This Garden-Loving Mom Says These Kid-Friendly Spots are a Must-Go.
Ridgefield mom of 2 and Mary Mary Garden Co. founder Sarah Kaplan on why a visit to one of these gorgeous local gardens is the perfect spring activity for kids.
This post is part of my “Ask An Expert” series, which features locals with a niche expertise. What’s yours? Email me at kaylakaplowitz@substack.com with your idea!
One summer, I tried to grow a vegetable garden at the Lewisboro Community Garden. Oh, the dreams I had of my then 18-month-old daughter and I lovingly nurturing our seedlings to maturity, and harvesting our fresh vegetable bounty for summer salads.
The reality was it was one of the most painstaking and back-breaking projects of my entire adult life.
By mid-summer, I was spent. I had so much guilt over under-watering my little plot of land that it turned into an overdue library book situation. I’d think: “Oh crap, it’s been like 6 days. I should probably go pull the weeds and do some watering. But it’s been SO LONG. Everything’s probably dead anyway, right? I should just give up.”
It went on like this all summer.
By August, I walked through the garden gate, faced my shriveled tomato and cucumber vines, pulled them all out in crushing defeat, and cleared my dirt plot for the next aspiring gardener.
Meanwhile, my Ridgefield neighbor Sarah Kaplan has been absolutely killing it at the gardening game for years now. Since moving to Ridgefield 6 years ago, Kaplan has been sharing her home decor and gardening journey on her Instagram account @ouroldcarriagehouse. Her springtime posts are always filled with the most gorgeous dahlias you’ve ever seen in your life. Last year, she co-founded Mary Mary Garden Co., an online shop featuring hand-picked flower and mini veggie seeds that are perfect for little gardeners. (Use code THEPLAN for 20% off your order. 😉)
She and her husband regularly take their two daughters on trips to local gardens all the time, so for this week’s “Ask an Expert” post, I wanted to pick Sarah’s brain. So, without further ado, here are her top kid-friendly garden picks for spring.
The Garden Conservancy Open Days
Throughout the year, The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days” event series allows garden voyeurs the opportunity to stroll through “stunning private gardens that are otherwise not open to the public,” Kaplan told me.
“Some of my favorite memories with my girls have been at an Open Days event,” she said. “Some gardens are more kid-friendly than others, but real highlights for us have been Sleepy Cat Farm in Greenwich and the gardens of Bunny Williams in Litchfield County.”
Sleepy Cat is open twice this year: May 17 and September 13, and Bunny Williams garden is open on June 23 this summer. Check their schedule regularly for staggered ticketing at local gardens throughout the season—Kaplan says the popular gardens will sell out far in advance. $10/adults, kids are free. »
Ridgefield, CT
Ballard Park (485 Main St, Ridgefield) »
“Maintained by the Ridgefield Garden Club, this jewel of a garden is a literal breath of fresh air when you’re desperate for a break from the playground next door,” says Kaplan. “The super-fragrant peonies really shine there in late spring.”
If you’ve never been, this is the park in the center of Ridgefield where it all happens: the annual Ridgefield Arts Fest, the CHIRP summer concert series, the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off, a new annual caroling tradition at Christmastime, and so much more.
I have a very vivid memory of walking through the Ballard Park garden with my then 4yo daughter and it started to rain. We were belting out Singin’ in the Rain and getting absolutely pelted by raindrops. I love it here. »
2025 Ridgefield Garden Tour (JUNE 8, 2025) »
Presented by the Ridgefield Garden Club & Ridgefield Historical Society, this is THE event for local garden enthusiasts, Kaplan tells me. “It’s the town’s first garden tour in over 30 years and I cannot wait!”
While families are welcome, I’m told it’s probably best to only bring your well-behaved older kids. "We would love to see lots of families enjoying this community event but please be aware that while some of the gardens have a few relatively open spaces, others have narrow garden paths," said Ridgefield Garden Tour co-chair Terry McManus. “Of course, we encourage everyone to spend as much or as little time in each garden. It’s really a magical event to kick off summer.”
One cool thing I didn’t know: McManus tells me that you can either take buses or drive on your own to the gardens. Event is June 8 and tickets are $75. »
Wilton, CT
Weir Farm National Historic Park (735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton) »
Kaplan tells me this historic home and studio of one of America’s most famous Impressionist painters features “a sunken garden and terraced lawns with berry bushes along with wooded trails.”
Pro tip: She says pack some sandwiches and enjoy the MOST aesthetic lunch at the historic stone picnic table just a short walk from the parking lot. “And if you visit on a summer weekend,” says Kaplan, “the staff sets out watercolors and supplies for your family to paint ‘en plein-air.’” Ooh la la.
She assured me that leashed pets are welcome (I double-checked the FAQ), so bring your garden-loving pooch along for a lovely afternoon in the fresh air. »
Redding, CT
Redding Daffodil Field (70 Cross Highway, Redding) »
Do you know what 50,000 daffodils look like in full bloom? Take a trip to Redding Daffodil Field to find out.
Kaplan says this private home opens their field to the public every daffodil season in early Spring. “And if you’ve run out of ideas for family photoshoot locales, this one makes for an adorable local spot for Easter photos,” she says. »
