In Connecticut, we are lucky to have a few places where we can go enjoy the beautiful flowers — I’m here to recommend my favorites which I repeatedly visit!
Wicked Tulips — Preston, CT — April
The farm located in Preston is the largest with 700,000+ tulips. There are tickets to be purchased for entry to the field. With each ticket, you can pick 10 tulips to bring home. I was in awe with the colors of the field… so bold and colorful. It’s a beautiful sight! You can stay there as long as you want to enjoy the scenery. Read more about it here.
Wooster Square Park — New Haven, CT — April
The most beautiful cherry blossoms in the state! The park is surrounded by beautiful historical homes which makes a great backdrop. They usually bloom in early April. The first Saturday of April host the cherry blossom festival in the park.
Elizabeth Park — Hartford, CT — May/June
There are several flowers that you can see here which includes tulips, daffodils, annuals, perennials, roses, dahlias, and more. My favorite is the rose gardens that bloom in June. I always make a half day trip to see them. It’s in a public park so it’s open to anyone for free. Parking is also free! Follow their social media for updates. Also read more about my visit to Elizabeth Park here.
Lavender Pond Farm — Killingsworth, CT — mid June to mid July
The best smell! I loved when I walked around the grounds smelling lavender. There are over 10,000+ plants on their 25 acres of land. The best part? It’s dog friendly. I was able to bring my pup there a couple times. On the farm, there’s also a fun train ride that they drive the visitors around the farm. Read more about why I love visiting this farm here.
Buttonwood Farm Sunflowers — Griswold, CT — July
Griswold earned the ‘sunflower capital’ credit from Buttonwood Farm’s annual event. The Sunflowers for Wishes is a fundraiser donating all proceeds to the Make-A-Wish of Connecticut. There are 14 acres of sunflowers that you can take a stroll through, a special cut-your-own field, and take a tractor ride. It’s also dog friendly and while you admire the beautiful flowers, you can get one of the best ice cream in Connecticut there! Read more about Buttonwood Farm here.
Ender’s Island — Mystic, CT — mid August to mid September
A small island with a Catholic Retreat is opened to the public to enjoy the grounds. Their beautiful garden will bloom with dahlias mid August to mid September. They also have a few roses bushes that bloom in June.
Harkness Park — Waterford, CT — May to October
The gardens by the sea is beautiful at Harkness Park, a CT state park located in Waterford. Opened daily 8am - sunset. There is a parking fee for out of state residents during in-season. The gardens have a variety of flowers that blooms anytime from May to October. I’ve found August-October to be the best time to see it fully bloomed. I also love seeing the lilac bushes in May. You can make a day out of it by picnicking, flying a kite, read a book, many more activities there!
There are so many more beautiful places to check out the flowers that I haven’t been to yet. I’m sure there’s even more if you hopped over the border to Rhode Island too. I love that time of the year when the flowers bloom!