Spencertown, New York–Spencertown Academy Arts Center’s 20th Hidden Gardens celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, with a self-guided garden tour to some of the most dazzling private gardens in the region, an outdoor market, and a botanical-themed art exhibition.

“After a hiatus last year, fans of our garden tour are anxiously awaiting the return in 2025 of this beloved community event. Once again, we’ve located an eclectic mix of gardens in Columbia County to intrigue and delight our tourists,” says Madaline Sparks, who co-chairs the event along with Vivian Wachsberger. “The gardens feature a wide range of landscape styles and environments.”

“If you’re interested in native species and naturalistic designs, see how several hosts have successfully incorporated this popular trend,” adds Wachsberger. “Please join us and take advantage of this chance to be inspired by an array of artful private gardens.”

This year’s Hidden Gardens Tour showcases the glory of late spring and promise of summer beauty at residential gardens in Chatham, Ghent, and Valatie. Two of the gardens, perched high in the Taconic Hills, offer magnificent views and vistas along with lovely landscapes. Another entry is just one year old, but has already shown extraordinary development through thoughtful planning and sound horticultural practices. The opportunity to visit this garden in its second year and then revisit in two years will be interesting and edifying.

A new organic flower and vegetable farm in Chatham will be joining the tour. The farmer will be able to answer questions and share methods and best varieties for growing the most successful flowers for cutting, and herbs and vegetables for cooking and eating.

The gardens at Steepletop, the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay in Austerlitz, will be on the Academy’s tour again this year after an absence of several years. It’s the 100th anniversary of the famous poet purchasing this home and the Millay Society will be hosting an open day on the grounds on June 14. Guided house tours are a separate admission (go to millay.org for information and tickets).

The gardens will be open, rain or shine, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Advance tickets are $35 and day-of tickets are $40. Advance tickets may be purchased via spencertownacademy.org. Day-of tickets will be sold at the Academy and at the Market on The Green from 9:00am to 2:30pm. Tickets and the program guide, with maps and descriptions, will be available for pick up on the day of the tour at the Academy or the Market starting at 9:00am.

The Market on The Green will take place from 9:00am to 2:30pm at the Spencertown Village Green, which is located at the intersection of Rte 203 and Rte 7. More than 20 vendors will offer flowers, plants, vintage and new home and garden furnishings, pottery, crafts, and garden books, plus shoppers will find bargains on choice garden items and accessories at the Academy’s White Elephant Booth. This and That Food Truck will be serving breakfast and lunch items. A percentage of all sales benefit the Academy. Admission is free.

In the “Nurturing Nature” art exhibition, co-curated by Karen Andrews and Norma Cohen, six women artists explore their symbiotic relationships with the natural world. The show features wearable art and mixed media sculptures by Deborah H. Carter, acrylic painting and monoprints by Maxine Davidowitz, archival photography by Shelley Lawrence Kirkwood, ceramics and digital prints by Anat Shiftan, oil painting by Jackie Skrzynski, and frozen botanical works and photography by Anna Thurber. The Spencertown Academy Arts Center Gallery will be open from 10:00am to 5:00pm during Hidden Gardens.

Founded in 1972, Spencertown Academy Arts Center is a cultural center and community resource serving Columbia County, the Berkshires, and the Capital region. Housed in a landmark 1847 Greek Revival schoolhouse, the Academy is located at 790 State Route 203 in Spencertown, New York. For more information, please contact info@spencertownacademy.org.