Tour with Lunch at Janet Mavec's Bird Haven Farm -and- Tour with Dessert at Michele Logan's Maranantha Regenerative Farm

Just voted as one of Veranda's World's Most Beautiful Gardens 2026 and the subject of Rizzoli's recently published book, Bird Haven Farm: an Original American Garden, Bird Haven Farm is the only garden by renowned Spanish landscape architect in America. The barns, outbuildings, and original nineteenth-century stone house (home of Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, creator of the Nancy Drew mystery stories) have been joined by a contemporary house designed by Smith-Miller + Hawkinson in the 1990s, and more recently by a guest house by Parsons + Fernandez-Casteleiro. Hardscaping by Dale Booher added clean lines of strategically placed stone walls, evolving Caruncho's concept of a medieval village and a perfect haven for plants. With an overstory of large mature trees, the 25-acre landscape includes hay meadows, a lush orchard of heirloom apples and other fruit trees, an extensive vegetable and herb garden, and a perennial border designed by Lisa Stamm. Other features include a meandering woodland walk with cascading ponds, a mixed shrub border, a charming pond hut, as well as a grandchildren's maze garden and elf's stump.

Then, continue onto Maranatha Farm with Michele Logan. Perched on a ridge above the north branch of the Raritan River in the Somerset Hills, Maranatha Farm utilizes Regenerative and Permaculture practices to restore the ecosystem while growing nutrient dense perennial and annual food crops, herbs and flowers. Their flock of sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese play their part in the farm ecosystem via a rotational grazing plan, while the bees in their apiaries provide pollination and honey. The on-farm Prep Barn and Greenhouse include a root cellar and Prep Kitchen where baked goods, jams, herbal teas and much more are produced using farm fresh ingredients. See and taste a farm like no other, and enjoy dessert in their raised bed garden.

Bird Haven Farm Photos: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Tour of a Private Peony Garden

Wander your way through a lush and layered tree peony garden that boasts over 40 varieties of this bold and beguiling flower. Situated on a steep hillside; garden rooms emerge among an artfully terraced descent; shrouded by specimen trees and shrubs. And, the return ascent affords a new perspective on the same planting.

Enjoy tea while discussing the history and cultural significance of tree peonies in China and Japan. The parasol is yours; try using it in your own garden to add whimsy while prolonging the life of your blooms.

Garden of Lu Hamlin in Dobbs Ferry; NY. Scheduled to mutual convenience for early May of 2027 (peak peony season).

Garden Visit and Meal at Chef's Private Home

Beloved chef Rose Bonura, whose cafe Rosie in New Canaan, Connecticut, is a long-time favorite with both locals and visitors from far and wide, offers a rare opportunity to visit her own home. Rose will lead a tour of the garden and restored buildings on the property, followed by a meal (choice of brunch, lunch, or dinner) for a group of up to 8 people.

The visit will take place on a mutually agreed upon date and time, June to September 2027, for up to 8 people.

Gardens of Bedford Tour

An exclusive garden experience for up to 8 guests.

Join us for an extraordinary day of garden exploration in the country, including private tours of four remarkable Bedford-area gardens. In addition to guided garden touring, the day will include an alfresco breakfast, lunch beneath a pergola, and festive aperitivos to wrap up the day.

Discover the romantic, pastel-hued cottage garden of Pamela Fontaine Salvatore, where winding paths, fountains, roses, clematis and lush perennial borders create a series of enchanting outdoor rooms.

Visit John Holm's sustainable meadow garden, transformed from traditional lawns into a vibrant landscape of native grasses and perennials. A garden of magnificent trees, rock walls, hedges and pollinator-friendly plantings,

At Leslie Needham's River Hills, experience a captivating balance of structure and wildness, with meadows, woodland walks, a greenhouse, barn and beautiful dining pergola.

And just when you think the day is complete, there will be a surprise garden to discover.

This is a rare opportunity to step beyond the garden gates and experience these special landscapes intimately-while enjoying wonderful food, gracious hospitality and the company of fellow garden lovers.

For up to 8 guests, to be booked at a mutually convenient time between May 15 to June 8, 2027.

Frances Palmer Tour and Lunch

Gardener and acclaimed ceramicist Frances Palmer will open her garden and studio for a private tour and lunch for up to four people. Schedule your tour during dahlia season for an eye-popping treat. Delight in the multiplicity of Frances' artistic endeavors including pottery, photography, gardening and cuisine! A short Uber ride from the Weston, CT train station, this one-of-a-kind outing is not to be missed.

Elm Tree and Expert Planting

Honor Wave Hill's American elm by welcoming a new disease-resistant tree to your own garden. Courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts, this 3-inch caliper elm will provide promise for the future, as you bask in its growing beauty. Bartlett will deliver and plant this noble specimen, providing the best possible start, and the ability to thrive for years to come.

Garden must be within 40 miles of Wave Hill.

