By Florence Goodman

In July of each year the Wolcott Historical Society holds its Annual Garden Tour. The funds raised from this event are used for our yearly scholarship which is given to a graduating senior from Wolcott High School. I always use my July article to share information about the gardens in the tour and add a bit of history of the land on which these gardens are found. This year we have one new garden and five gardens that have been regulars on the tour over the years.

The first garden I will discuss is at the home of Jill and Bill Dolan on Pembroke Hill Road. Their home is located off Long Meadow Drive in a secluded development established in the early 2000's. The Dolans have developed their gardens into a tranquil environment where they can relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounds them. These gardens are best described as manicured and meticulous. Jill had a plan when these gardens were developed and it's obvious as you walk through the yard. Her use of ornamental grasses, day lilies, small shrubs, hydrangeas, and succulent ground coverings add so much to the design and are perfectly placed to create beauty wherever you look. These colorful plant materials create a palate of greens, blues and yellows. The giant Hosta used in her side gardens share the space with large white pines and are exquisite. The backyard pool and patio area welcome you to sit and relax so you may not want to leave. The use of large, but perfectly shaped evergreens mingled with smaller evergreen shrubs creates privacy and beauty rolled into one. This land was probably part of Bill MacCormack's apple orchard which started where Company #3 Fire House is located and went down to Chestnut Hill Reservoir. Mr. MacCormick had a cider mill that was located on the Mad River where Rite Aid is today. His house is still standing today and is located on the corner of Potuccos Ring Road next to Bill and Sam's.

Another garden that always brings joy to me is the beautiful garden designed by Judy Giannetto on Andrews Road. She has been gardening on this beautiful farmland for over 40 years. No matter where you look you will find an amazing variety of plants in bloom. Judy's father purchased the land back in the 1950s from the Andrews family and developed the roads and houses. Many of the roads in the development were named for their family members. Judy has planted perennials and vast amounts of annuals along garden pathways throughout her back yard. The blooms are abundant, and the birds and bees are ever so happy to enjoy the variety of plants that she has arranged throughout this natural haven. Judy also has a large vegetable garden filled with tomatoes, squash, garlic, cucumbers, herbs and so much more. Put on your walking shoes because this garden will take a while to view, but you will not be disappointed!

Off Mad River Road on Peterson Lane, you will find my house and gardens. This property is where the historic James Thomas house is located. James Thomas built this home circa 1776 and his son, Seth, the famous clockmaker, was born here in 1785 and lived at this location until 1807. Seth made many clocks in this area which gave jobs to the locals. As you drive down this quaint dead-end road, you are greeted by stonewalls bordering the front yard gardens, which were designed to have perennials blooming from spring through summer. You will be welcomed by a variety of summer perennials such as peonies, daisies, iris, day lilies, Hosta, and the coral bells. The coral bells, peonies and wild day lilies were original to the property and can be found throughout. These gardens have changed over the years and several gardens have been removed because upkeep has become a challenge. A small raised-bed vegetable garden has been added in the center of one of the backyard gardens. There are also tall blueberry bushes that are found under a covered framed structure to keep the hungry birds away. It's a joy to hear the birds singing while viewing the many flowers in bloom around this vast garden area.

The new garden on the tour this year is found at the home of Carol Cmiel, Averyll Avenue on Cedar Lake. Most Cedar Lake properties are not huge in the lake area, but Carol has used her space nicely to create welcoming and peaceful gardens that wrap all around her house. As you step down into her backyard a beautiful hydrangea welcomes you. She has a low stone wall that is used to border her roses, Hosta and peonies and at the end of that garden a honeysuckle wraps around an arbor. As you walk around to the side of the house she has another perennial garden on her property line, so her neighbor gets to enjoy the beauty of this garden as well. The view of the lake creates a peaceful and calm environment and right next to the water's edge is a very happy purple clematis. It's true, great things do come in small packages and Carol's gardens are proof. The land in this area of the lake to Wolcott Road was all part of Plumb farm.

Another amazing garden is found across from Wolcott High School on Simon Drive. Here you will tour the unique gardens of Erin and Mike Stolfi. Erin has not been on the tour in a while so I'm happy to say she is back! These beautiful gardens have been developing and changing for many years. She has an amazing talent for garden design and the variety of perennials is overwhelming. You will find peonies, coral bells, Hosta, iris, hydrangea and so much more. Erin loves to use large garden pots and statues to enhance the beauty of the gardens. The house and gardens are located on a hill that is lined with a variety of evergreen trees. The backyard pool area is surrounded by interesting rock formations and the gardens have been designed not only around these features, but on them. Don't be shocked to see giant Hosta growing on these rocks! Erin's specialty is hydrangea which will be striking in full bloom for the tour; it is a definite hidden treasure. This land was originally part of the Gagnon family farm; I remember horses grazing in the fields here. These fields were where neighborhood kids hiked and explored in the 1950s, and across the street was Pritchard's fields where we picked wild blueberries by the gallons.

Last, but certainly not least, just off Todd Road on Woodcrest Avenue is the hard to miss gardens of Jim Hackett. Jim should be named "champion of garden containers" because he uses huge pots to show off his unique tropical plants and large annuals that are grown from seed. The pots placed along his house and driveway are used to welcome visitors into these paradise gardens. One can meander through his property and enjoy glorious statues and water features filled with beautifully colored coy and water lilies. Jim has also created a unique composting area that is hidden by thriving hydrangea and Hosta and utilizes his garden space to the fullest. You will marvel at the size of the plants that Jim grows in these beautiful containers around his yard. His gardens are everchanging, so you are always in for a surprise when you view them.

You will not be disappointed with this year's gardens! For a $10 donation you can meander through these six beautiful hidden treasures in our town. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 12th from noon to 4:00.  Tickets will be sold the day of the tour at the Center School History Museum at 154 Center Street from 11:30-2:00 P.M.  To purchase tickets ahead of time call Flo Goodman at 203-879-9818.Snow didn't put a damper on our Patriots' Day History Scavenger Hunt that was held on Saturday, April 12.th It was a huge success and enjoyed by over thirty participants. A special thank you to everyone that braved the cold. We were overjoyed that students from the Art Club at Wolcott High School designed maps for the event and one was chosen to be used on the tee-shirts that were given out to the first 30 people that registered. This is an event that we look forward to planning again next year. Thank you to Pat's IGA, Walsh's Market and Thomaston Savings Bank for supporting this event.

The colorful succulent ground covering in the front gardens at the Dolan's home.

A garden under the hydrangea tree at Flo Goodman's home.

A quiet garden area found at Carol Cmiel's home.

A view of the massive rock formation and garden in Erin and Mike Stolfi's backyard garden.

One of Judy Giannetto's many gorgous gardens.

The beautiful water feature found in Jim Hackett's backyard garden.

All material at Wolcott Historical Society Web sites Copyright © 2000-2025 Wolcott Historical Society