OUT

Celebrate Mother’s Day at Hollister House Garden
2026-05-10 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Join us on Sunday, May 10, for a special open day as Hollister House Garden honors mothers, grandmothers, and the mother figures in our lives. Stroll through blooming paths and take in the colors and scents of spring. Explore the different garden rooms, perfect for reflection, conversation, and capturing memories together. Free admission and thoughtful touches in the garden will make this day special for everyone in the family.

Secrets to a Successful Cutting Garden- Lecture and Book Signing
2026-05-16 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Ready to grow your own gorgeous bouquets? Let flower farmer Elizabeth Brown, author of the brand-new The Beginner’s Cut Flower Garden, show you how to plan, design and cultivate a joyful cutting garden. Learn to build a cohesive color palette that looks great in the garden and in the vase. Discover “cut-and-come-again” varieties that truly earn their keep. Find out how succession planting techniques can keep your buckets full of blooms all season long. Elizabeth will also share her favorite tips for growing healthier plants, making the most of small spaces, and creating sustainable flower arrangements right from your backyard. If you’ve ever dreamed of harvesting your own fresh flowers, this session is the perfect place to start. You’ll leave feeling excited—and ready—to grow a cutting garden of your own.
Following the presentation, enjoy light refreshments and meet Elizabeth as she signs copies of her new book. To be assured of a copy, we recommend purchasing one with your reservation.
Elizabeth Brown is the owner of Foxglove Farmhouse, a regenerative cut flower garden in coastal Maine that brings fresh blooms to the local community. She believes flowers have the power to heal, connect, and bring joy—often when we need it most. Through Foxglove Farmhouse, Elizabeth offers in-person workshops and virtual learning opportunities for beginner gardeners via her digital hub. A Maine Master Gardener volunteer and certified therapeutic horticulturist, she is the author of The Beginner’s Cut Flower Garden, newly published by Timber Press.
HHG Members $30
Non-members $40 (includes admission to the garden)
Book $28
RESERVATIONS

Better Together: Designing with Plant Combinations
2026-05-30 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Good design happens when individual elements come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Just as you coordinate clothing or pair food and wine for harmony and impact, thoughtful plant combinations can transform an ordinary garden into an unforgettable experience. In this lively session, we’ll explore how contrasting and complementary colors and textures create successful plant pairings. Learn how to use a gardener’s color wheel to build compositions that feel dynamic, intentional, and visually compelling all year long. Whether you’re working with containers, borders, or sweeping beds, expect to gain not only inspiration, but also clear, actionable tools for choosing plant partners that truly shine better together
Caitlin Bird Francke is the founder of Caitlin Bird Landscape Design, a full-service landscape design firm in Chatham, New Jersey. A former journalist and social media executive — twice nominated for Pulitzer Prizes — she discovered that her true joy comes from designing outdoor spaces, or as she puts it, creating happiness from the ground up. Trained at the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture, Caitlin writes for Fine Gardening magazine and her work has been featured on Martha Stewart. But she doesn’t take it all too seriously: she wrote a ‘Tiny Love’ column for The New York Times about breaking up with a plant.
HHG Members $30
Non-members $40 (includes admission to the garden)
RESERVATIONS

Artists and Photographers
2026-06-03 09:00 - 2026-08-26 13:00 (America/New_York) | CT
Beginning Wednesday, June 3 and continuing every Wednesday through August 26, Hollister House Garden welcomes artists and photographers to come and be inspired by the beauty and peace of the morning garden.
Registration is not required.
HHG members are always free
Non-members $10 each (honor box in the welcome shed)

Garden Journaling: Flowering Trees and Shrubs
2026-06-05 10:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Use your journal to capture the delicate beauty of early June. Combining pen and watercolor, we will create impressions of the beautiful flowering trees and shrubs abundant in the Hollister House gardens. We’ll start with a lesson in the barn on journaling tips and techniques, followed by a slow meander through the gardens to observe and note different buds and flowers, adding to our journals along the way. Your instructor will provide plenty of drawing and watercolor tips, both inside the barn and outside in this beautiful garden setting. All skill levels are welcome, and beginners are encouraged to join!
Bring a bag lunch. Water and snacks provided.
Required Materials: Journal and pen. You may bring your own or purchase a set for $35 when you register. We suggest a Micron 01 or 02 pen. Please click below for details and a full list of recommended materials.
Journaling Materials List
Betsy Rogers-Knox is a botanical artist with a fascination for the full lifecycle of plants and the ecosystems they inhabit. She holds a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from The New York Botanical Garden and her work has been exhibited widely across the U.S. and internationally, including the ASBA International Exhibitions, NYBG Triennials, and the RHS Botanical Art Exhibit in London, where her paintings of Beckley Bog earned the Judges’ Special Award for their educational and ecological value. Betsy’s illustrations are held in the permanent collections of the RHS Lindley Library and the Hunt Institute.
HHG Members $90
Non-Members $120
Journal and Pen $35
REGISTRATION

