These public gardens are located in Ballard Park, a beloved green space in Ridgefield’s bucolic village center. The site has a rich and storied history dating back to the 1700’s and is now managed by the Town of Ridgefield in collaboration with two local garden clubs.  In addition to the formal parterre and memorial gardens, the Park features a historic Lord and Burnham green house, a wrought iron pergola designed by Fletcher Steele, a beautiful lawn spotted with specimen trees and shrubs, and a playground.

 

In 2018, we were approached by the Ridgefield Garden Club for help in rejuvenating the gardens.  We were tasked with honoring the original historic design while bringing it into a new era of environmental sustainability.   We retained the existing footprint of the gardens while introducing a much broader range of plant species, including pollinator friendly and native plants.   Great care was taken to enhance rhythm, balance and four season interest.   Visitors to the garden will find nearly 150 different species of plants, showcasing a graceful transition of cool blues and whites at the south end of the garden to warmer hues at the north.