Hi GPODers!

We’re back in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston to see more photos from Nancy Mellen on the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Annual Tour (if you missed yesterday’s post, check it out here: Part 1). Yesterday we got a peek at the incredible “secret” gardens featured on the tour. Today we’re getting a glimpse of this beautiful area in Boston and the container plantings that give the streets even more character and color.

On May 15, 2025, the Beacon Hill Garden Club of Boston held its 96th annual tour of the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill. My husband and I have been going for several years and love it. I decided I’d share some pictures with you this year. I hope your readers take advantage of this tour in the future.

This picture allows the readers to see the narrow antique cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks in Beacon Hill. The tour is up and down the hill, and we walked four miles that day.

This picture is of the narrow passage to get to a garden; it actually has entrances to about six gardens off this one passageway. It reminds me of something from a Dickens novel.

Of course, window boxes are abundant in Beacon Hill. When planting space is limited, every surface gets utilized. Pussy willow stems are always a lovely accent and add great height to spring designs.

But few blooms scream New England more than the hydrangea. Many seaside towns will feature massive shrubs in elaborate beds that have tons of colorful annuals. On the crowded streets of Boston, a window box brings a touch of that classic beauty to the sidewalk.

And sidewalks are opportunities to showcase creative containers. Spring often brings to mind bright hues of cheerful yellow and pretty pink, but I love this moodier spring combination with drooping hellebores.

Another set of entryway pots, this time with a bit more color; the black urns keep the containers tied into the style of the building itself, but brighter blooms and foliage give this front stoop a needed pop of color.

And one final container that matches the sophisticated style of the gardens we saw yesterday; the subdued color palette still looks sensational when planted in these lovely layers of texture and height.

Thank you for treating us to this incredible and very unique garden tour, Nancy! There is so much to see in this small section of Boston, and it’s amazing to know there is even more to see on the third Thursday of May each year. Something of a “hidden” 😉 gem for those not in the know—I’ve already added a note to my calendar for next May!

I know many members of the GPOD community utilize garden tours to visit incredible private gardens or to welcome visitors into their own inspiring spaces. If you’ve been on a garden tour already this year, whether your garden was a featured stop or you were an attendee, we’d love to see any photos you have to share! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.

We want to see YOUR garden!

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

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