Flower Gardens

Enjoy a stroll through this exceptional and beautiful example of an American garden

Tucked on a bluff overlooking Lake Champlain, these gardens were the life-long passion and work of their creator, Lila Webb, who reinvented and expanded them from 1898 until her death in 1936. Today, after extensive restoration, they stand as an exceptional and beautiful example of an American garden, open to the public to stroll through and enjoy.

The Flower Gardens are accessible via:

Our Walking Trails
With an Accessibility Pass
Through seasonal guided tours (See Our Calendar).

Note: The Flower Gardens at the Inn are terraced and involve stairs.

Discover More About the Gardens

Campus & Buildings

History

A History of the Formal Gardens

Enjoy a historic walk through the Formal Gardens through their early years and beyond, witnessing their evolution, transformation, and care.

Campus & Buildings

History

Restoring the Formal Gardens, 2007-2020

The Formal Gardens Restoration Project has taken over a decade to complete. Here's a look back at the enormous effort involved in the four phases of work.

Campus & Buildings

2021 Formal Garden Updates: August 25

Read about what is blooming in the Formal Gardens with details from Horticulturist Paul Wieczoreck and Garden Manager Birgit Deeds.

New Fountain in the Formal Gardens

The new garden fountain at the Inn is a nod to the historic elements of this area of the Formal Gardens.

Cover of book about Inn Flower Gardens with stairs and reflecting pool

If you want to learn more about the gardens, you can order your copy of "The Formal Gardens at Shelburne Farms," written and photographed by Glenn Suokko with an introduction from Shelburne Farms President Alec Webb. Published July 2020.

Order Your Copy