PHILLIPSTON — On Baldwin Hill Road, up past a colorful garden full of luscious green grass, antique farm equipment and a former apple orchard, a small cabin sits on a hill with a majestic view of surrounding mountains, including New Hampshire’s Mount Monadnock.
As part of a self-guided, two-day garden tour around Phillipston from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, the community is invited to attend the little brown cabin for lunch from noon to 4 p.m. while live country music fills the air.
The cabin is owned by Phillipston resident Emelda Haughton, who has been organizing the event this year with the help of the Gardner Elks Lodge 1426. Haughton said this is the first year since 2014 the garden tour is taking place. All five gardens showcase diverse plant varieties and features, from fountains to fairy gardens, with something for everybody to appreciate, she said.
During lunch, Haughton said, she will host the garden tour’s first-ever tin can auction, with everything from painted birdhouses to artwork to gift cards up for the taking. Plants and local crafts will also be for sale during the event.
Phillipston resident Nancy MacEwen said her garden on Ward Hill Road has been a work of love for more than 30 years. After her house was built 32 years ago and once the fence was put up, she started a perennials garden. This year will be her fourth year participating in the garden tour and in preparation, she said, she’s tucked some annuals around the garden for a pop of color.
Within her garden people can see a variety of flowers from her favorite flower, peonies, to shasta daisies and clamatice. Some interesting features include a small sundial and an in-ground pool with light blue water.
Tickets for the self-guided tour are $20 for adults, $10 for children under 10 and free for toddlers. They can be purchased prior to the event at Macmannis Florist and Flowerland Florist in Athol, Trail Head in Orange, Valley Florist in Gardner and the Petersham Package Store. All proceeds will benefit the work the Garden Elks Lodge 1426 does throughout the year.
Tickets can also be purchased both days of the event at the Phillipston Fire Station from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Rain or shine, all are welcome to visit the gardens at their leisure said Haughton.