ARTICLE
The mild winter of 2019-2020 is giving us the most outstanding hydrangea blooms we have had in many years. The sixth annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, A Summer Garden Celebration will take place July 10-19. Though Cape Cod Hydrangea Society's Hydrangea University is virtual this year, outdoor garden tours and activities will be held as scheduled with sensible precautions of masks and social distancing. Each garden is open 10am-4pm on one or two days during the ten day festival. Consult the festival calendar to plan visits of private gardens that are $5 each, admission purchased at each property. 100% of the funds raised go to a local non-profit organization of the garden host's choice. This year ten Cape organizations will be the beneficiaries of open gardens from Falmouth to Orleans. Docents are on hand at each garden to answer questions. Falmouth has several festival related activities and open garden days planned. Sunday, July 12 1-2pm at Soares Flower Garden Nursery there will be a spacious outdoor seating area for an Hydrangea 101 talk by Terry Soares and Marcia Chapman. Hydrangea basics, Q & A and a drawing for free hydrangea plants. No charge. Weather permitting. Soares Flower Garden Nursery 1021 Sandwich Rd., East Falmouth was voted Best Upper Cape Garden Center in the Cape Cod Life Reader's “Best of” Poll announced last month. Monday, July 13 9:30am-noon the Monday Plein Air Painters from the Falmouth Art Center will be scattered on the Soares Flower Garden Nursery property. Weather permitting. Tuesday, July 14 10am-3pm Thursday, July 16 10am-3pm local artist Colleen Corson will offer her painted hydrangea items including art and floor cloths on the Soares Flower Garden Nursery property. Weather permitting. Wednesday, July 15 10am-4pm visit gardens in North Falmouth by fine art photographer Donna Oglesby and the East Falmouth garden of horticulturists George and Marcia Chapman. Rain or shine. $5 per garden. Beneficiaries will be Falmouth Chorale and the Cape Cod Hydrangea Society respectively. Thursday, July 16 10am-3pm local artist Colleen Corson will offer her hydrangea items including floor cloths and paintings on the Soares Flower Garden Nursery property. Weather permitting. Saturday, July 18 10am-4pm visit two gardens in North Falmouth- one by fine art photographer Donna Oglesby and David Bird's garden of continuous surprises and extraordinary plants. The East Falmouth garden of horticulturists George and Marcia Chapman has been featured in Cape Cod Home and Fine Gardening magazines. The Bird garden admission fees will be donated to the local animal shelter People for Cats. Rain or shine. $5 per garden. Sunday, July 19 10am-noon At Highfield Hall & Gardens join landscape director George Chapman as he talks about hydrangeas as we view them around the property followed by a Q&A opportunity focusing on landscaping and gardens in general. $10 fee includes hydrangea program and historic house admission. highfieldhallandgardens.org Be sure to see the new Fairy Houses exhibit Lesson's from the Fairies and visit Stickwork's A Passing Fancy-no fee. Informational flyers are available at Soares Flower Garden Nursery 1021 Sandwich Rd., East Falmouth or online CapeCodHydrangeaFest.com and soaresflowergardennursery.com with garden addresses and descriptions.