Event Types: Nature & Outdoors

Whether you have a sprawling estate or a cozy backyard, container plantings offer a versatile way to elevate your outdoor space and celebrate the changing seasons.

In this presentation you will learn the essentials of designing and planting container gardens. Learn how to choose the right vessels, select the perfect plants and ensure their health throughout the year. Explore fabulous and unexpected plant combinations and discover creative ways arrange them for maximum visual impact throughout the landscape. Join designer Roberta DiBisceglie of Columbine Gardens as she shares her professional tips for creating unique, high-impact container gardens with multi-season functionality.

HHG Members $30

Non-members $40 (includes admission to the garden)

Join our monthly trail work party! The work party meets at 10:00am the third Saturday of every month from April through November. No experience necessary, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and have fun. Ages 16+

Plant lovers and garden gurus are invited to The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens annual Gardenpalooza plant sale on Saturday, May 17 from 10 am to 1 pm featuring a variety of perennials, annuals, flowers, vegetable and herb plants available for purchase from Meadowbrook Gardens. Stock up on plants to start or add to your own home garden.

Additionally, Farmers and Cooks will be on site offering tasty ready-to-eat food for purchase featuring local ingredients.

Plus, local organizations will also be present to showcase their projects and initiatives. Discover how they’re growing positive change and get inspired to dig deeper into community connections!

Are you up for Steep Rock’s Fourth Annual 5K Challenge?

You’re invited to Steep Rock Association’s 2025 Rossiter Run 5K Race and Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, May 18th at 9:00am in Steep Rock Preserve! The racecourse follows a scenic route along the Shepaug River with a gradual incline in the stunning Steep Rock Preserve, gifted by our founder, Ehrick Rossiter, in 1925.

Learn more

Join us for a series of casual walks through Steep Rock’s Preserves. Wednesday, May 21, we will explore the trails at Steep Rock Preserve.

In an immersive forest setting with no locks, keys or clocks, Wigwam Escape’s thematic puzzles challenge game players to hunt, find water and prepare food similar to how Native people did for thousands of years prior to European contact. The Institute for American Indian Studies, proudly presents a new way to interact with history, a themed escape room, Wigwam Escape.

For more information or to book your escape room, go to: wigwamescape.org.

Trees have been around for few hundred million years and are some of the oldest, tallest, and largest living things on the Earth. But the reasons behind their success are just starting to be understood.

Join arborist Christopher Roddick for a tour of the Hollister House tree collection, exploring the science and natural history of trees. We’ll cover the identification of some common native trees as well as a few rare ones and hear how they adapt and responded to changes in the environment over time. We’ll discover how trees form fungal partners and interspecies networks to communicate and stay healthy. And finally, we’ll talk about how we can be better stewards of the land we share with these wonderful ancient beings.

Note: This is an outdoor walking tour starting at 9:00am. Dress for the weather and walking on uneven terrain, and periods of standing. Group size limited, early registration suggested.

HHG Members $30

Non-members $40 (includes admission to the garden)

Calling gardening volunteers – help us get those warmer weather plants in the ground on planting day as we kick off our 16th growing season. It’s a fantastic opportunity to roll up your sleeves, dig into the soil, and make a positive impact on our community!

Judea Garden supports local families in need with fresh, healthy produce including tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and more. It has also become a vital community hub where volunteers unite to cultivate the land and make a difference. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, everyone is welcome!

Herbariums have been used for centuries to document and preserve plant species for scientific study. Today pressing plants serves both botanical and artistic purposes.

Explore the history of herbariums and the art of flower pressing in this fun workshop. Learn techniques for pressing and preserving plants, and explore ways to use your specimens- whether for creating botanical artwork, building a personal herbarium, or as a special way to document your home garden. You will put together your own 8×10 inch wooden flower press, practice some basic pressing skills and learn what you need to start your own pressed plant collection. (Class size limited to 15.)

