bethlehem garden tour 2023

BETHLEHEm Garden Club

a Member of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania

Click below to explore the annual Bethlehem Garden Club Scholarship program.

Flower shows and design tournaments.  Are you up to the challenge?

 Learn more about our activities in the Bethlehem Area community.

For information on our September 21, 2023  BGC meeting please click HERE .

We wish you could have joined us for the Holiday Luncheon in December.

In November Terry Kloiber presented a motivational exploration of the creation of Gourd Art.

Masks are optional, please feel comfortable with your choice, and be respectful of the choice of others.

Potential new members are welcome to visit us, or email the club to join.

Please email the BGC  with questions.

Please watch this page for UPDATES.

The BGC Youtube channel.

click HERE to see it !

See the Miller's House Garden video HERE !

NEW FEATURE!

Photos taken by members HERE !

Bethlehem Garden Club welcomed over 130 guests to the District II/III Annual Luncheon on September 13, 2021, at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Our guest speaker was nationally renowned floral arranger Darcie Garcia.

Photos courtesy of the Bethlehem Press.

Please click HERE to see the Bethlehem Press article and photos of our Arbor Day celebration at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill.

For the full July 21-22, 2023 program please  click HERE.

(eighteen page PDF)

Admission to the Flower Show is FREE to the Public!

Entertainment | Rooms to View House & Garden Tour returns…

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Entertainment | rooms to view house & garden tour returns with a celebration of history and architecture in the lehigh valley.

Now in its 31st year, the Rooms to View House & Garden Tour is celebrating the preservation, history and creative architecture of some of the most inspiring homes and gardens in the Lehigh Valley.

“A fan favorite throughout the years, homes and gardens chosen for the tour continue to inspire and draw visitors from near and far, making Rooms to View HBMS’s premier spring fundraising event,” says Kristy Steier, special events manager at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

The nonprofit organization takes its inspiration from decades of tour events highlighting the history, beauty, and innovations of some of the most unique homes and gardens the Lehigh Valley is celebrated for. All proceeds will go to helping HBMS continue to maintain 20 historic landmarks and bring history to life through tours, programs, exhibitions and events.

The tour kicks off Friday, June 9, with a special preview party in Center Valley at the home of David and Jane Noel. Featuring spectacular views of Center Valley, the “Villa Verde” home features exquisite manicured lawns and gardens, with a uniquely styled decor, and a modern rustic feel. Guests will enjoy refreshments, live music, and a night of mingling with other visitors from in and around the Lehigh Valley.

“As soon as we stepped into the Noel’s “Villa Verde” backyard oasis, we knew it was the home for the Rooms to View Preview Party,” Steier says.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 10, guests have the opportunity to visit nine other homes in the Lehigh Valley, experiencing some of the most inspiring gardens, patios, kitchens, and distinctive designs the area has to offer.

Tour stops include the home of Deb and Darbin Skeans, in an eight-home neighborhood that was created by Bethlehem Steel for its executives in the mid-1950s, and rumored to have been the residence of Edmund Martin of Martin Tower Fame.

Also, Alan Y. Lowcher, president of the Bethlehem Historic District Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to historic preservation and community building, and his wife Patricia, are opening their historic home to HBMS and guests as well.

The homestead of Bob and Jeannie Hunsicker along Black River Road in Bethlehem, a property they purchased in 1975 with a stone country kitchen, wood frame carriage shed, and corn crib still intact, will also be a major attraction on the tour. During the visit to the Hunsicker’s Sleepy Hollow Farm, guests can purchase items from the HBMS Visitors Center’s new pop-up shop, refreshments featuring cookies from Back Door Back Shop, and vintage planters by Tracy in the Country. Local artist Diane Hutchison will be there painting live, and guests will also be serenaded by a live band.

Another featured stop on the tour is Black River Farms. With the price of admission guests are invited to stop in for a complimentary wine tasting complete with scenic views of the 9-acre vineyard.

