Herb Garden
The Connecticut Unit of the American Herb Society maintains this lovely, traditional herb garden with gravel paths, linear beds, and low stonewalls. The Herb Garden was installed in 1998 and is a favorite of the public. Visitors will often sit on the benches and just admire the peacefulness of the garden. The garden is dedicated to Anne Pinto, former president of the Conservancy. The center statuary is possibly from the Pond estate and is the only item from the mansion that remains today. The Herb Society also holds a plant sale in the spring at Elizabeth Park, and hosts a symposium. The Mission Statement of the Connecticut Unit of the American Herb Society is to promote the knowledge, use, and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experiences of the members with the community. For more information, visit the Connecticut Unit of the American Herb Society's website.
Dahlia Display Garden
Since 1998, the Connecticut Dahlia Society (CDS) has been maintaining a display garden in Elizabeth Park for Park visitors to enjoy. Their members plant the dahlias each spring, and members maintain the beds weekly. The dahlias grow to about 3 to 4 feet tall and are in full bloom in late August and into September, at a time of year when the other gardens are winding down.
The Annual Dahlia Show of the CDS is held on the fourth Saturday in August at the Pond House in Elizabeth Park. The show is free and open to the public. Exhibitors from many states and their members display their dahlia blooms at this show. The members hold a dahlia root sale in April at the Park. The mission of the CDS is to stimulate interest in, and promote the culture and development of, the dahlia; to conduct and promote public exhibition of dahlias in Connecticut; to assist its members in learning the most effective ways of dahlia culture. For more information, visit the Connecticut Dahlia Society's website.