2024 Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival
The Festival raised much needed funds for YPL.
Thank you to all who attended, to all the volunteers, and especially to Margaret Wilson, Helen McVeigh, Sally Hochenbury, and Mal and Mary Kay Condon!
The Festival raised much needed funds for YPL.
Thank you to all who attended, to all the volunteers, and especially to Margaret Wilson, Helen McVeigh, Sally Hochenbury, and Mal and Mary Kay Condon!
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Yarmouth Port Library Gardens
Please see slide shows below of the four YPL gardens: The Peace Garden, My Dream, Singing Marshes, and Hydrangea Farms. |
The Peace Garden
26 Belle of the West Road, Yarmouth Port Owner: Margaret Wilson Development of this space, situated on a natural rainwater collection area, required removal of substantial overgrown invasive species. It was designed with sensitivity to its fall lines and seasonal hydration levels. The resulting paths and choice of plantings flow with the topography of this site, whose openness provides a sense of "breathing room" and serenity. A continuing goal is to build a year- round garden: hellebores, winter berry, false holly and a variety of evergreens provide both visual contrast in the warmer months, and colorful highlights in the winter. Water features encourage bird visitation and refresh the spirit during the warmest of days. The St. Francis bower in the lower garden includes a memorial to a beloved cousin who relished many a good conversation in his own backyard retreat. In that spirit of friendship, you are invited to enjoy this season's blooms - including a variety of hydrangeas, with color contrast from day- and hybrid lilies, fragrant roses, and, perhaps, grandmother Edith Rose's showy white peonies. 
Mal and Mary Kay Condon’s
‘Hydrangea Farm’ 181 Thacher Shore Road, Yarmouth Port The Condon Garden has been on tour for every year of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival’s existence and the gardeners are especially pleased to be part of this year’s Tenth Anniversary. The Condon’s were commercial hydrangea propagators and growers for 40 years and, as one might suspect, this is a very hydrangea-centric site. They continue to tweak their collections which now contain almost too many hydrangeas ‘in ground’. Additional container specimens are also featured to emphasize the increasingly popular ‘Pot N Pot’ and Bag N Pot’ growing technique they popularized many years ago. H. macrophylla is the dominant species, along with collections of H. paniculata, bH. serrata, and H. quercifolia cultivars. H. arborescens plantings have become more significant too owing to the introduction of many new varieties. The Condon’s are also serious veggie growers utilizing raised beds to produce a wide range of favorites. A somewhat struggling peach orchard is in the mix too along with an ample rhubarb collection and an expanded planting of dahlias to satisfy their personal cut flower demand. |
My Dream
8 Village Lane, Yarmouth Port Owner: Helen McVeigh From the Gardener: My gardens are always evolving. My Monet area in the front garden is flanked with sedums and a little surprise under a shrub. From there on to my wine room and next to the garage my breakfast room. Behind the lattice is my bodacious cutting garden. This year, with an addition of a rabbit fence (hope it works), there are a plethora of flowers and my signature dahlias to enjoy. Stop and visit the fairy garden complete with castle and waterfall. The wall garden is a fun place to sit and enjoy the views. God’s garden is in the corner of the property, a favorite with its hydrangeas. Two hosta gardens are found on either side of the outdoor shower. Please take a minute to sit and enjoy my many seating areas. My wish is that my gardens bring you inspiration! Enjoy my dream. 
Singing Marshes 70 Alms House Road, Yarmouth Port Owner: Sally Hockenbury
This interesting garden borders conservation land overlooking Barnstable Harbor and the Sandy Neck Lighthouse. The home is situated down a narrow road among native oaks and pines. The gardener has her own kitchen garden containing raspberries, blueberries, beach plums, and vegetables such as asparagus, rhubarb, squash, beans and cucumbers. Its unique fencing was designed to keep out deer, foxes, rabbits and other wildlife. The property features walking paths through beach plum and juniper shrubs to views of the marsh beyond, along with a nearby osprey nest. Hydrangeas flourish on the home’s north side. An interesting arbor constructed by a friend from small cedar trees stands by the garden shed. Jams and jellies made by the gardener will be available for sale at the entry of the garden. This a rare opportunity to visit this special place. Raffle Item: A handmade Hydrangea Platter donated by Voila! Designs by Frederique (169 Main Street #6A, Yarmouth Port).
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The 2023 Festival
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The Hughes Garden
Owners: Diane and Peter Hughes The garden radiates out from the homestead of Captain William Hedge, who settled in Yarmouth in the seventeenth century and whose descendants lived and added to it for three centuries. It contains a formal area of shrubbery and perennials, an area of woodland with azaleas and Japanese maples and, rabbits permitting, a space devoted to vegetables and cut flowers. |
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Singing Marshes
Owner: Sally Hockenbury This interesting garden borders conservation land, overlooking Barnstable Harbor and the Sandy Neck Lighthouse. The home is situated down a narrow road among native oaks and pines. The gardener has her own kitchen garden containing raspberries, blueberries, beach plums, and vegetables such as asparagus, rhubarb, squash, beans, and cucumbers. Its unique fencing was designed to keep out deer, foxes, rabbits, and other wildlife. The property features walking paths through beach plum and juniper shrubs to views of the marsh beyond, along with a nearby osprey nest. Hydrangeas flourish on the home’s north side. An interesting arbor constructed by a friend from small cedar trees stands by the garden shed. |
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The Condon Garden Owners: Mal and Mary Kay Condon Mary Kay and Mal Condon were commercial hydrangea propagators and growers for 40 years and, as one might suspect, this is a very hydrangea-centric site. They continue to expand their collections, which now include over 300 hydrangeas in the ground, with additional container specimens to emphasize this growing technique. H. macrophylla is the dominant species, along with collections of H. paniculata and H. quercifolia cultivars. More recently, a number of H. serrata and H. arborescens plants have been added to the mix. The Condons are also serious veggie growers, utilizing raised beds to produce a wide range of favorites. Fruit is in the mix, too, with berries and figs (always hopeful), along with a recent peach and plum orchard. |
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