After the tour, visitors are welcome to attend a wine and cheese garden reception at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts at 427 N. New St.. Bethlehem, from 4 to 5 p.m. Guests can experience HBMS’ new exhibition, Unspun: Stories of Silk — a presentation exploring the story of silk in the Lehigh Valley, from its early days with attic cocooneries in Moravian Bethlehem, to becoming one of the most luxurious and widely used fabrics in the world. Through a series of stories, displays, artwork, and hands-on activities, the display presents the efforts made by local silk makers that ultimately became a global phenomenon.

“Here at HBMS, we are excited to be fully back in person after a challenging time during the pandemic,” Steier says. “As visitors are embracing hands-on and in-person experiences once again, we are sure this year’s tour will delight and inspire all who attend.”

Rooms to View House & Garden Tour

Where : Homes and gardens in Historic Bethlehem and Center Valley

When : Preview Night 5:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, June 9 and House & Garden Tours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 10.

Cost : $35 for members and $45 for non-members

Tickets : historicbethlehem.org

Info : [email protected] 610-882-0450

Jay Honstetter is a freelance writer. 

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Bethlehem Garden Club brings back in-person tour

LaFayette Courtyard is a hidden garden on the downtown Troy campus. Photo by Tamara Hansen/TheSageColleges

DELMAR — Do you ever admire the gardens at Cherry and Kenwood, or the garden at the median of 9W and Route 32 offering natural beauty to the bypass?

Perhaps you noticed the new beehives at Bethlehem Senior High school or noticed the new garden in progress at Town Hall.

If you know of any of these, then you’re aware of a sampling of the accomplishments of the Bethlehem Garden Club.

Once again, the Bethlehem Garden Club is offering its in-person in-garden tour, perhaps the most well-known event that the club offers.

“We are thrilled to have our tour, once again, live and open to the public,” said Bethlehem Garden Club President Bonnie Smith. “This is our major fundraiser for us to continue our involvement with our town, our schools, and our residents.”

It was 1965, almost 60 years ago, when the Bethlehem Garden Club began. Now a group of 70 men and women of all ages, they collaborate with town and local shop owners to beautify Bethlehem by planting trees, hanging flower baskets along with a long and varied list of other activities.   And anyone is welcome to join.

Bethehem Garden Club also awards local schools with scholarships, financial grants and guidance to support and enhance the schools’ environmental science curriculum.   In all its endeavors, Bethlehem Garden Club strives to showcase the beauty of Bethlehem, use sound ecological practices, promote gardening balance, and ways to live in harmony with the wild life around us.

Buying a ticket to the Bethlehem Garden Tour, or buying a decorative item at its Botanical Boutique sale makes all these endeavors possible.

Tickets are $20 and available until 6:30 p.m. at Delmar Presbyterian Church, 585 Delaware Avenue on the day of the tour.   Advance tickets are $15 through June 8 at Wildbird Junction, 308 Delaware Avenue. All tickets can be purchased with cash or check.

The Botanical Boutique will also be back at Delmar Presbyterian Church from 3 to 7 p.m. Available for sale are a selection of decorated items to add color and interest to any home or garden. They were crafted or selected to make great gifts for graduation, Father’s Day, birthdays, new homes or any occasion!   Also, raffles for gift baskets and 50-50 cash raffle tickets will be sold with winners notified by 8 p.m. that evening.

Work begins on Watervliet Shaker Road

Bethlehem central’s board of education appoints diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

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Bethlehem is sometimes called the “City of Festivals” thanks to more than 10 major festivals and over 150 smaller festivals and community events.

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Soak in the Christmas Spirit as you walk along Main St. and Broad St. for this year’s Historic Downtown Bethlehem Window Decorating Competition!

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The huts are located in Historic Downtown Bethlehem, and will be open Thursdays through Sundays starting November 9th through December 24th.

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Live advent calendar – hosted by bach choir of bethlehem.

Get in the Spirit with the Historic Bethlehem Live Advent Calendar, the only one of its kind in the country and perhaps the entire world! The Live Advent Calendar is a free, family-friendly event that takes place every night at 5:30PM.

