Visit featured homes, gardens with friends to spark living space ideas

by Patty Reiman

The annual Hudson Home & Garden Tour returns June 17-18, after being canceled in 2020 and modified in 2021.

This 74th annual tour offers a variety of inspirational ideas for transforming, updating or expanding personal living spaces, which is a hot topic as Americans emerge from the pandemic.

“Since 2020, the home has redefined itself and, in turn, we are looking at improvements and changes to our homes with different eyes,” said Bronwyn Pierson, this year’s tour co-chair.

She said if you are looking for any of the following home or garden features, you will find them on this year’s seven tour stops: outdoor fireplaces, a first-floor master addition, an opened up kitchen, a patio addition, a naturally created garden, an Old World Williamsburg-style new build, a barn renovation and more.

“Perhaps you just like getting together with friends and looking at homes that define style, elegance and individual creativity,” said Pierson. “We have that on the tour this year, too.”

She added that it’s quite common to hear of friends who consistently meet up every year to tour together. Even grown-up young adults who attended the tour as children still accompany parents and grandparents to continue a family tradition.

“It will be wonderful to see everyone enjoying the homes and gardens this year,” she said. The 2021 Home & Garden Tour took place in outdoor garden venues only, and the 2020 tour was canceled due to COVID.

The seven homes on the 2022 tour offer a variety of residential spaces from updated century homes and carriage houses to new construction to renovated or expanded spaces.

“All of the stops on the tour have different styles, and our tour attendees will definitely find a home, garden or outdoor living area to inspire motivation to bring to their own space,” she said.

At each home on the tour, garden club members will have created floral arrangements to complement the home, using all natural pieces grown in and cut from local gardens. Also at each tour stop, plein air painters will be creating canvas art that will go on sale June 18, at an evening reception at Hudson Fine Art and Framing.

New for 2022 are extended evening hours on Friday (10 a.m.- 7p.m). The tour continues Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p m.

“We hope those who have weekend commitments can still see the homes on Friday after work,” said Pierson. “Friends can go together while the kids are at the ice cream social or watching the movie with Screen on the Green.”

Friday also features a tour buffet luncheon at the Country Club of Hudson from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.. The menu includes herb-marinated chicken breast, focaccia Italian sandwiches, salad, fruit, dessert and gratuity. Tickets cost $25 for presale or $30 at the door.

During both tour days, from 1-4 p.m., the Hudson Garden Club invites the public to its garden shop and tea room, located at East Woods Intermediate School, which is a change of venue from prior years at the Hudson Middle School. The Hudson Society of Artists also hosts a clothesline art show there. A tour ticket is not required, and Pierson said, “thanks to several years of donations, there are thousands of [gardening] items to pick up at garage sale prices.”

Presale tour tickets are available now at Acme Fresh Market Hudson for $35, cash or check. Tickets will cost $40 on tour days and will be sold at East Woods Intermediate School via a drive-up system.

A tradition spanning some 74 years, the Home & Garden Tour’s proceeds help raise funds for the garden club’s annual scholarships given to Hudson High School Seniors, grants, school programs, mentoring workshops and community projects.

“Not only is the club thrilled to be back with a traditional tour, many of our longtime attendees have shared similar sentiments with us,” said Pierson. “Going on the tour is a favorite tradition for many of our loyal attendees, and it feels great to have a bit of normalcy back.”

For more information, visit hudsongardenclub.org. ∞