For this Backyard Garden Trip, we’re venturing to the seaside town of Falmouth on Cape Cod. Falmouth is known for its beaches, bike path, shopping, and dining. With this trip though, we’re heading off of the main road to find two fantastic Falmouth gardens.
Spohr Gardens
The fantastic Falmouth gardens begin with Spohr Gardens. Spohr Gardens is tucked away in a residential neighborhood close to the Woods Hole section of Falmouth. Located on Fells Road, this is not a place one simply stumbles upon. A little way down Fells Road is the parking area.
The main part of the gardens is past the informational signage. Paths meander down to the cove and around the former home of the Spohr family. During my visit, the flowers had gone by, but the grounds are still worthwhile to explore. In spring, the daffodils here are supposed to be stunning.
Scattered throughout the property are grindstones that Spohr collected. The property also houses a church bell and a collection of anchors. The anchors, some dating as far back as the 18th century, are all lined up along the shore. There are also benches for sitting and a picnic table for snacking. The main path loops by the shore and heads back toward Fells Road.
Cutting up one of the stone step paths toward the interior from the main path, these smaller paths wind every which way, coming very close to a private home. An educated guess is that this was the former Spohr home. Heading back toward the car, the gardens continue on the other side of the lot. In this part, the acreage is smaller but still fun to poke around.
With all the fascinating litter of grindstones and anchors, the park has an appeal for all ages. In addition, the trails are beautiful with very impressive views of the cove.
Highfield Hall
Highfield Hall is an estate with beautiful gardens surrounding it. It is used as both a museum and a function hall. The grounds are free for exploring though. Upon arriving at Highfield Hall, the first object that draws your attention is an elaborate maze of sticks that to my kids, resembles a mammoth. They enjoyed ducking in and out of it.
Spotting a xylophone from the parking lot, this was the next destination for the kids. Similar to Heritage Museum’s Hidden Hollow, this sunken garden is a kid haven. With three different xylophone-type instruments, the kids couldn’t get enough of banging on these.
We spent a while winding through the gardens and the paths of Highfield Hall. Even though most flowers were not in bloom (save for a one-off rose bush), there is plenty to explore even in the colder months.
Spohr Gardens and Highfield Hall made for two fantastic Falmouth gardens. Combining these with a trip for lunch at a restaurant such as Quarterdeck or walking around Woods Hole make a perfect Falmouth day.
For more Backyard Garden Trips, check out this post.
