THE SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED! On Sunday, June 6, 2010 (rain date: June 13th), homeowners will reveal their “secret gardens” as part of the Annual Secret Garden Tour, a fundraiser for the Hoboken Historical Museum. We would like to thank the Hoboken Garden Club for their partnership. And many thanks to Hufnagel Landscaping for their sponsorship of this event. See photos from past years, as well as some 2010 sneak peeks of what's in store for this year's tour.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE THIS YEAR The Annual Secret Garden Tour is your chance to peek behind Hoboken’s late-19th and early-20th century row houses and converted factory buildings into a variety of spaces that reveal gardeners’ creativity and determination to stay in touch with nature in an urban environment.     This year's 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. Some gardens are kid-friendly, others are virtual outdoor living rooms.     One garden on this year's tour offers a serene, Japanese-inspired design that packs a lot of uses into a small garden, yet maintains a sense of order and spaciousness. Wooden walkways lead up from a bluestone patio across carefully tended planting beds with occasional splashes of color, and a traditional white stone bed. A Buddha keeps watch over the garden and traditional ricepaper and bamboo panels protect the owners’ privacy.    Another garden on the tour has exotic elements of Moroccan style. One garden is an outdoor extension of a home that was on last year's House Tour, which  shows the owner’s impeccable sense of style and flair for entertaining, with a few unique elements, including a sign that once hung at Maxwell's.	TOUR TIMES & TICKET INFORMATION Guided tours leave every 1/2 hour from the Museum and begin at 9:00 am; last tour departs at 4:00 pm. Tours last approx. 2 hours. Tickets $20 in advance and for Museum and Hoboken Garden Club members; $25 day of event. Tickets available at the Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St. Advance purchase recommended, as space is limited. Tours filled on first come, first served basis. For advance tickets by credit card, call 201.656.2240 and leave your number and someone will call you back to take the details over the phone. Or you can visit one of several other advance ticket locations in Hoboken, including Baskets of Distinction at 1102 Washington St., Amanda's Restaurant at 908 Washington St., and Hudson Place Realty at 132 Washington St. PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE MUSEUM Hoboken Historical Museum & Cultural Center was founded 1986 to educate the public about Hoboken’s history, diverse culture, architecture and historic landmarks. The Museum offers special exhibits, tours, events, lectures, as well as numerous educational programs for both adults and children. The Museum is a not-for-profit tax-exempt 501(c) entity.
HOBOKEN'S HORTICULTURAL HISTORY Gardening in Hoboken has a rich tradition. Colonel John Stevens (1749 – 1838), who founded Hoboken, was a garden enthusiast, importing and cultivating new plants from around the world. His gardens were regarded as among the most elaborate and scientifically managed of the day. The lists kept of seeds, plants and books ordered document his relationship with horticultural pioneers, including John Bartram, America’s first great botanist, and Bernard McMahon, who helped document the Lewis & Clark expedition. And, if you enjoy the beauty of the Chrysanthemum or Camellia, then you have Colonel Stevens to thank for that, as he introduced them both to America from China.