10 Dreamy Gardens in Connecticut You Can't Miss (2024)

To be totally transparent, I never planned to write a guide on the dreamiest gardens in Connecticut.

Don’t get me wrong; I love a good garden. But at the start of 2020, my travel goals were decidedly loftier. Most of them involved sunning myself along the Mediterranean while checking European gems off my bucket list.

Of course, this was back when I didn’t know how good I had it. When I could impulsively book a flight to a dream destination without so much as a thought of face masks.

(Remember that? No? Me neither.)

Anyway, as we all know, this year had other plans. Think more “local travel” with frequent stopovers in the living room…and kitchen…and dining room…

While the downtime inspired some fun at-home staycation ideas, it left me itching for adventure.

Plus, as the owner of a travel-focused Instagram account, there’s a constant pressure to engage my audience with wanderlust-inducing content.

Unfortunately, however, I don’t typically derive inspiration from my home state. Plus, as a four-year Connecticut resident, I thought I’d cashed in on the major content opportunities.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this wild year, it’s to dig deeper.

So, as I started scouting photo locations, pretty gardens in Connecticut began popping up.

Since pastel flowers are a natural fit for my whimsical Instagram feed, it made good business sense to visit them.

After visiting our third garden, I realized I’d accumulated quite a few pictures and some knowledge along the way.

So, I decided to compile my favorite gardens in Connecticut into a handy guide to inspire your nature excursions.

While my husband and I haven’t been to every garden on this list yet, I’ll be updating this post with additional information as we do.

So grab your sun hat as we explore the prettiest gardens in Connecticut together!

In a rush? Pin this post for later!

10 Dreamy Gardens in Connecticut You Must Visit

1. Wickham Park (Manchester)

I thought it was fitting to introduce the dreamiest gardens in Connecticut with my favorite thus far: Wickham Park.

One could easily spend an entire day here wandering the beautiful gardens, woodlands, and open fields and never get bored.

The most special aspect of this 250-acre park is that it’s home to ten distinct gardens.

Here’s the full lineup, in no particular order:

My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting half of the park’s gardens during our first trip. I’ve included pictures of them below, so you can get a better idea of how they look.

The English Garden

I was impressed by how well-manicured the English Garden was. As I wandered through it, I felt as though I was in a dreamy Alice in Wonderland maze!

The English Garden also has some beautiful yellow flowers.

PHOTO TIP: As soon as I came across these beauties, I knew I wanted to create the illusion of more flowers. While it may look as though I’m standing in a field, I’m actually strategically positioned behind a cluster of flowers. To achieve this, I asked my husband to compose the shot with the flowers in the foreground to create depth.

If you want to create a similar composition, center yourself in the shot. Then, have your photographer crouch down and shoot into the flowers. In addition to adding depth and dimension, the flowers will also create a beautiful frame for you as the subject.

The Scottish Garden

My favorite part of the Scottish Garden was the pillars you see below.

There’s also a pretty fountain here that I’m standing in front of.

PHOTO TIP: The Scottish Garden offers an opportunity to create leading lines, which help draw the eye. To achieve this, position yourself in the center of the pillars.

We used a wide angle lens here, which I highly recommend.

The Oriental Garden

The Oriental Garden is stunning.

Across from the large pond, there’s a storybook white footbridge, my favorite element.

PHOTO TIP: This little bridge is much steeper than it appears! If you want to perch on top like I did, be careful and go slowly. I was wearing a dress, so it was quite a slippery experience. If you’re afraid to perch, I suggest creating a landscape shot from across the pond, like I’ve included below.

While I saw others posing in the center of the bridge, I didn’t personally find that backdrop to be compelling.

The Italian Shrine

My favorite element of the Italian Shrine was the ornamental heart design pictured below.

Can you spot it?

The Lotus Garden

The Lotus Garden was my personal favorite. I loved the charming entranceway and how peaceful and serene it felt here.

In fact, the only sounds my husband and I heard here were a cascading waterfall and frogs croaking!

Again, you can easily spend an entire day in Wickham Park.

Although we only explored half of the gardens on our first trip, I’d like to return to see the rest.

What to Know Before You Go:

Wickham Park is open daily from the first weekend in April through the last weekend in October. Visiting hours are from 9:30 AM to sunset.

As of June 2020, visitors are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing in groups of five or less.

Picnics on blankets are permitted in appropriate areas. Weekend visitors may also purchase food from the on-site concession stand on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 6 PM.

There are two available bathrooms currently open, one at the nature center and one near the cabin.

Admission:

As of June 2020, parking costs $5 from Monday – Friday and $7 on weekends and holidays. The park requests that you bring exact change to make the transaction as smooth as possible. Be sure to check here before you visit to confirm pricing.

How to Get Here:

Wickham Park is located at 1329 West Middle Turnpike in Manchester, Connecticut.

2. Elizabeth Park Rose Garden (West Hartford)

I first discovered Elizabeth Park Rose Garden back in 2018 and it was love at first sight.

This is a pretty big statement, considering our first visit was in winter and there were no roses.

However, the shots you see above were actually taken on our second trip, back in June of 2019.

As the first municipal rose garden in the U.S. and third largest in the country, I’m proud to say this gem’s in my home state.

In addition to gorgeous roses, Elizabeth Park offers over 100 acres of formal gardens, recreational facilities, and the Pond House Café.

It’s also a popular spot for weddings and special events, which you can read more about here.

While the park offers charms year-round, June is the best time to see the roses in their prime. Specifically, the roses are typically in full bloom during the third and fourth weeks of the month.

FUN FACT: Although June is the best time to catch the roses, you may also see a subtler peak in early autumn! That’s because cool September nights can trigger a growth spurt, causing the roses to produce a final burst of color. How cool is that?!

Despite its name, there’s more to discover at Elizabeth Park Rose Garden than just roses. For a schedule of what’s blooming when in the park, head here.