Civic Gardens
Many beautiful gardens in Hingham are maintained by The Garden Club of Hingham. The club’s members handle the planting and upkeep of the Old Ordinary Garden, Niles Garden inside the Hingham Public Library courtyard, the planters at the library entrance, the traffic islands in Hingham Center, and Founders Park, where North and South streets meet.
Old Ordinary
Old Ordinary, located at 21 Lincoln Street, for over 70 years, maintaining it since 1952. The sunken parterre garden (an ornamental garden with pathways between beds) blooms with color starting in spring with daffodils and continues into summer and fall with plantings of hostas, astilbes, fairy roses, daylilies, anemones, peonies, balloon flowers, ferns—mostly in shades of pink and blue, with floral accents in apricot, yellow, and white.
The building that houses the Old Ordinary Museum was a tavern in the 17th century and was donated to the Hingham Historical Society by Hingham philanthropist Wilmon Brewer in the 1920s, in honor of his father. It’s said that the garden design was a wedding gift from the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted to Mrs. Frances Cornish on her marriage to Rev. Louis C. Cornish in 1906 and their subsequent purchase of the Old Ordinary. Rev. Cornish was the minister of Old Ship Church and used The Annex at the back of the property as his study. In 1938, Harold S. Ross restored the garden to its original state for the Hingham Historical Society.
The community is encouraged to visit the garden, enjoy the flowers, and experience its peacefulness and tranquility.
Hingham Public Library
The Garden Club of Hingham designs, installs and maintains the containers at the front entrance of the Library. These seasonal arrangements are a welcoming sight for visitors and hopefully provide a colorful and pleasing aspect to the entrance year-round.
We also maintain The Niles Garden in the inner courtyard of the Library which is accessible and visible from the second floor. The garden was installed during the reconstruction of the Library in 2000; the original landscape design of The Niles Garden was a gift of the Garden Club of Hingham. The courtyard garden features many beautiful trees including: Acer griseum, Paperbark Maple, Prunus subhirtella `Autumnalis’ and Prunus serrulata `Kwanzan’, flowering Cherry, Magnolia stellata, Star Magnolia, and an Acer palmatum dissectum, Cutleaf Japanese Maple in the center of the fountain area. In addition to these special trees there are many interesting and unusual shrubs such as Daphne, Japanese Holly, Viburnum, Hydrangea and Rhododendron as well as many Spring bulbs and perennials all surrounded by a yew hedge. The garden provides year-round visual interest and has inviting seating with benches and shaded tables and chairs. Please feel free to enjoy this open and peaceful space during your next visit to the Hingham Public Library.The Garden Club of Hingham members design, install and maintain the containers at the front entrance of the Library. These seasonal arrangements are a welcoming sight for visitors and hopefully provide a colorful and pleasing aspect to the entrance year-round.
Hingham
Center Traffic Islands
Perhaps
one of The Garden Club of Hingham’s most visible town commitments is
maintaining the three traffic islands in Hingham Center. A dedicated team of
both new and experienced members meets on weekend mornings every 2-3 weeks from
spring through fall to tend the islands. We enjoy each other’s company as we
prune, deadhead, weed, plant bulbs, and wave to passersby.
Founders Park
Founders Park, where North and South Streets meet, was named to honor the founding fathers and mothers of Hingham, who, according to folklore, first landed around this spot. It was designed, planted, and given to Hingham in 2008 by the Garden Club as a beautiful space for relaxation with benches for downtown shoppers. In 2013, touchable, kid-friendly art was added in the form of brass turtles and frogs on a piece of Hingham granite, sculpted by David Philips. The club maintains the surrounding plantings, which attract pollinators throughout the growing season.
