Image by Fred Van Sickle

The Asian garden at the Van Sickle Garden in Lansing.

Image by Beverly Hillman

Statuary fountain in the Hillman Garden greenhouse.

Image by Martha Gioumousis

The hillside cascading waterfall at the Lyman Garden.

Cindy Lion's garden, a site on the 2018 Open Days Garden tours

Image by Chrys Gardener

Lily ponds, sculpture and bountiful blooms at Cindy Lion's garden

Open Days Garden Tours

The Tompkins County Community Beautification Program coordinates local participation every other year in The Open Days Garden Tours, a national event sponsored by The Garden Conservancy. Admission is $10/person per garden with proceeds split between the two coordinating groups.

Please note that Open Days Garden Tours sponsored by the Garden Conservancy have been cancelled across the country through June 15. Check back for updates.

2020 Gardens

Our 2020 Open Days Tour Garden selections are featured below. Different, very special gardens will be open on two Saturdays, July 11 and August 8, from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day. Each of these seven private gardens will be open for one day only. The tours are self-guided and take place rain or shine.

Sat., July 11, 10am-4pm

Sat., August 8, 10am-4pm

Filios Garden

The Filios Garden features stone walls, a pergola covered walkway, figgeries and chicken coop.

Van Sickle Garden

This 20-year-old, two-acre garden overlooking Cayuga Lake has a dense border of conifers, ornamental trees and flowering shrubs, a thyme garden and cottage gardens.

Lyman Hillside Garden

Nestled in a hillside next to a creek and a ravine, this garden features a stone waterfall and numerous perennials, including over 25 varieties of daylilies.

Mary Squyres Garden

This is truly a "garden for gardeners"--filled with interesting and unusual plant specimens; many of which are native plants.

Last updated May 21, 2020