EVENING IN THE GARDEN
2026-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | CT
As the light fades and day turns to evening, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the garden in a different light.
Come have a glass of wine in the barn. Then enjoy a walk in the garden where you will delight in the intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and overflowing with exuberant plantings.
A perfect start to a summer weekend.
This event will take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather we will enjoy wine in the barn!
RESERVATIONS
Pay at the door $25 per person (cash or check only).

Printing With the Sun: Full-Day Cyanotype Workshop and Book Launch
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Join award-winning cyanotype artist Madge Evers for an exciting, full-day cyanotype workshop celebrating the release of her new book, Printing with the Sun. Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic technique for creating stunning art prints in dreamy shades of blue. You begin by coating high grade paper with a light-sensitive solution. Madge will show you how to work with patterns, layering and composition to create two original botanical prints. You will also get to try the wet cyanotype process—a playful, unpredictable variation that transforms classic Prussian blue into a range of rich, organic tones. After a break for lunch, learn to apply the cyanotype process to textiles! Madge will guide you through preparing and coating fabric and printing your designs. You’ll finish with an original cyanotype on a cotton tote bag—a functional, wearable piece of art to take home along with all your prints.
The workshop fee includes all materials. Bring a bag lunch. Water and plenty of snacks are provided. Madge will be happy to sign copies of Printing with the Sun, available for purchase at the workshop.
Madge Evers is a visual artist who uses alternative photography, mushroom spores, and painting to depict plants and imagined flora. Her work has been exhibited widely throughout the East Coast, and she has participated in artist residencies in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Ireland. Evers lives and works in western Massachusetts and teaches workshops throughout the northeast. Her new book, Printing with the Sun: Capturing the Beauty of Nature with Cyanotypes, explores the cyanotype process, offering artistic inspiration as well as hands-on projects for developing printmaking skills.

HHG Members $130
Non-members $145
RESERVATIONS

Poetry Writing Workshop: What Words for Nature's Beauty?
2026-06-26 14:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | CT
With Hollister House Garden as a source of inspiration, Woodbury poet laureate emerita Sandy Carlson invites you to explore of the role of nature in poetry. Spend time exploring the garden rooms at Hollister House, observing, wandering, and writing as you feel inspired. Go where the Muse takes you- being as contemplative or as playful as you please. Carlson will be available for support and feedback throughout the afternoon. The workshop will conclude with an informal open mic, offering participants the option to share their work with the group while enjoying a beverage.
This workshop is for everyone who loves words and the natural world—no previous poetry or writing experience is required. Bring a notebook and your favorite pen or pencil.
Sandy Lee Carlson is a widely published poet, educator, and Poet Laureate Emerita of Woodbury. She founded the monthly open mic at Woodbury Public Library, and she organizes poetry events in Litchfield and New Haven counties. She edits and publishes poetry anthologies as managing partner of Orenaug Mountain Publishing and hosts the podcast People and Their Poems, featuring conversations with area poets about their work and the poems that have shaped people’s lives. Sandy teaches high school English in Litchfield. A Master Gardener, she spends her free time removing introduced plants wherever she finds them clogging the landscape. Learn more at sandycarlson.net.
HHG members: $30
Non-members: $35
RESERVATIONS

HHG Explorers: Garden Rooms and Fairy Houses
2026-06-27 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Hollister House Garden Explorers is a series of Saturday morning activities that invite elementary-aged children and their families to experience the summer garden.
Gardens are magical places that feed imagination and inspire wonder. Join us for a kid-friendly guided tour of Hollister House Garden, where we’ll explore some of our garden “rooms,” noticing features that make each space unique. Every garden room has its own mood. How does it make you feel? Is it peaceful, playful, cheerful, or maybe even a little mysterious?
Then, inspired by our walk, we’ll head to the barn for a hands-on art activity with Kent Curiosity Lab. Using natural materials and plenty of imagination, children and families will create their own miniature fairy gardens—designing tiny spaces with moods of their own.
Kent Curiosity Lab is a non-profit organization offering children experiences that spark curiosity and ignite lifelong learning. Located in Kent, Connecticut, the organization provides high-quality enrichment programs that actively engage students in real world and personally meaningful activities and projects. By ensuring every child has access to these opportunities, they work to build a stronger, more vibrant community. Find out more at kentcuriositylab.org.
This program is offered free of charge, but advanced registration is required. As space is limited, please let us know 48 hours in advance if your plans change so we may offer your spot to a family on our waitlist. Please note that a caregiver must be present for the duration of the program.