Photo: Larry Lederman, all rights reserved.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Veitchii'

This specimen was uncovered about 7-years ago in Wave Hill's Secret Garden by retired Director of Horticulture Louis Bauer during the rejuvenation of a nearby Phontinia and Eleagnus. Soon after, "the hydrangea finally had enough light to make a show and get our attention." The pure white sterile florets of the large lacecap flowers are laid out like numbers on a clock, surrounding a central cloud of white to pink or pale blue flowers (pH dependent). The sterile florets will redden on the underside and twist up as the flowers age.

After heated debate around the potting shed table this year, we decided it is 'Veitchii', one of the original Japanese hydrangea introductions in 1881. Brought to England by Charles Maries, an employee of James Veitch & Sons in Chelsea, London; one of the largest family-run nurseries in the 19th century.

This is an incredibly reliable, cold-hardy, and robust hydrangea-it can grow up to 5'x10'-whoa!

The white flowers are offset by lush dark green waxy leaves which are resistant to powdery mildew and Cercospora (a group of fungi that cause leaf spot and blights). Even with our cold winter in 2026, we still got flowers on this hydrangea. What is not to love!

Zone: 4-9

Deer resistance: no

Available for pick-up or delivery within 30 miles of Wave Hill ($100 delivery fee)

Chamaedaphne calyculata 'Tiny Tom'

This compact leatherleaf will bring the bog to your backyard!

If planted in full sun, this will be the first native plant to bloom in your garden. Tiny white urns, it is a member of the ericaceous-family, will appear in March and are visited by the early-rising pollinators.

It is typically found in bogs, so it prefers moist soil!

Deer resistance: yes

Hardiness: 3

Sun: full/partial

Available for pick-up or delivery within 30 miles of Wave Hill ($100 delivery fee)

"Utsunomiya Truck Stop" Satsuki Azalea

There is a large group of azaleas beloved in Japan called Satsuki, named for the fifth month when they are in bloom. This Satsuki azalea was planted in the garden of Harold Epstein in October 1969. It was purchased at a truck stop in Utsunomiya, a city near Tokyo, whose floral emblem is the Satsuki azalea. As Harold's garden was about to be sold, this azalea went to Lois Himes' garden in Westfield, CT., Lois had been his garden helper, and in her garden it continued to grow happily. Now that Lois and husband Rees have left their garden, "Utsunomiya Truck Stop" azalea, a plant from humble beginnings has taken a global journey to find its way into your garden.

All that aside this plant turns out to be a stunner. It has a unique aspect to the long-lasting flower. Each blossom bears a kind of an Elizabethan ruff, a calyx that makes it look double. Known as a low spreading shrub, this fifty-year-old specimen is over five feet tall and nearly eight feet wide.

Zone: 6-9

Deer resistance: no

Available for pick-up or delivery within 30 miles of Wave Hill ($100 delivery fee).

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Harlow Carr'

'Harlow Carr' has an upward growth habit-this particular tree takes it a step further with a "tree-like" habit. In early spring/late winter, weather depending, it unveils a firework display of golden yellow flowers with a maroon center. They produce a lovely spicy, vanilla-like scent sure to uplift you on a chilly day.

Zone: 5-8

Deer resistance: yes

Available for pick-up or delivery within 30 miles of Wave Hill ($100 delivery fee).

Citrus hystrix

The leaves and rinds of this lime are tough, but have a lovely citrus and herbal aroma. Use like a bay laurel leaf, these lime leaves and rind will impart their flavor into soups, stews, curries, and other creative dishes.

Citrus australasica 'Sanguinea'

Described as "citrus cavier," the red finger lime is a delectable citrus. Perfect for the home, finger lime plants easily stay compact and produce lots of small finger-length fruits in winter.

Paeonia rockii, 'White Swallow Tail Flecked With Gold'

Considered by many to be the "King of Flowers", tree peonies are a luxurious addition to your garden. This cultivar, "White Swallow Tail Flecked with Gold" produces stunning 8" flowers that impart a sweet fragrance. The plant will mature to 4'x4'.

Tree peonies are divided into four groups: species, suffruticosa, rockii, and lutea hybrids. This peony is a rockii hybrid-valued traits of this group include cold hardiness and a deep purple blush at the base of the flower petals. Rockii hybrids are divided into groups based on flower type; this cultivar falls into the group called "Gansu Mudan" and features huge flowers. Gansu is the name of the Chinese province the original species is native to. And this cultivar happens to have been hybridized in Lanzhou, Gansu province, China by Chen Dezhong of Peace Peony Garden.

Zone: 4-9

Deer resistance: no

Two Wave Hill Chairs

Bring Wave Hill's iconic style to your garden. Laze with a friend in the comfort of this astute design that has endured for decades. Two chairs, hand-crafted in our wood shop and painted with our signature color. View, unfortunately, not included.

Available for pick-up or delivery within 30 miles of Wave Hill ($100 delivery fee).