Annual Secret Garden Tour

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June 2, 2013 • 9am-4pm

Location: Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., (201) 656-2240

Hidden behind the row homes and repurposed factories lining Hoboken’s streets are surprisingly lush green spaces that cool our urban heat island and freshen the air we breathe. They reflect the diversity of the city’s inhabitants; past tours have included Japanese Zen gardens, English cottage gardens and even a Moroccan courtyard. Indulge your curiosity and garden fantasies with the annual Hoboken tradition, the 16th Annual Secret Garden Tour, on Sunday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date: June 9.)

Eight to 10 homeowners will share their “secret gardens” and their gardening secrets to support the Museum’s fund-raising efforts, with assistance from the Hoboken Garden Club and title sponsor, Hufnagel Landscaping. The Tour includes a wide range of garden designs by both dedicated gardening enthusiasts and professional designers, with clever solutions to such challenging issues as shallow soil and deep shade.

Guided tours depart from the Museum on the half hour, and last about two hours. Comfortable shoes are advised. Tickets are $20 for HHM members and Hoboken Garden Club members, and for tickets purchased in advance; non-members pay $25 on the day of tour. For advance tickets, stop by 1301 Hudson St., or call the Museum at 201-656-2240. Tickets will also be sold at retail locations around town—see posters or come back to this website for updates on those other ticketing locations. Volunteers are also needed; call the Museum at 201-656-2240 for more information, or email volunteer@hobokenmuseum.org.

Gardening in Hoboken has a rich tradition, as Colonel John Stevens (1749 – 1838), who founded Hoboken, is credited with introducing to America the Chrysanthemum and the Camellia. His gardens were highly regarded as some of the most elaborate and scientifically cultivated of the day.