Lisa Zurles is Hollister House Garden’s education manager, a native plant enthusiast and a Connecticut Master Woodland Manager. She learned to press plants at the Native Plant Trust, where she studied botany and horticulture as part of their Native Plant Studies Certificate program. She loves sharing the joy of plants and the myriad way plants and flowers enrich our lives.

HHG Members $30

Non-members $40 (includes admission to the garden)

In an immersive forest setting with no locks, keys or clocks, Wigwam Escape’s thematic puzzles challenge game players to hunt, find water and prepare food similar to how Native people did for thousands of years prior to European contact. The Institute for American Indian Studies, proudly presents a new way to interact with history, a themed escape room, Wigwam Escape.

For more information or to book your escape room, go to: wigwamescape.org.

Calling gardening volunteers – help us get those warmer weather plants in the ground on planting day as we kick off our 16th growing season. It’s a fantastic opportunity to roll up your sleeves, dig into the soil, and make a positive impact on our community!

Judea Garden supports local families in need with fresh, healthy produce including tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and more. It has also become a vital community hub where volunteers unite to cultivate the land and make a difference. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, everyone is welcome!

Launch of Steep Rock’s Passport to the Trails Program

Join Steep Rock Association for a fun and family-friendly afternoon as we launch our brand-new Passport to the Trails Program—designed by students from Shepaug Middle School and Henry Abbot Technical High School!

Be among the first to receive a Steep Rock Passport Booklet. Explore the trails, collect impressions at designated stations, and work your way toward earning a special prize when your booklet is complete!

This program encourages youth and families to get outdoors, learn about nature, and engage with the incredible trail systems throughout Steep Rock’s preserves.

📍 Location:
Steep Rock Preserve Riding Ring
Steep Rock Preserve, 2 Tunnel Rd., Washington Depot

📅 Date & Time:
Sunday, June 1st at 1:00 PM

🌿 Perfect for:
Families, kids, hikers, educators, and nature lovers of all ages!

📌 RSVP today and take the first step on your passport journey through Steep Rock!

Magical and simple, cyanotypes are a camera-less technique that results in graphic blue and white prints.

Developed in 1842, cyanotype utilizes specially treated paper and sunlight to create dreamy, evocative images. We will use this alternative photographic process together with pressed plants to make beautiful botanical cyanotypes. All supplies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring objects or pressed plants with interesting silhouettes from home to use in their compositions. Class size limited to 15 students.

HHG Members $90

Non-members $120 (includes admission to the garden)

Join Carol Santoleri, author of “The History of Steep Rock Association: The Jewel in the Crown” as she guides a hike and shares the story of Ehrick Rossiter and his development of the Clam Shell into a quiet space for hikers and equestrians away from automobiles and macadam roadways.

In June, Hollister House Garden’s peonies become star attractions.

Venture out to the garden with watercolor instructor Betsy Rogers-Knox to take a detailed look at the exquisite ‘Mrs Franklin D. Roosevelt’ awarded the American Peony Society’s Gold Medal in 1948. Then return to the barn for a step-by-step watercolor class and learn how to use layered washes of color to capture the beautiful pastel shades of this peony. A simple template will be provided for those who prefer not to draw their own. All skill levels are welcome and personal instruction will be provided. Class size limited to 12.

HHG Members $90

Non-members $120

As the light fades and day turns to evening, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the garden in a different light while enjoying a glass of wine.

Join us for Village Improvement Society’s 95th Annual Family Picnic Friday, June 13th at 6:00pm at the River Walk Pavilion for Washington residents and families! Food and beverages will be provided.

This Multi-Sports (basketball, capture the flag, flag football,ultimate frisbee and so much more!) age-appropriate program are designed to introduce kids to a variety of different sports in one setting. Campers will learn the rules and essential skills of each sport, along with vital life lessons such as partnership, inclusion, and teamwork.

