CANANDAIGUA, NY — Here’s an upcoming event for the gardeners, the garden lovers, and the local history buffs.
The Ontario County Historical Society will host its seventh annual Garden & Historic Building Tour from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 12.
Here’s how the Garden & Historic Building Tour in Canandaigua works
This one-day self-guided driving tour will feature eight sites in Canandaigua, giving visitors an opportunity to walk through five private gardens and experience three historic sites.
This year, visitors will gain insight on incorporating edibles in their landscaping, gardening with native plants, spaces for rewilding, and gardening with drought-resistant plants.
All location addresses will be provided in a ticketed, full-color booklet. Restrooms will be available at numerous locations on the tour.
Why is the tour important for the Ontario County Historical Society?
Historical Society Executive Director Ulana Fuller is excited for this year’s tour because it touches on emerging gardening trends.
“I think the garden sites will provide a great opportunity for thought and discussion while the building sites will offer insight into our tourism economy and history of local philanthropy,” Fuller stated.
Proceeds from the tour support the work of the Ontario County Historical Society, a nonprofit organization established in 1902 that maintains a historical repository and research room.
The society also operates a free-admission museum. The historical exhibit “The Doctor is IN: The History of Medicine in Ontario County” is showing through April 22, 2026.
In addition to the historical exhibit, visitors can view the artwork of Ontario County Arts Council members in the museum’s North Gallery.
How do you get tickets for the Ontario County Historical Society tour?
Tickets for the garden tour are available for sale on the Ontario County Historical Society website at www.OCHS.org. The cost is $30 per person.
Online ticket sales will run through July 11.
Pending availability, tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at the museum. Beginning July 8, ticket purchasers may pick up their booklets at the Ontario County Historical Society, 55 N. Main St., Canandaigua.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.