We’re always on the hunt for inspiration, indoors and out, so we’re marking up our calendar with these upcoming don’t-miss events:

May Market at Hill-Stead Museum, May 6th and 7th:  Celebrate the arrival of spring with May Market, Hill-Stead’s signature home, garden and gourmet benefit event featuring more than 65 artisan exhibitors and specialty plant vendors, guest speaker Alexa Hampton, as well as a Museum Open House with complimentary tours of the Museum. Find out more. 

Trade Secrets, May 16th and 17th: Rare Plants and Garden Antiques Sale at Lion Rock Farm in Sharon, CT on May 16th, and a self-guided tour of established gardens (Carolyne Roehm and Bunny Williams are on the tour) on May 17th. More info here. 

French Country Market at Killam & Bassette Farmstead, May 7: A specialty market on the move, you’ll find all things vintage, re-purposed, artisan, handmade, baked, farm raised and local.  Find out more. 

Connecticut College Arboretum Wildflower Walk, May 6: The Annual Wildflower Walk led by Arboretum Director, Glenn Dreyer. Bring a picnic lunch to eat by the pond and then enjoy a 45-minute walk in the Wildflower Garden, plus a walk just for kids at 3:30.   More info. 

Garden Fest at the Florence Griswold Museum, June 3 – June 12: Kick off the garden season with  this annual event, a ten-day celebration of the site’s historic gardens, featuring flower shows, lectures, the Garden Luncheon and Garden Fest Plant Sale and more. Click here for the full list of activities.

Newport Secret Gardens, June 17 – June 19: tours of the private gardens of some of historic Newport’s most prestigious properties, to benefit the public schools of Rhode Island. Details here. 

Connecticut Spring Boat Show, May 13 – 15th:  A boutique, in-water boat show at Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, CT featuring ​sail & power boats, gear and accessories. More info here. 

Old Saybrook Garden Club’s Gardener’s May Market, May 6th:  Find annuals, perennials, members’ plants, baked goods, gently used gardening tools, and other garden items at this fundraiser on the town green.  Find out more. 

Our Friends Gardens, A Garden Tour of Essex, June 4th:  Stroll through eight of the loveliest and most unusual gardens is Essex. Master Gardeners will be available to point out specific features, offer gardening tips and answer questions. More info here. 

Duck River Garden Club Sale, May 6th from noon – 7, May 7th from 9am to 1pm: This annual fundraising plant sale sponsored by the Duck River Garden Club of Old Lyme features heirloom tomatoes, annuals, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, geraniums, perennials, shrubs and more, at the Old Lyme Shopping Center field on Hall’s Road (near Hideaway Restaurant). Plus Everyday Flower Arranging with Fun & Flair, presented by the Duck River Garden Club, May 9th: Featuring exciting uses of color and texture, Trish Manfredi will create unique floral designs for the home.  7pm at Lymes’ Senior Center, Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT

Save the Date for Connecticut Historic Garden’s Day on June 26th.

And here’s a list of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days for Connecticut.