Open Houses & Gardens

By Diana Chudleigh

Each May, the Garden Club of Bermuda offers a unique experience for visitors and locals when private homes and gardens are open to the public. Every year is different and a fresh slate of houses and gardens is opened, proof of the great number of beautiful homes and neighbourhoods to be found on the island.

Bermuda's Open Houses & Gardens has been taking place for more than a half a century, and it raises money for horticultural scholarships and other environmental projects.

Usually, a group of houses within walking distance is opened in one of the island's nine parishes. Normally, three houses and their accompanying gardens are featured in each neighbourhood. The houses and gardens vary; they may be large or small. You could be visiting a historic house filled with antique furniture or possibly a just-completed 21st-century dream home. It may be a busy family residence or possibly a bachelor pad.

This unique event offers you the opportunity to peek inside Bermudian homes and to venture into localities seldom seen by visitors. It is also popular with locals. Members of the Garden Club of Bermuda are on hand to guide you through the homes and gardens, offer a cool drink and even, if necessary, drive you between some of the houses.

An added bonus is that every room is decorated with local flowers and foliage, with each arrangement reflecting the character of the room. You may find a display of local fruit and vegetables in the kitchen whilst the dining table may be dressed for an elegant meal.

Open Houses & Gardens is eagerly anticipated each year. Many visitors plan their trip to Bermuda at a time when the homes are open, and several locals take their holidays in May just to come along. A local office has even been known to close its doors on Wednesday afternoons during May.

The Garden Club of Bermuda was established in 1921, and a garden was first opened for charity in 1930. The club, which has also published books on gardening in Bermuda, is run entirely by volunteers.

Open Houses & Gardens usually takes place on three or four consecutive Wednesday afternoons during May. Tickets, which cost $30, are generally available at the event. For 2008, the schedule is as follows:

• May 7 in Warwick: Harbour Road and Tamarind Vale, 1-4 p.m.
• May 14 in Hamilton Parish: Long Lane, 1-4 p.m.
• May 21 in Pembroke Parish: Between the Walls, 5-8 p.m.

Please check the website of the Garden Club of Bermuda (www.gardenclubbermuda.org) for additional details, or pick up a copy of the brochure (usually available in April and May) from the hotel concierge desk or a Visitors' Information Centre. For more information, please e-mail bermudahouseandgardens@transact.bm.

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