Hollister House Garden Explorers - Garden Rooms & Fairy Houses

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Participants should meet in the barn before beginning the garden walk. Please arrive a few minutes early so the tour can start on-time.Parent or care-giver must be present for the entire event.(Required)

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EVENING IN THE GARDEN
2026-07-10 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | CT
As the light fades and day turns to evening, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the garden in a different light.
Come have a glass of wine in the barn. Then enjoy a walk in the garden where you will delight in the intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and overflowing with exuberant plantings.
A perfect start to a summer weekend.
This event will take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather we will enjoy wine in the barn!
RESERVATIONS
Reserve in advance: $20 per person
Pay at the door $25 per person (cash or check only).

HHG Explorers: Who Lives in the Garden?
2026-07-11 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | CT
Hollister House Garden Explorers is a series of Saturday morning activities that invite elementary-aged children and their families to experience the summer garden.
Gardens aren’t just pretty places for humans to enjoy- they are also home to a variety of animals and insects that signal a healthy garden. Join us for a kid-friendly, guided walk to discover different habitats at Hollister House Garden- then have fun searching for our famous frogs in the reflecting pool! We will learn all about frogs- and other herps- when we head to the barn for an exciting nature program with White Memorial Conservation Center. Through up-close encounters with several live animals, families will learn about the characteristics, habitats, life cycles, and adaptations of various species of reptiles and amphibians throughout CT.
The White Memorial Conservation Center provides year-round environmental education programs for children and adults that inspire understanding, appreciation, and respect for the natural world. Created in 1913 by Alain C. White and his sister, May W. White, the Foundation and Center today comprise 4,000 acres of forest, fields and wetlands in the towns of Litchfield and Morris in northwestern Connecticut. Learn more at https://whitememorialcc.org
This program is offered free of charge, but advanced registration is required. As space is limited, please let us know 48 hours in advance if your plans change so we may offer your spot to a family on our waitlist. Please note that caregivers must be present for the duration of the program.

Hollister House Garden Explorers - Who Lives in the Garden?

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Participants should meet in the barn before beginning the garden walk. Please arrive a few minutes early so the tour can start on-time.Parent or care-giver must be present for the entire event.(Required)

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HHG Explorers: Daylilies in the Garden
2026-08-01 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Hollister House Garden Explorers is a series of Saturday morning activities that invite elementary-aged children and their families to experience the summer garden.
Discover one of the garden’s favorite summer blooms as we celebrate the classic daylily! We begin with a family-friendly garden tour where we will take a special look at the life of this beautiful perennial. Children and their families will learn how daylilies grow and reproduce, examine their unique root structures, and admire how they are used in the garden. To inspire a lifelong love of gardening, each child will receive their own “double fan” daylily plant to take home and grow in their own garden.
Following the tour, the group will gather in the barn for a “Vintage Garden” art session led by Kristie Matuszewski of Find•Art Kids Studio in Litchfield. This creative project allows young artists to craft their own “hand-picked” bouquet of daylilies using paper and wood, finished with traditional wrapping and twine. To complete the vintage experience, each participant will color a canvas board “postcard” featuring intricate, garden-inspired insect themes. Learn more about the studio at kidsfindart.com.
This program is offered free of charge, but advanced registration is required. As space is limited, please let us know 48 hours in advance if your plans change so we may offer your spot to a family on our waitlist. Please note that caregivers must be present for the duration of the program.

Hollister House Garden Explorers - Daylilies

CommentsThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.First Name(Required)Last Name(Required)Email(Required)Phone(Required)Number of children planning to attendName and age of each child(Required)Hollister House Garden plans to take photographs during this event.(Required)

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Participants should meet in the barn before beginning the garden walk. Please arrive a few minutes early so the tour can start on-time.Parent or care-giver must be present for the entire event.(Required)

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Garden Study Weekend 2026
2026-09-12 08:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Hollister House Garden, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road, Washington, CT, 06759
Hollister House Garden Study Weekend brings together some of the most important voices at work today in the fields of horticulture and garden design for a weekend of learning, inspiration, and networking.
