Magnificent Carlisle Gardens

Visit two well-designed and breathtakingly beautiful gardens, full of early spring bloom, including many native plants. We begin at a large private garden, created on the site of a colonial farm with more recent history as a garden partially devoted to the cultivation of herbs. Explore a walled garden, woodland garden, pond garden, orchard, and exquisite secret garden with the owner, an avid and knowledgeable gardener. We then travel to a splendid hillside garden with vast iris beds, tended by the owners who have been hybridizing irises here for 21 years. A shaded wildflower walk features some exquisite native plant analogs from Asia. See an inspiring leaf composting operation in action for this 2.5-acre site. Bring a bag lunch and a blanket to enjoy a picnic at the second garden.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.