From picturesque gardens on Cape Cod to unassuming street corners around Boston, spectacular clusters of hydrangeas are blooming across the region. Want to spend a day exploring lush displays of the pink, blue, and purple blooms? Here are 9 locations where you can take in the floral bounty while it lasts.
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival —This 10-day annual celebration is one of Cape Cod’s most anticipated summer events. Continuing though July 14, the festival offers daily tours of scenic private gardens, each designed by homeowners with its own unique charm. Along with tours, visitors can also enjoy workshops, lectures, art classes, and painting demonstrations. Each private garden tour is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $5 per person per garden.
Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich — If you’re looking to indulge in a comprehensive hydrangea experience, this is the place to visit. The Cape Cod Hydrangea Display Garden showcases more than 150 species and cultivars, including the popular macrophylla. The garden expands every year, boasting many historic cultivars that are not commonly found commercially. They are also participating in this year’s hydrangea festival. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets are free for members, $22 for adults, and $12 for youth.
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Hydrangea Walk in Chatham — For those looking for a less immersive but equally stunning display, a walk on Shore Road in Chatham may be the way to go. Along the road is a gorgeous colonial revival home, known as “Hydrangea Walk,” which features a glorious walkway flanked by an array of colorful blooms. The property has become one of the Cape’s most Instagrammed destinations.
Chatham Bars Inn — A simply breathtaking location. More than 75 percent of this luxury hotel’s 25-acre property is carpeted with thousands of blooming hydrangeas. The hotel displays dozens of varieties because of its different soil types — sand, clay and regular soil, according to its website. Varieties include “Endless Summer,” “Glowing Embers” and “Blushing Bride.” Not vacationing at the inn? Check out one of the restaurants on the property, where you can take in the sights and the sea air.
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Visit Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard — Obviously, there’s no shortage of reasons to head to Edgartown this summer, but among them is the area’s stunning displays of hydrangeas. Lavender and periwinkle clusters can be found all over town — peeking through fences of charming cottages and lining almost every street.
The Cliff neighborhood on Nantucket — While the neighborhood is home to luxurious properties, tranquil beaches, and beautiful conservation trails, it also boasts some incredible hydrangea displays. One of the most recognizable is the “hydrangea driveway,” located right next to the entrance to Steps Beach. The perfectly pruned trees and shrubs are a beautiful backdrop for the sprawling displays of pink, purple and blue hydrangeas. Take a peek from the road before heading down to the beach.
Siasconset, Nantucket — This charming village offers a bevy of options for hydrangea spotters. Go on a morning stroll along the ‘Sconset Bluff Walk or ride the bike path. You’ll find hydrangeas everywhere, some of them engulfing almost entire exteriors of private residencies and overflowing lush green lawns.
Back Bay and the Boston Public Garden — Who said you had to travel to a coastal vacation spot to enjoy the hydrangea bloom? Some beautiful displays can be found right in Boston, especially around Back Bay and in the Public Garden, where the shrubs are in full bloom, a lovely accompaniment to the weeping willows and the Swan Boats.
Duxbury Hydrangea Festival and Garden Tour — The Community Garden Club of Duxbury presents the 2024 Duxbury Hydrangea Festival & Garden Tour from July 18-23, showcasing paniculata and arborescens hydrangeas. Take a lovely stroll through five breathtaking private gardens, featuring stunning seaside views and vibrant hydrangeas in full bloom. Attendees can also enjoy art workshops, refreshments, and music in the gardens. Tickets are $50 each.
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Sabrina Lam can be reached at sabrina.lam@globe.com.