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Join us for Storytime with Santa! Children will read stories with Santa, enjoy snacks, and work with Santa's elves on a craft.

Santa’s Haus: Free Pictures with Santa

Leading up to Christmas, come visit with Santa! Take your own photos, with your own devices! It’s FREE!

Live Advent Calendar – Hosted by Bethlehem Chamber

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Ron was extremely friendly and extremely knowledgeable and his sense of humor made our tour totally enjoyable. He is a real asset to you. We will be back again next year because of people like Ron. All your people in fact were very pleasant and made our trip extremely enjoyable.

Trees Contest Winners

As you take down and put away your Christmas greens, lights, stars, and decorations, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is doing the same. Before we box up the last of the ornaments, we have some exciting news to share! Over 750 people voted for their favorite trees in our annual Trees of Historic Bethlehem contest. You told us who decorated the finest, and we are thrilled to announce the winners.

According to your voting, here are the Top 3 Trees:

First Place: Music Tree – Sponsored by 100.7 WLEV-FM

Second Place: Bird Tree

Third Place: Chocolate Tree

Thank you to all who participated this year, our sponsors, and congratulations to our winners!

Elegant. Luxurious. Opulent. This year’s Trees of Historic Bethlehem are dripping with finery! This dazzling array of Christmas trees, beautifully decorated by the Bethlehem Garden Club and local volunteers, is sure to awe and inspire.

Journey across three historic sites, where over 25 trees display gorgeous decorations through January 7, 2024. Your pass includes admission to the Unspun: Stories of Silk exhibition. Silk, the most luxurious material on the planet, is a great companion for these elegant trees. This holiday season, see the multi-site exhibition everyone’s talking about in a different light with rarely exhibited items from our collections, including silk mittens, hats, and fur-lined coats!

Funding by the Bealer-Greene Christmas Endowment.

You can enjoy our annual tree display as part of your family’s holiday tradition or start a new tradition this year. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite!

Save with a Christmas City Combo

Save when you bundle your Trees of Historic Bethlehem Tour with Christkindlmarkt tickets. This deal can be purchased through December 17, 2023.

Purchase the Christmas City Combo for $31.50 today!

Your Christmas City Combo ticket is good for entry into the Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibition across four historic sites and one entry to Christkindlmarkt at Steelstacks beginning Nov. 17, 2023.

Want to schedule your visit outside of museum hours? Book your  custom tour  today!

Both guides shared so much history of Bethlehem, the trees and the buildings. Both of the guides were so nice to my 5 yr old granddaughter and included info for her to understand! We will be back again!

All museum access with Trees of Historic Bethlehem!

With this ticket, visitors also have access to two museums, The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem , the holiday art exhibition at the Luckenbach Mill , and the Moravian putz at the Single Sisters’ House featuring reproductions of the buildings that make up the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District. Trees will be on display at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, The Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, and the Single Sisters’ House.

Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts 427 North New Street

Moravian Museum of Bethlehem 66 West Church Street

Single Sisters’ House 50 West Church Street Tours leave from the Moravian Museum

Luckenbach Mill 459 Old York Road

Full museum tours will be offered on the hour at the Kemerer Museum and Moravian Museum and run approximately 40 minutes.

Trees of Historic Bethlehem Tours will run on the half hour for approximately 20 minutes.

The last Tree tour of the day is at 5:30 PM.

Lucinda & Walter Dealtrey

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Bethlehem Historic District Association Presents: Holiday House Tour 2021

December 11, 2021 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, tour historic district homes & sites festively decorated for the holidays..

Pre-purchase price: $35 (via the link below)

Tickets are available here

The BHDA would like to thank our three primary sponsors for their continued support of this event:

• Presenting Sponsor: Historic Hotel Bethlehem
• Supporting Sponsor: Twisted Olive
• Contributing Sponsor: Bazzini Nuts

Other Information

**MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER ALL HOMES & SITES**

Indoor smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited. Pets are not allowed inside any house tour site. The use of cameras or videos is strictly prohibited.

