New Hampshire > State > Outdoor Activities > New Hampshire Gardens

New Hampshire's Gardens

Gather your friends & family to explore New Hampshire’s gardens. Grown in every shape and size, these public spaces, at historic homes, natural preserves and museums, are a wonderland of color and artistic design. A nationally recognized rhododendron grove and wildflower trail blooms with flowers and song bird calls throughout the warm season. American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s property includes lovely gardens and walking trails. Historic but still very active gardens are worked all season by volunteers and learners at a still thriving Shaker community. Discover Japanese lily pond gardens, hillside, rock and secret gardens with alpine and native plants.

Celia Thaxter's Garden and Sea View Isles of Shoals

Celia Thaxter's Garden Tours

Appledore Island near New Castle, NH, 03854 Phone:

Step back in time and experience the unique beauty of Celia Thaxter’s Garden by the sea on Appledore Island, ME at the Shoals Marine Laboratory. The garden sits just where it was during Celia's lifetime and the raised beds and flowers follow the plan laid out in her acclaimed book, An Island Garden. Some of Celia's original plants are still in the garden including snowdrops, hops vine, day lilies, hollyhocks, and brilliant red poppies. This unique tour captivates with history, science, inspiration, and a delicious lunch overlooking the best ocean views on the seacoast. Ferrry departs for Appledore Island from the Judd Gregg Marine Research Center in New Castle.

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Pleasant View Gardens

7316 Pleasant Street Loudon, NH, 03307 Phone: 603-435-8361

Experience a world of vibrant color and beautiful blooms!

This family-owned greenhouse, a co-founder of Proven Winners®, opened in 1976 and boasts a stunning selection of award-winning annuals, perennials, ornamentals, shrubs, and more. All of their plants are carefully chosen through a rigorous trial process, ensuring the industry's best genetics. Stroll through their mesmerizing Display Gardens and witness these Proven Winners® plants flourish in beautifully designed showcases. Watch butterflies, bees, and birds flit among the vibrant blooms, creating a truly magical atmosphere. Pleasant View Gardens welcomes everyone! Whether you're a casual visitor, garden enthusiast, trade professional, or landscape designer, you'll find inspiration and knowledge here. Seeking privacy for your patio? Explore the Privacy Garden for ideas on creating a natural screen with tall grasses, trailing foliage, and gentle florals. In contrast, the Family Fun Garden boasts playful foliage, bright blossoms, and even edible plants, making it the perfect inspiration for creating a unique space that’s perfect for spending quality time with loved ones. Visit Pleasant View Gardens and discover a world of horticultural wonder!

Maple Hill Gardens at Beaver Brook Association

117 Ridge Road Hollis, NH Phone: 603-465-7787

The Maple Hill Gardens, on the property of the Beaver Brook Association, are open to the public for daily viewing. The best time for visitng the gardens is April through October. Garden Tours and presentations are available. Visit the gardens or walk the 35 miles of trails located on 2,000 acres of land.

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

139 Saint Gaudens Road Cornish, NH, 03745 Phone: 603-675-2175

This property displays the works of American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The property also includes lovely gardens and walking trails.

Rhododendrom State Park - Fitzwilliam, NH

Rhododendron State Park

Rhododendron Road at Rockwood Pond Road Fitzwilliam, NH, 03447 Phone: 603-532-8862

Named a National Natural Landmark in 1982, this rhododendron garden produces a glorious show at peak time in July. A nearby wildflower trail blooms from spring through fall. - Trail Maps

Fuller Gardens

10 Willow Avenue North Hampton, NH, 03862 Phone: 603-964-5414

Designed in the Colonial Revival style on a two-acre plot, these gardens bloom throughout the season, from an extensive tulip display in early May, followed by the Japanese garden and other late spring flowering shrubs, through the 2,000 rose bushes that bloom through October.

Bedrock Gardens

19 High Road Lee, NH, 03861 Phone:

Called an oasis of art, horticulture, and inspiration. Bedrock Gardens is a privately owned property where the public is invited to tour and visit on Open Gardens Weekends six months of the year. The huge variety of garden plots includes a parterre garden, a swaleway, funnel gardens, an allee, the shrubaria, the GrassAcre, Belgian Fence, rock gardens, the coop and wave, a paddock garden, and more. Many special events include topics like beekeeping, ballroom dancing, and learning about caterpillars, native plants and pollinators.

Prescott Park

105 Marcy Street Portsmouth, NH, 03801 Phone: 603-431-2000

This very pretty city park is located within easy walking distance from the center of Portsmouth, and on the banks of the Piscataqua River, which is always lively with views of fishing boats, tugboats, cruises and other watercraft. The parks is across the street from Strawbery Banke Museum, where costumed interpreters describe life in the neighborhood over four centuries. Prescott Park has very large flowerbed and demonstration gardens. The park also hosts a big schedule of outdoor concerts and plays for kids throughout the summer.

Fells Historic Estate and Gardens

456 NH Route 103A Newbury, NH, 03255 Phone: 603-763-4789

Outstanding gardens, a 100-foot perennial border, and a view of Lake Sunapee from the Rose Terrace are part of this historic house’s property. A brook trickles to a Japanese water lily pool in the hillside rock garden, which includes a large collection of alpine and native plants. Hidden behind masses of rhododendron, a walled secret garden awaits discovery.
Guided tours of the gardens are conducted daily mid-June through mid-August, Wednesday through Sunday, at 1 p.m. Included in the price of admission. The gardens are open during regular hours year-round for self-guided tours and leisurely strolls. Gardens include the Perennial Border, the Rock Garden, the Rose Terrace, the Old Garden, the Pebble Court, and the Heather Bed.
See full description of The Fells.

Kirkwood Gardens of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

900 US Route 3 Holderness, NH, 03245 Phone:

This informal garden is open to the public daily at no cost. Perennial lants are abundant, attracting bees, butterflies, and birds of many species.

Enfield Shaker Museum

24 Caleb Dyer Lane / 447 Route 4A Enfield, NH, 03748 Phone: 603-632-4346

Historic but still very active gardens are among the interesting facets to explore on a visit to this community of Shakers, active for 200 years. Community gardens are worked all season by volunteers and learners.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Lakes

Merrimack Valley

Monadnock

Seacoast

White Mountains