Register here

Get outside and enjoy a casual walk through Steep Rock’s preserves. Tuesday, June 17, we will explore the trails at Hidden Valley Preserve with SRA Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch.

Celebrate the approaching summer solstice with Steep Rock Association! Take a short guided hike through the hayfield, then gather around the firepit for refreshments, conversation, and fun. Parking is at Macricostas Preserve, 124 Christian St, New Preston. Optional hayfield hike at 5:00pm, firepit starts at 5:30pm.

Washington’s Community Block Party is happening on Friday, June 20th from 5:30pm-8:00pm in the Depot! Join us for summer’s big kick-off featuring live music, outdoor games, food samples, wine tastings, an outdoor movie, and more. This event is sponsored by the Washington Business Association and Washington Parks and Recreation.

Join our monthly trail work party! The work party meets at 10:00am the third Saturday of every month from April through November. No experience necessary, just a willingness to get your hands dirty and have fun. Ages 16+

Join us at Steep Rock Preserve for a day filled with kid-friendly games, exploring, pizza, and family fun – what better way to kickoff the summer season!

Campers will have a fantastic time playing games, creating artwork, exploring the outdoors, and making new friends. The age appropriate groups are facilitated by trained, experienced, and dedicated staff members. All children will participate in sports, games, arts & crafts, water fun, nature exploration, and team building activities. Campers will enjoy off-site field trips and in-house events to entertain them.

Register here

Campers will have a fantastic time playing games, creating artwork, exploring the outdoors, and making new friends. The age appropriate groups are facilitated by trained, experienced, and dedicated staff members. All children will participate in sports, games, arts & crafts, water fun, nature exploration, and team building activities. Campers will enjoy off-site field trips and in-house events to entertain them.

Register here

As the light fades and day turns to evening, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the garden in a different light while enjoying a glass of wine.

Step outside and enjoy a series of relaxed summer walks through Steep Rock’s Preserves. On Monday, July 14, join SRA Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch for a guided stroll through the Bronson Fields Pollinator Meadow in Hidden Valley. Parking is at the Hidden Valley Seasonal Parking area at 287 Sabbaday Lane, Washington Depot.

Get in the game with Skyhawks Pickleball, gateway to the fastest-growing paddle sport! This program develops and sharpens pickleball skills like groundstrokes, volleys, and serves in a fun environment while focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect. Come experience this lively sport while building confidence and appreciation for pickleball!

Register here

Get in the game with Skyhawks Pickleball, gateway to the fastest-growing paddle sport! This program develops and sharpens pickleball skills like groundstrokes, volleys, and serves in a fun environment while focusing on teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect. Come experience this lively sport while building confidence and appreciation for pickleball!

Register here

Step outside and enjoy a series of relaxed summer walks through Steep Rock’s Preserves. On Wednesday, August 20, join SRA Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch for a guided stroll at Macricostas Preserve.

Hollister House Garden Study Weekend brings together some of the most important voices at work today in the fields of horticulture and garden design for a weekend of learning, inspiration, and networking. This year we are honored to welcome another extraordinary panel of speakers.

Schedule of Events:
8:00 AM – Registration and light continental breakfast
9:00 AM – Morning session opens
12:00 PM – Lunch and shopping at Hickory Stick Bookshop
1:00 PM – Afternoon session opens
3:30 PM Symposium concludes
4:00 PM – Cocktails, music and a very special Silent Auction at Hollister House Garden, Washington, CT

Register here

A community tradition for over 50 years, join us for the Annual Community Picnic hosted by Steep Rock Association. Details to follow.

Step outside and enjoy a series of relaxed summer walks through Steep Rock’s Preserves. On Thursday, September 18, join SRA Executive Director Brian Hagenbuch for a guided stroll through Hillside Farm, 397 Nettleton Hollow Road.

Acquired in 2021, this 86-acre parcel on the border of Washington and Woodbury includes a rich diversity of habitats and species.