TOUR DETAILS SUNDAY, JUNE 8
Beyond the Garden Gate
Garden tourism is a time-honored tradition, bringing ‘hidden’ landscapes to public view, and offering a unique chance to experience the essence of a community — through glimpses of its extraordinary natural beauty, history, and heritage.
The 2025 Ridgefield Garden Tour, Beyond the Garden Gate, is the first tour of local Ridgefield gardens in over 30 years. Presented by the Ridgefield Historical Society and Ridgefield Garden Club, this special event features a tour of seven private Ridgefield gardens plus historic Ballard Gardens on Sunday, June 8. The event also includes a celebratory soirée, Hats Off to Spring, on Saturday evening, June 7.
Honorary Chair: Todd Forrest, Longtime Ridgefield Resident and Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at the New York Botanical Garden.
Stay tuned for garden expertise and insights from Todd Forrest and enjoy the 2020 New Yorker piece on his NYBG pandemic operations.
TOUR DETAILS
Sunday, June 8, 10:00am – 5:00pm
All gardens in Beyond the Garden Gate are located in Ridgefield, extending from upper Ridgebury to the southern Branchville area, representing the very best that Ridgefield has to offer! Maps with garden addresses and locations will be distributed at Tour Registration. Anticipate at least 20-30 minutes per garden, plus travel time from site to site. Gardens will open to guests at 10:00am and close at 5:00pm.
TICKETS
Garden Tour: $75
Sunday, June 8, 10:00am – 5:00pm [On Sale February 14]
Spring Soirée: $200
Hats Off to Spring!
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 7:00pm – 11:00pm
Raffle Ticket: $100
Fabulous Ridgefield Garden Tour Weekend Package!
Families are encouraged to attend the Ridgefield Garden Tour. Children 12 and under are free and must remain with their parents/guardians. Ages 13+ require a ticket. Strollers are not permitted on the tour.
TRANSPORTATION
Special Beyond the Garden Gate school buses will travel the garden tour route all day for easy hop-on/hop-off access to tour gardens with minimal fuss or waiting. Tour-goers may drive independently but parking is very limited, and walking is required. One garden, Cascading Vignettes, is only available by bus. Buses depart from and return to the Garden Tour Registration site, Veterans Park Elementary School. The first buses will begin their routes shortly before 10:00am.
Parking: Garden Tour attendees may park in Ridgefield Town Municipal Lots on Governor Street, RVNAhealth (27 Governor St.), Veterans Park Elementary School (8 Governor St, rear of school please), Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield (41 Governor St.), and Lounsbury House (316 Main St.).
REGISTRATION
All Ridgefield Garden Tour guests must register prior to beginning the Tour. At Registration, you will receive a wristband and Garden Tour Program. Your wristband serves as your ticket to enter each of the gardens.
Pre-Tour Registration (Encouraged!)
- Location: Ridgefield Historical Society, Scott House
4 Sunset Lane, Ridgefield CT - Dates:
Tuesday, June 3, 1pm – 5pm
Wednesday, June 4, 1pm – 5pm
Thursday, June 5, 1pm – 5pm
Day-of-Event Registration
- Location: Veterans Park Elementary School
8 Governor Street, Ridgefield CT - Date:
Sunday, June 8, 9:00am – 3:00pm - Parking: Garden Tour attendees may park in Ridgefield Town Municipal Lots on Governor Street, RVNAhealth (27 Governor St.), Veterans Park Elementary School (8 Governor St, rear of school please), Boys & Girls Club of Ridgefield (41 Governor St.), and Lounsbury House (316 Main St.).
Please note: Ridgefield Garden Tour Registration is open until 3:00pm on Sunday, June 8, however late-in-day registrants should not expect to visit all gardens on the tour. For planning purposes, anticipate at least 20-30 minutes per garden and travel time between sites. We encourage all Garden Tour attendees to visit as many gardens as possible!
SPECIAL NOTES
- The gardens are natural landscapes and may include steps and uneven terrain. The Tour is not wheelchair accessible.
- Beyond the Garden Gate will go on rain or shine.
- Wear your walking shoes.
- Please no strollers.
- No dogs or pets.
- Smoking is not permitted.
- Restrooms are located at Veterans Park Elementary School and on one of the Gardens on Tour.
- Sustenance — Garden Touring begets an appetite! Be on the lookout for our Participating Restaurants webpage for special menus and deals for Tour-goers.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Beyond the Garden Gate offers an exceptional opportunity to share your name and message with an attentive and invested audience.
ABOUT THE GARDENS
Beyond the Garden Gate features seven private Ridgefield gardens and the four gardens at Ballard Park that are funded and maintained by Ridgefield Garden Club. Each garden is unique in style, scope, plantings, and design. Properties range from architect planned, manicured estates to small, owner planted and designed spaces. Tour goers will draw inspiration and ideas that they can apply to their own gardens.
