The Gardens of the Historic Somerset Hills

A fickle mixture of sunshine and showers accompanied the Basking Ridge Garden Club and The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills's first joint tour, "Gardens of the Historic Somerset Hills," held Friday, June 17.

The self-guided tour originated at The Historical Society's home base, , 15 W. Oak St., Basking Ridge. 

The tour included nine private gardens, including some on properties dating back to the 18th or 19th centuries, and also the "wandering garden" at the  off Mount Airy Road in Basking Ridge.

At the same time the garden tour was underway, the Academy also hosted the Farmstead Arts' free Flowers In Art Show and Sale through this afternoon. No ticket was necessary for that show, which featured several area artists displaying their floral art work in a variety of media.

Larry Terricone of Basking Ridge, whose own 1820 property was part of the tour, said his garden is a clutter of flowers and a useful herb garden. Terricone, on the Board of Directors for the historical society, said that he was the liasion to the garden club for planning the tour.

He said the tour also includes the gardens at the 18th-century home of Marcella Miccolis, chairwoman of the historical society. That garden, with a koi pond, backs up to two other gardens on the tour, Terricone said.

Terricone said most of the gardens chosen are in Basking Ridge, except for one in Bernardsville and one in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township.

A portion of proceeds from the $30 tickets will benefit the Memorial Garden at the Center for Families of the Fallen in Dover, Delaware, according to an announcement on the event.