Late spring in Greenwich hits differently when you know where to look. The gardens are awake, the market stalls are overflowing, and you've got two days to soak it all in without touching a lawnmower. We're talking about the kind of weekend that feeds your kitchen and gives you actual ideas for your own yard—not Pinterest fantasies, but things you can pull off before July.
Here's how we'd spend it.
Start at the farmers' market (seriously, go early)
The Greenwich Farmers' Market runs Saturdays at the Arch Street commuter lot, mid-May through fall, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Get there close to opening if you want first pick—those heirloom tomato starts and potted lavender go fast. There's free parking during market hours, and if you hit it right, you'll catch the opening bell. (Old Greenwich runs a smaller midweek market too, if Saturdays don't work for you.)
Bring reusable bags, a cooler for anything perishable, and a flat-bottomed basket if you're grabbing berries or herbs. And talk to the vendors. Ask where their plants were grown, what does well in local soil, how much sun that basil actually needs. These aren't corporate garden centers—you're getting advice from people who grew the stuff.
While you're there, grab perennials or herbs that are well-rooted and healthy-looking. Don't let them sit in your car all afternoon; get them in the ground the same day if you can. We've seen too many beautiful purchases wilt on a hot backseat. Cut flowers are great for testing color combos before committing to a whole bed—stick them in a vase, see what you like, then plant accordingly in a few weeks.
Then hit a garden tour
The Greenwich Botanical Center runs an annual tour in early June (check greenwichbotanicalcenter.org for exact dates). Darien and New Canaan also host village garden walks worth the short drive. These aren't show gardens—they're real properties with mature plantings, actual hardscapes, and combinations that have survived more than one season. You'll learn more in two hours than scrolling Instagram for a month.
Take photos, but not just the pretty wide shots. Get close-ups of plants you love, and pay attention to the boring stuff: sun exposure, path widths, what materials they used for edging. That's the intel that determines whether a look will work at your place or flop by August. Talk to the garden owners and volunteers about maintenance. How often do they water? Prune? Hire help? A gorgeous perennial border that needs deadheading twice a week isn't gorgeous if you don't have the time.
Bring it home (without overcommitting)
You don't need a landscape overhaul to act on what you saw. Start small. Re-create a container arrangement you liked—pots grow fast and you can swap them out if it doesn't work. Plant a pollinator pocket with three to five perennials like echinacea, salvia, or rudbeckia clustered together. It'll look intentional, not random, and the bees will thank you.
If you saw hardscape you loved—a gravel path, a stone bench, stepping stones through a lawn—you can DIY a small version in a weekend. It doesn't have to be a whole patio. Just carve out one spot that makes you want to sit down with your coffee.
A few maintenance notes while you're at it
If you're planting warm-season annuals or herbs now, soak them well after they're in the ground. It's the difference between roots that establish and plants that just sit there looking stressed. And if you're composting, keep your cycles short—it cuts waste and improves your soil faster than you'd think.
This kind of weekend doesn't require a massive budget or a landscape crew. It's about seeing what works in real yards, talking to people who actually grow things, and trying one or two ideas before committing to a full redesign. Take notes. Snap photos. Buy the plants that make you excited.
And if something from the tour or market gets you thinking bigger—maybe you want to rework a tired bed or finally add that gravel path—we're happy to come take a look. No pressure, just a free consult to talk through what's possible on your property. Sometimes all it takes is one good weekend to see your yard differently.
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