HGTV Is Calling This Beautifully Designed Massachusetts Garden A Must-Visit

Public gardens make a wonderful getaway for avid gardeners or plant lovers. Every state across the U.S. has a variety of gardens worth visiting, like the Atlanta Botanical Garden, named Georgia's most beautiful garden by HGTV, located right in the middle of downtown Atlanta. Lotusland, a Montecito, California garden that spans 37 acres and features over 3,500 stunning plant varieties, is another stunning example that made HGTV's best-in-every-state ranking. 

But no matter what state you live in, you'll be able to find public gardens to visit and enjoy. In Massachusetts, The Mount — a private home designed and created by famous American author Edith Wharton — is yet another beautiful public garden and museum tagged by HGTV as the most beautiful garden in its state. And if we're being honest, it's easy to see why HGTV is calling The Mount a must-visit.

Edith Wharton designed the house and gardens in 1902 and lived there with her husband until 1911. The estate served a variety of purposes after Edith and her husband left, including becoming a boarding school called the Foxhollow School for Girls for nearly 35 years. It was also the site of Shakespeare & Company, a theater company until it was purchased by Edith Wharton Restoration, at which point the property was almost completely restored over the course of several years until it was finally opened to the public in 2002. Visitors can tour this incredible home and its gardens that span almost 50 acres. Today, The Mount is more than just a museum and gardens; it's a bustling and lively cultural center offering literary and artistic programs all year long.

There is so much to see and take in at The Mount, you may want to take a couple of days to fully enjoy it. Visitors can walk through the Main House, the most significant structure on the grounds, to see furnishings and a visual style that were taken from one of Edith's books, which she wrote in partnership with one of her architects, titled "The Decoration of Houses." There are a lot of Italian and French influences throughout the home. 

The library is like a separate museum all its own, with the original 2,700-book collection from Wharton herself adorning the shelves along with books her friends wrote and her favorite works. Visitors can take a private tour of the library that goes in depth into Edith Wharton's thoughts and writings that will thrill writers and historians alike. 

The gardens will thrill any landscape admirer with their stunning beauty and design. Edith Wharton felt gardens should be created with architectural elements as houses were, which she elaborated on in her book "Italian Villas and Their Gardens." Today, after careful restoration of the gardens, visitors can enjoy a lot of her original designs that she created for the gardens. Features include the gorgeous and unique molded Grass Steps, the French Flower Garden, the Rock Garden, and the sunken Italian Garden. All the gardens have stunning design elements that include paths, fountains, and bursts of color among some of Edith's favorite flowers that include lilies, phlox, and dahlias. Don't be surprised if, after seeing these lovely gardens, you rush home and work on creating a cohesive front garden or a lovely rock garden for your own yard. 

There are numerous exhibits visitors can enjoy at The Mount, including The Hoppin Albums, which feature incredible photos of when The Mount was under construction and go into what it took to build this incredible estate. Other exhibits include The Backstairs Project, Edith Wharton and the First World War, and Literature & Ladies' Wear: Magazines in Wharton's Era. There are also many readings and performances scheduled throughout the year, youth and family activities, specialty programs including forest bathing and tai chi, tours of the grounds' sculptures by local artists, and much more. 

One highly anticipated event is NightWood, a yearly event that combines music, incredible lighting, and more to transform The Mount into an incredible wonderland after the sun goes down that's perfect for the holidays. NightWood runs for several days in November, December, and January. Exact dates can be found on The Mount website, and season passes are available. During the event, the NightWood Café serves drinks and seasonal food, and you can shop in the bookstore for some great holiday gifts. 

If you love The Mount (and why wouldn't you), you can become a member and enjoy a variety of benefits. These include discounts for NightWood, the café and bookstore, unlimited admission to the Main House, and other special member privileges.