The 10 most gorgeous public gardens in New Hampshire

Surround yourself with beautiful blooms, whimsical water features, and well-designed hardscapes at the best public gardens in New Hampshire. 

New Hampshire is well-known for its scenic landscapes and wildlife, so it’s not surprising that the Granite State is also home to tons of gorgeous gardens. From a seaside botanical garden to an English landscape-style garden, there’s something for every gardening enthusiast in New Hampshire.  

We’ve compiled a list of New Hampshire’s best public gardens and shared everything you need to know about each one, from pricing to what you can expect to see during your visit. Keep reading to learn more about all the must-see gardens in the Granite State. 

1. Pleasant View Gardens

The Proven Winners’ Display Garden at Pleasant View Gardens is a visually striking outdoor space that attracts all sorts of anthophiles, from amateur gardeners to garden designers and landscape professionals. The public garden features a wide variety of plants growing in expertly designed showcase displays. It’s also home to beautiful birds, bees, and butterflies. 

If your visit to the display garden leaves you feeling inspired to spruce up your own outdoor space, stop by The Yard, Pleasant View Gardens’ garden supply shopping destination. There are hundreds of plant varieties to choose from, including houseplants, shrubs, vegetables, and ornamental grasses. (Note that The Yard is about a 15-minute drive from the Proven Winners’ Display Garden.)

Address: 7316 Pleasant St., Loudon

Cost: Free 

2. Kirkwood Gardens

Kirkwood Gardens—part of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center—is located on the grounds of the historic Holderness Inn. This public one-acre garden was designed by landscape designer Grace Kirkwood. 

The garden features an upper and lower garden connected by a series of granite steps. The upper garden offers shade provided by ancient sugar maples and puts ferns, hostas, and azaleas on display. The lower garden houses sun-loving shrubs, trees, and perennials. There’s also a sundial, millstone fountain, and wooden pergola. 

Address: 900 US-3, Holderness

Cost: Free

3. Tarbin Gardens

Tarbin Gardens, which opens for the season on June 1, is an English landscape-style garden spread across five acres. The garden has pretty perennials, flowering trees, and shrubs, as well as greenhouses and ponds. 

You can walk through the gardens in about an hour or turn your visit into an all-day outing. Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawns or take a seat at one of the many patio tables at the Gingerbread Terrace and Tea Garden. 

The flora attracts plenty of birds and butterflies, and other animals like cats and squirrels roam the gardens too. In the barnyard, you’ll find chickens, goats, and rabbits. 

Address: 321 Salisbury Rd., Franklin

Cost: $10 for adults; $8 for seniors, children, and students

A pond full of water lilies surrounded by foliage. (Tarbin Gardens)

4. Canterbury Shaker Village

Canterbury Shaker Village—a 700-acre site—is home to 30 historic buildings, nature trails, ponds, dams, and several gardens. There’s a botanical garden, herb garden, and organic vegetable garden surrounding a pond and historic pump house. One of the most popular trails takes you past the gardens and the pump house, as well as several of the original, restored buildings. 

Guided tours are available, and there’s a wide variety of events hosted throughout the year. 

Address: 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury

Cost: Free (various fees apply for guided tours and events)

5. Prescott Park

There are a variety of individual garden areas located throughout the 10-acre waterfront Prescott Park. The gardens include formal plantings and structural elements, such as a waterfront anchor and a whale created by renowned sculptor Cabot Lyford. Other highlights include a bed of hostas and beds of colorful annuals that attract butterflies and other pollinators. 

Free, one-hour garden tours are offered on Fridays throughout July and August. 

Address: 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth

Cost: Free

6. Fuller Gardens

Fuller Gardens—once part of the summer estate of former New Hampshire governor Alvan Fuller—is now a public botanical garden. This seaside gem is located on the ocean and opens for the season on May 12. 

Fuller Gardens is home to formal rose gardens designed in the Colonial Revival style that feature hundreds of rose varieties. There’s also a Japanese garden, a koi pond, a tropical conservatory, and plenty of colorful perennial plantings. Large sculpted hedges and turf paths frame the gorgeous gardens. 

Fuller Gardens also hosts fun events throughout the year, such as its Reggae ‘n’ Roses Party featuring alcoholic refreshments, food, and live music. 

Address: 10 Willow Ave., North Hampton

Cost: $10 for adults; $9 for seniors; $7 for students; $5 for children 12 years and younger 

Green hedges and colorful garden beds surrounded by mature trees. (Fuller Gardens)

7. The Fells

The Fells—a nearly 1,000 acre hillside site overlooking Lake Sunapee—is home to a 22-room Colonial Revival-style mansion, woodland trails, and breathtaking gardens. The formal gardens represent 1920s- and 1930s-style gardens and were inspired by the owners’ travels throughout Italy and France. Highlights include a rock garden with a Japanese water lily pool, a walled “secret” garden hidden by rhododendron, a Rose Terrace, the 100-foot Perennial Border, and the Pebble Court.  

The gardens and trails are open daily year round for self-guided tours, and professional guided tours are offered from mid-June to mid-October. 

Address: 456 Route 103A, Newbury

Cost: Admission prices vary based on the season and whether or not the Main House is open. 

8. Bedrock Gardens

Stroll through 30 acres of botanical bliss at Bedrock Gardens. Once a historic farm and private garden, Bedrock Gardens is now a public garden and opens for the season on May 13. Free garden tours are offered daily at 10:15 a.m., but you can also schedule a private tour. 

During your visit, you’ll see tons of unique plant varieties, water features like ponds, fountains, and waterfalls, and other hardscape elements, including whimsical sculptures, fences, meandering paths, pergolas, a Japanese teahouse, and a rock garden. There’s also a Parterre garden (a formal garden design featuring symmetrical patterns) with a pool.

Bedrock Gardens also hosts an annual Fairy & Hobbit House Festival during which attendees dress up in costumes and designers construct ornate fairy and hobbit houses for judging in a competition.  

Address: 19 High Rd., Lee

Cost: $15 suggested donation for adults; free entrance for children 12 and younger 

9. Castle in the Clouds

When it was built in 1913, 6,300-acre Lucknow Estate featured a 16-room Arts and Crafts mansion, a stable, six-car garage, two gatehouses, a greenhouse, a golf course, a tennis court, a man-made lake, a boathouse, and miles of nature trails. 

The estate—now a National Historic Landmark—opened to the public in 1959 under a new name: Castle in the Clouds. Surrounding the mansion, or castle as it’s now called, are expertly designed gardens and outdoor spaces, which can be toured on weekends June through September. The estate’s head gardener leads the tour and offers gardening tips and tricks along the way. 

Address: 586 Ossipee Park Rd., Moultonborough

Cost: $15

Pink flowers with mountains and water in the background. (Castle in the Clouds)

10. Maple Hill Gardens

Explore 13 themed gardens, a wildflower trail, and a natural play area at volunteer-run Maple Hill Gardens. The gardens are located on Maple Hill Farm, home to Franklin and MaryAnn Colburn from 1868 to 1917. It underwent a large expansion project in 1981 to include some of the many themed gardens on display today.  

At Maple Hill Gardens, you can spot hummingbirds in the Pollinator Garden, seek shade under the gazebo in the Victorian Garden, sit back and relax under the wisteria vines in the Arbor Garden, or learn about composting in the Compost Court. Visitors can also reserve a guided garden tour. 

Address: 117 Ridge Rd., Hollis

Cost: Free

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.