As most of you know, we paused visits to Tasha's home during the pandemic. Celebrating Tasha's legacy has always been a balancing act for the family as we share Tasha's preference for quiet living and the secret to quiet living is not taking on too much.
We are not currently planning to reopen tours post-pandemic, but we will continue to review the option. We don't know what the future may hold. But we do know that visiting Tasha's treasured homestead is a dream for many. We hope to make your dream a reality at some unknown point in the future.
The Experience
We invite you to enter into Tasha’s world of illustration and spend some time in the magical gardens that she created, and in the home that her son Seth built for her in 1970.
The entrance into Tasha’s world of inspiration begins at the Rookery, where you can ramble through our gift shop until the tour begins. Once you have had a chance to settle in we will walk over to Granny’s house and garden, which she always called “just a good messy garden with no plan, but large quantities of blooms all jumbled together."
“I haven’t any modesty when it comes to my garden. I'll boast like mad.”
Tasha loved flowers in abundance. One of her tips was, “If you have just so much money, spend it all on one variety and make a big splash.” And you will see the waves of "paradise on earth” which she created and her grandson Winslow now maintains. Winslow will lead you along the many paths still abundant with iris, lupine, sweet rocket, and oriental poppies in June. The Fall tours will beguile you with romantic roses, red apples, the last of the lilies and the show of “annuals who are trying to outdo themselves before they’re laid low – the zinnias, petunias, pot marigolds, and nasturtiums. They all seem to become more brilliant then.” Unless we have a frost first!
“Because I gardened as a little girl, and my mother and grandmother were passionate gardeners before me, I grew up with flowers, knew them by their look and feel, and called them by their colloquial names. Dame’s rocket, sweet William, monkshood, and meadow rue – the old-fashioned names are so much prettier.”
Tasha’s home offers even more delights. You'll see where she sat at her art table drawing so many of the illustrations and borders of flowers and ribbons, her famous tin kitchen for cooking Thanksgiving turkeys, and the walls of her pantry which she used to take down important dates and messages so they wouldn’t get lost….we just can’t tell you too much more or it will ruin the surprise! We regret that a few items from Tasha’s home may go on tour in any given year-- so that the rest of the world can remember her-- but we will do our best to inform you of these items before you purchase tickets under Tour Details. Even so, we promise, your heads will be swimming with plenty of rare Tasha tidbits and sights by the time you leave. Quite a few guests have told us, that because of the way we have left everything as Tasha had it (including some dust,) they kept expecting Tasha to round the corner and offer them tea!
And though we know that tea will not be offered by Tasha, we will have some wonderful refreshments for you back at the Rookery, when you return from your journey! Enjoy this last bit of time in your own private illustration of Tasha’s world to relax and chat with Tasha’s Family.
I'd Like to Visit
Because of zoning regulations, we are only permitted to offer 15 or fewer tours a year. Tasha's garden and homestead is not open daily or run like a typical house museum. Tickets for each upcoming season are released for sale in our online store in January and usually sell out the same day. You must plan far ahead to secure tickets.
Please join our email notification list to receive alerts for when tickets go on sale, tips on how to increase your odds of securing tickets so that you will be among the fortunate few who have a chance to view Tasha’s rare world.
Tickets are the main revenue source for supporting the upkeep of Tasha's Home and Garden. Your visiting keeps nature from reclaiming Tasha's home, which it is wont to do.
Deciding When To Visit
- June visits: Oriental poppies, peonies, lady's mantle, delphinium, dianthus, mystery rose, lupine, daisies, honeysuckle and many remnants from early June such as Sweet rocket, viburnum, forget-me-nots, columbine, allium, bleeding hearts, geums, German iris, candytuft, violas, wood poppy, basket of gold, creeping phlox, chives, late lilacs and more.
- Fall visits: Peak fall foliage! Clematis autumnali, roses, annuals, vegetables, mums.
Departure Location
After you purchase tickets, we will send you private directions either by download or email. After you purchase your tickets, we will also need the names of you and your guests and the state of residence (for nametags).
Things to Keep in Mind
- We want to emphasize here to wear good walking shoes, and to know you are physically fit to stand/walk for 3 hours and cover about 1 mile! Although Tasha gardened from day until night in her bare feet, we think it is the rare person these days that can handle the gravel on Vermont dirt roads, the occasional rose thorn and the rambling stone walkways of Tasha’s garden without the aid of sturdy flat soled shoes.
- Be sure to bring your camera too….though we will ask you to put all digital devices, such as cameras and cell phones (and purses too) in your car for the walking tour, please bring them out when we return to the Rookery because we love having you snap photos of us with you, so you can show your friends and families when you return home.
Tour Options
Private Guided Tour with Porch Picnic
Would you like the peace and serenity of Tasha's garden all to yourself? Or you and up to five friends? For the second year, we are offering a private tour for groups of up to six people. A Tudor family member will guide you (or your group) through Tasha's home and garden. Start time flexible but plan on a two-hour guided tour. Bring your own lunch and relax as you picnic on Tasha's front porch after your guided tour. Gift shopping available if desired.
Bring up to five guests (plus you for a total of six) for $1100.00 plus 6% Sales Tax. (If you do bring five guests, that's $185 per person plus tax, the same price as our 'regular' tours.)
Standard Guided Tour
Spend 2 1/2 hours on a guided tour of Tasha's first floor, second floor, barn and marionette theatre as well as the garden. Tours are broken into smaller groups of five and are led by family members. After the tour, guests enjoy a catered lunch/early supper upon returning to the Rookery.
Available: June and October
Adults $185 a ticket (plus 6% tax.)
Children (12 and under) $75 (plus 6% tax.)
