Chatham Garden Club
Hydrangea Festival
Friday, July 18, 2025
10:00am-4:00pm

The Chatham Garden Club presents five spectacular gardens as part of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival sponsored by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. These private gardens, some hidden and tucked away, display the beauty of Chatham making our town one of the loveliest places on Cape Cod.

 

The gardens offer not only the favorite Nikko Blue Hydrangeas, but many unique varieties, plus other shrubs, flowers, trees and waterfront views. This one-day-only tour supports the Chatham Garden Club.

 Each garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 18th only.

Each garden tour costs $5.00
You can pay in advance here for all five gardens.
Your Square confirmation email is your receipt to gain entry to all five gardens.
Make sure to bring your phone with Square email receipt to gain entry.

All garden tours are rain or shine and non-refundable.

Listed below are the gardens participating in the Chatham Garden Club Hydrangea Festival, donated to the tour by their gracious homeowners.  Enjoy!

#1
149 Harding Lane, Chatham

 

Over 100 New Guinea impatiens line the driveway as you enter the property on the Mill Pond. On the left are hydrangea macrophylla “Nikko Blue” and lace caps. Beneath the tree canopy is a shade garden of hostas, bleeding heart, and ferns. Down the steps to the back yard is a blue garden of lavender, sage, nepeta cataria, and rosemary. Under the cedar trees is a cutting garden surrounded by potentilla.  Along the back are “Nikko Blue” and Oak Leaf hydrangeas. Up on the terrace are Agapanthus, Bugmansia, an ornamental Japanese Maple, annual grasses, and a variety of annuals. The Dahlia garden contains over 20 species. Through the pool gate is a perennial garden with climbing roses, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Perovskia, and Echinacea Achillea augmented with annuals. Exciting the pool is an American Hornbeam hedge pruned to make an architectural statement in winter and privacy in summer. Along the front are “Nikko Blue” and “Endless Summer” hydrangeas and perennials. The final treasure is a secret garden filled with shade loving plants an espaliered Atlas Cedar, and climbing hydrangea.

 

#2

441 Old Harbor Road, North Chatham

 

Nestled behind a tall hedge is a retired landscape designer’s work of art. For 30 years the owners have worked on this gorgeous labor of love close the Chatham harbor and Pleasant Bay. The result is a garden for all seasons with multiple garden rooms, water features, and uncommon trees and shrubs. More than 100 hydrangeas planted in the shade of the Kousa dogwoods and evergreens create a flowering wonderland in July and August. Stroll through a classic cottage garden planted with roses, perennials, and oriental lilies that scent the air. A hidden pollinator garden attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the property. Also look unusual trees and shrubs like Weeping Deodar Cedar, variegated Japanese Snowbell, a Chinese Sweet Shrub, and Maple “Autumn Moon”. This garden, last open to the public in 2016, is not to be missed.         

 

#3

458 Old Harbor Road

 

Upon entering between the driveway’s stone pillars, visitors will be greeted by an amazing property bordered by Endless Summer Macrophylla hydrangeas.  At the circular drive are stately old Acer Platinoids (Norway Maples).  Lovely holly trees bookend the front door.  Recently added is a magnificent Fagus Grandifolia (American Beech tree) skirted by pachysandra leading the path to the magical backyard.  You will pass another large holly tree, then proceed through a covered porch with open archways where you will be greeted by vistas of Chatham Harbor and the outer beach.  Hydrangeas line a walkway to the pool and outdoor kitchen.  “Knock Out” roses and catmint border the fence.  The steps leading down to an expansive lawn are flanked by “Annabelle” hydrangeas, native grasses and Russian sage.

 

#4

270 Whidah Road, North Chatham

 

Approximately 20 years ago JC Stahl (Poetics in Space) began work on this arboretum like setting. On one side of the front walk are Annabelles (arborescence) and Cityline Venice on the other. The front lawn has been designed into edged color fields. The bed by the road on the left has seven hydrangea varieties including Oak Leaf and lace caps. The rest of the front is developed into a canopy and understory of perennials, flowering shrubs and annuals beneath. Flowering trees include a weeping peach, pink magnolia, crepe Myrtles, sculpted Hinoki cypress, Japanese maples, and Leyland Cypress. Other plants throughout the property include echinacea, alstroemeria, Gaura, lavender, thyme, weigela, canna, petunias, morning glory, Lillie, rhododendron, dahlias, New Guinea impatiens and a smoke bush.

  

#5

293 Whidah Road, North Chatham

 

The current owners adopted the decades old gardens in 2018 and have been culling and augmenting them seasonally.  The addition of “Puffer Fish” paniculata, “Pop Start” macrophylla, and “Lime Light” paniculata have added a lightheartedness.  The balance of the vintage (1980) Maximum Roseum Rhododendrons, Holly Bushes, Invincibelle “Wee White” and “Pinky Winky” are accompanied by the “Rhodies” and big leaf Endless Summers, Juniper and boxwoods.  Varieties of roses adorn the front entry and also climb the backside of the garage.  Over a dozen white, pink and coral rose bushes fill the lower bed, buffered by native grasses and a butterfly bush.  The perennial beds are planted with daylilies Astilbe, Chrysanthemum, peonies, hibiscus, tiger lilies, blue salvia, sage and irises.  They are bordered with pink and purple perennial geraniums.  Climbing hydrangeas “Petiolaris” hug the back fence behind the garage.  Just off the deck are two large Betula Pendula (Silver Birch) that have survived the past 45 years in their habitat with special care.  Along the road are a mix of blue lace caps, mopheads, a Kousa dogwood and a 27-year-old Douglas fir.