Garden Descriptions
Our GardensIf you're interested in getting an in-depth look at our gardens first hand then please join one of our staff-led garden tours. Our garden staff will take you to each of our main gardens, explain their contents, and answer your questions. For scheduled tour times and meeting locations please inquire at our front desk.
The Lodge Gardens
The window boxes on the exterior of the Lodge are planted with a mix of vinca vine, zonal geraniums and supertunias. The hanging baskets are planted with red calibrachoa and red and white supertunias. The brick planter outside the Library is planted with a mix of upright tuber begonias and Bacop.
The Family Cemetery
The von Trapp Family Cemetery Garden can be found across the lawn in front of the dining room. This garden is a mix of annual and perennial plants, as well as some small trees and shrubs. The annuals are flourishing in the summer season and replaced with tulips each spring.
The Croquet Court
Just across from the Family Cemetery is the Croquet Court Garden. All of the plants in this mixed garden are perennials or biennials. There are also many spring and summer blooming bulbs, including daffodils, hybrid Darwin tulips, fritillaries and alliums. At the end of this garden, just before the stone steps, you will find a small collection of edelweiss plants.
The Rock Garden
Located at the end of the Croquet Court, furthest from the lodge is the Rock Garden. Originally designed and planted by Maria von Trapp, this is the oldest garden on the property. It is at its most colorful in the spring and early summer, when the bulbs and early ground covers bloom. This is essentially two gardens in one, with half for shade plants and the other half for sun loving plants. Shade plants, under the apple tree include hosta, bleeding hearts, and sweet woodruff. Sun plants, on the opposite side of the garden steps, include heather, candy tuft and sedum.
The Cutting Gardens and Greenhouse
Take a short walk down the road (and away from the Lodge) to the Cutting Gardens and Greenhouse on your left. The annual and perennial plants in this garden are used for all our fresh flower arrangements in the Lodge as well as for the dried decorations. The fruits, herbs and vegetables are used as ingredients and/or garnishes in our dishes. The Greenhouse is used for starting seedlings, growing houseplants for the Lodge and forcing bulbs for winter bloom.
Edelweiss
As one of the world’s best known European mountain flowers Edelweiss is renowned for its simple beauty and symbolic nature. As a result of growing in inaccessible mountain regions the flower is often associated with mountaineering, courage, purity and nobility (in fact, the name Edelweiss is a combination of the German words for “noble” and “white”.) Given the beauty of these white flowers it's no surprise that the von Trapp family decided to plant them in the gardens around their home in the verdant mountains of Vermont to remind them of their homeland. We welcome guests and visitors at the Trapp Family Lodge to take a little piece of Austria home with them in the form of their very own Edelweiss.
To buy an Edelweiss plant please stop by our greenhouse (open 8:30AM – 4:00PM Mon. through Sat.) and ask one of our gardening staff to direct you to our available plants. Edelweiss are available May through October and need to be purchased on property. If you have any questions about transporting or caring for you Edelweiss please consult our garden staff.