Self-Guided Tour
On the other hand, perhaps you're most interested in seeing a smaller portion of Tasha's home and aren't so concerned about visiting during the peak garden season of June. We have just the opportunity for you!
Guests will be guided from the Rookery through the forest to Tasha Tudor’s garden and home. On a self-guided basis, guests will be able to explore Tasha’s barn and walk through the kitchen, looking into adjacent rooms and onto her porch, asking questions of family members stationed along the way. A map will be provided for self-guided exploration of the garden. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic to enjoy at the Rookery after the tour. Total group size of up to 30 people.
Available: July
Adults $115 a ticket (plus 6% tax.)
Children (12 and under) $55 (plus 6% tax.)
Policies
Terms and Conditions
We rely on your attendance to make important arrangements; therefore no refund will be made, under any conditions, once you have paid for your ticket(s). If the tour is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, all fees will be refunded in full.
*We recommend cancelation and trip insurance so that your expenses are covered if you are unable to attend.
Please be aware of the following:
-That tour tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
-That the tour involves three hours of standing & walking and that guests need to be able to walk one mile without difficulty.
-That the tour will take place as scheduled, rain or shine.
-That purses, fanny packs or bags of any kind are not permitted on the walking tour.
-That electronic devices including phones, cameras, video cameras, etc. must be left in your vehicle and are not permitted on the walking portion of the tour.
-That it is my responsibility to inform Tasha Tudor and Family in the case of any life-threatening food allergies within two days of purchasing tickets.
Travel Info
Recommended Places to Stay
We recommend choosing a bed & breakfast to complete your Vermont experience, but we’ve included some of the more standard hotels. There are also many campgrounds and state parks in the area. For more information, please visit www.campvermont.com and www.vtstateparks.com
Marlboro
Colonel Williams Inn (802) 257-1093 www.colonelwilliamsinn.com
Whetstone Inn (802) 254-2500 www.whetstoneinn.com
Wilmington
The Paw House Inn (West Dover, Approx 30 minutes west of us; inn catering to dogs and their owners) 1-866-PAW-HOUSEhttp://www.pawhouseinn.com/killington-okemo.html
Shearer Hill Farm (approx. 10 miles to us) B&B 800-437-3104 www.shearerhillfarm.com
Greater Brattleboro (15 miles or under)
Forty Putney Road B&B (802) 254-6268 www.Fortyputneyroad.com
Hampton Inn (802) 254-5700
Holiday Inn Express (802) 257-2400
Latchis Hotel (Art-deco style right in downtown & dog friendly) (802) 254-6300 www.latchishotel.com
The Landmark Trust (Rents historic homes in the area, including Rudyard Kipling’s home) 802-254-6868 www.landmarktrustusa.org
15+ miles
Chesterfield Inn 800-365-5515 http://www.chesterfieldinn.com/
Recommended Travel, Entertainment and Dining
Airports
Hartford, CT Bradley International (1 1/2 hrs (90 miles) easy drive on Interstate)
Albany, NY Albany International (1 1/2 hrs (90 miles) slow drive on winding Vermont roads)
Manchester, NH Manchester Airport ( 1 3/4 hrs (82 miles) drive through towns, a lovely small airport)
Boston, MA Logan International Airport (3 hrs (117-145 miles) We generally avoid Logan due to the difficulty of driving in Boston.)
Transportation
Thomas Transportation 800-526-8143 (airport to lodging service)
Brattleboro Taxi (802) 254-6446
Dining
Vermont Country Deli "Make sure to bring your appetite, because our gourmet-to-go marketplace offers an amazing array of hot and cold prepared foods, all made in our open kitchen by our talented chefs. We’ve got overstuffed sandwiches, savory pastries, decadent cakes, pies, sweets and more. " 802-257-9254 vermontcountrydeli.com
Brattleboro Food Co-op " The Co-op is a 14,580 square foot natural foods market and deli on the ground floor of a four-story building that also includes Co-op offices, a commissary kitchen, a cooking classroom, and 24 apartments. This beautiful downtown anchor building is a result of a collaboration with the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust and Housing Vermont, with many environmentally friendly features, including utilizing refrigeration waste heat to heat apartments and the store, solar panels on the roof, and many more. brattleborofoodcoop.com
The Works "In short, we work to create a more sustainable business model and a more rational food chain. That makes sense for the environment and it make for a delicious dining experience for our customers." worksbakerycafe.com
Amy’s Bakery and Café (Breakfast and lunch, Main Street in Brattleboro) (802) 251-1071
The New England House (Quiet American dining, Brattleboro) (802) 254-6886, closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Panda North (Chinese and Japanese Restaurant, Brattleboro) (802) 257-4578
Chelsea Royal Diner (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Brattleboro) (802) 254-8399
The Marina ("Seafood and Burgers on the Water" Brattleboro) (802) 257-7563 http://www.vermontmarina.com/
Top of the Hill Grill (Open seasonally with outdoor dining, Brattleboro) (802) 258-9178 www.topofthehillgrill.com
Family Entertainment
Latchis Theatre (Historic Art Deco Theater for movies and live shows) (802) 254-6300 www.latchis.com
Southern Vermont Natural History Museum (802) 464-0048 www.vermontmuseum.org
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (802) 257-0124
Retreat Farm (Brattleboro) 800-472-3866 www.retreatfarm.org
Public Golf Courses
Haystack Golf Club Wilmington (802) 464-8301
Sitzmark Lodge Wilmington (802) 464-3384
Shopping
Walkers Farm The best plants; not to be missed! 802.254.2051 www.walkersfarm.com
Twice Upon a Time A fun antique shop http://twicetime.com/
Downtown Brattleboro in general!