If you have questions, please contact a House Tour Representative at: [email protected].

Restaurant Reservations If you would like to eat lunch or dinner in Bethlehem on the day of the tour, we strongly recommend that you make a reservation as soon as you purchase your tickets.

Some of our favorite restaurant partners include: The Historic Hotel Bethlehem 437 Main St. 610-625-2219 1741 On the Terrace Menu Tap Room Menu

Twisted Olive 51 W. Broad St. (one block from the Walnut St. parking garage) 610-419-1200 Menu

Dress & Accessories Please wear comfortable shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Large handbags, backpacks, and shopping bags, other than the tote bag given to every house tour guest, must be left at the front door and collected as you exit each site.  Neither the BHDA nor its volunteers are responsible for theft or loss of any personal items.

Children & Strollers/Carriers All children must be accompanied by an adult. Baby strollers and hard-sided carriers must be left outside; babies may be carried in a front or back carrier.

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership for 2024!

BHDA Board Meetings are conducted on 4th Tuesdays at Bethlehem Area Public Library, Laros Room, 11 E. Church St. Contact the President at [email protected] for an invitation to the next meeting.

Volunteers Needed

Consider volunteering for one of our committees or projects including the Newsletter,  Grants Program, Membership, Sidewalk Sale, Welcome Committee, Holiday House Tour 2024, Website, Socials, or Musikfest Parking.

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My Bethlehem PA App provides access to information regarding COVID-19, Lehigh County and Northampton County Crisis Intervention, Parking, the Bethlehem Service Center to register or report a problem and information for those visiting our wonderful City. Download the app on your Apple or Android phone from the App Store, type in My Bethlehem PA, and download it. There is no fee to download the App.

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Ultimate Garden Tour

Here’s an excursion through truly inspired Connecticut gardens, with an overnight in between. The best strategy is to time it for when the roses in Elizabeth Park are in full bloom – the other gardens have more varied and lasting pleasures.

Elizabeth Park

Hill-stead museum garden, white flower farm, bellamy ferriday house & garden, glebe house, elizabeth park rose gardens, hartford.

Start your trip on a late morning amidst an embarrassment of roses at Elizabeth Park in Hartford. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the park has been growing and displaying roses for 109 years and now boasts garden areas, pathways, greenhouses, lawns, a pond and a picnic grove on 102 acres. As to the rose garden itself, it’s 2.5 acres, with 800 varieties of the flower growing on some 15,000 plants. The fragrance of roses in full bloom (June and early July) is something you’ll never forget.

Following a stroll for lunch at the Pond House Café or a stop-off at Piccolo Arancio in Farmington, head next for the Hill-Stead Museum , where today your focus will be on the gardens outdoors rather than the wonderful Impressionist art indoors. The spectacular grounds were designed by Theodate Pope for her parents’ new home (which she also designed) and a key feature is the octagonal sunken garden, with brick walkways, summerhouse, a formal hedge and 36 perennial beds encompassing more than 90 plant varieties.

White Flower Farm, Morris

Continue west for a slow immersion into the Litchfield Hills, eventually arriving at White Flower Farm, a Litchfield shrine for American gardeners since 1950. White Flower’s “store” is a retail operation covering more than 5 acres, including a Begonia House, Shade Garden, Moon Garden and Polinator Garden, along with many other features. Bet you can’t leave without taking something for the garden back home!

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, Bethlehem

After breakfast and some sightseeing in Litchfield, head for the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden in Bethlehem (it opens at noon). The antiques-filled 1754 landmark (once home to the town’s first minister) features a formal parterre garden with roses, peonies and lilacs.

Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Woodbury

Next, get to the Glebe House in Woodbury with its Gertrude Jekyll Garden, the only extant American garden planned by England’s most venerated designer. The house was built in around 1750 and contains many of the furnishings of that day. The garden dates from 1926, when Jekyll planned 600 feet of classic English-style mixed border and foundation plantings, a planted stone terrace and an intimate rose allee.

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