These 350 Amazing Private Gardens Across The US Are Normally Off-Limits, But You Can Visit Them This Summer – Find One Near You

Are you curious about what wonders are hiding in other people’s gardens? For 30 years, the Garden Conservancy Open Days program has allowed the public to peek behind the hedges of America’s finest private gardens. It is the only nationwide garden visiting program, allowing access to hundreds of gardens across the country on select open days.

Since its inception, Open Days has been enjoyed by 1.5 million visitors to 4,500 gardens in 40 states. In 2025, the event will be running across 350 private gardens in 22 states, with more than 100 gardens open for the first time.

The event kicked off in April, but the best is yet to come over the summer months, with garden open days continuing until fall. While visiting botanical gardens on a larger scale is a great source of inspiration, touring private gardens helps bring that vision to life in a more achievable setting. From urban rooftops and organic farms to innovative suburban backyards and historic estates, the gardens provide an insight into the talents of experienced gardeners and the chance to explore picturesque settings normally off limits.

“Garden visiting is more than just a leisurely stroll; it is an immersive experience that ignites the senses and nourishes the soul," said James Brayton Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer at The Garden Conservancy. "It offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, appreciate artistry, and gain inspiration from the dedication and vision of passionate gardeners.”

How to Visit Local Gardens

The Garden Conservancy is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and sharing outstanding American gardens for the education and inspiration of the public. All Open Days gardens for 2025 are listed on The Garden Conservancy’s website. Registration is $10 per person, or $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. All registrations must be processed online.

Highlights for Summer 2025

There are many highlights to experience in gardens across the country – here are a few of our top picks with open days taking place between June and August.

Pond Ridge, Lake Forest, IL

This Howard Van Doren Shaw gardeners’ cottage was originally part of a large estate with a pond separating the cottages from the owners’ house. When the owners bought the property in 1998, the cottage had already undergone several renovations, and the garden consisted mostly of concrete and junipers. Landscape architect Douglas Hoerr was tasked with designing a low-maintenance garden, which has a French jardin feel, featuring boxwood hedges and gravel paths, with the emphasis on structure rather than flowers. Pond Ridge is open Saturday, July 12, 2025.

Lim Garden, Woodinville, WA

This serene private garden and micro-nursery showcases over 2,500 species and cultivars, striking a harmonious balance between aesthetic beauty and botanical intrigue. With an emphasis on rare gems and newly debuted plants, the Lim Garden captivates visitors with its rich foliage, diverse forms, and a healthy, natural density. It serves as an inspiring demonstration of planting possibilities beneath the towering firs and cedars of the Pacific Northwest. Lim Garden is open Saturday, July 19, 2025.

Note: July 19 Open Days in the Seattle area are coordinated by Dunn Gardens, a part of the Garden Conservancy's Northwest Network, which also received a grant from the Garden Conservancy in 2024.

InSitu, Redding, CT

Surrounded by rock ledges, dense forest, grasslands, and meandering streams, InSitu is a 28-acre sculpture garden where nature and art dramatically intersect. Over the past two decades, the garden’s owner has created a richly composed showcase of architecture, horticulture, and sculpture. The distinctive gardens artfully incorporate native meadows, deciduous trees, flowering plants, grasses, arbors, water features, berms, and terraces, all elegantly connected by lawn, stone, and woodland pathways. InSitu is open Saturday, August 23, 2025.

Cat-n-Fiddle Garden, Akron, OH

This ever-evolving garden – measuring less than half an acre – reflects the freedom of a professional landscape designer breaking all the rules in their own space. “I cram plants together, spacing be damned, let everyone have it out!” says the owner. Lush foliage and bold plant combinations define four distinct areas: a welcoming front garden, an artful narrow side path, a deck bursting with tropical containers, and a shady backyard oasis bordering a Metro Park forest. Sculptural surprises, water features, and a winter-ready fire table make this a garden for all seasons – designed to relax and inspire. The Cat-n-Fiddle Garden is open Saturday, July 12, 2025.

Lost Pond, Hillsdale, NY

The garden of novelist Anne Landsman and architect James Wagman, Lost Pond is a tranquil, pollinator-friendly retreat blending structure, ecology, and story. Framed by mature trees and meadows seeded with natives, the landscape features a vernal pond, lush perennial borders, and a natural swimming pool filtered by plants and gravel. Designed in harmony with the local ecosystem, the garden draws bees, birds, and even a visiting heron, while subtle neds to Landsman’s South African roots add personal depth throughout. Lost Pond is open Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Renaissance Italy Comes To River Street, Salem, MA

Tucked into Salem’s McIntire Historic Distric, this intimate 2,049 square foot garden channels the spirit of Renaissance Italy. Interlocking garden rooms, axial views, mature hedging, and rich hardscape details – including vintage brick, granite, and millstone foundations – create a layered, timeless feel. Highlights include a towering brownstone column base from a 19th-century theater, a Green Man fountain, and antique terracotta pots overflowing with blooms. This hidden gem offers a perfect setting for dining, entertaining, or quiet reflection. Renaissance Italy Comes to River Street is open Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Denver Dry Garden, Denver, CO

On a historic neighborhood street in Denver, a classic white bungalow has a backyard that features a spectacular array of plant specimens. Denver Dry Garden transforms a traditional yard into an oasis of breezy grasses, airy flower spikes, perennials, succulents, and creeping groundcovers that line the pathway. The garden is 70% native plants and 30% old world plants, including agaves, cacti, flowering perennials, and native grasses. The flowers and foliage attract pollinators, including hummingbirds and native bees. Denver Dry Garden is open Saturday, June 28, 2025.