Virtual Tour
Welcome to Tarbin Gardens
Five Acres of Gardens in West Franklin NH
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The History of Tarbin Gardens
Tarbin Gardens is a hobby gone wild. Started by one person, Richard Tarbin, who maintains it today with his small family.
We are solely supported by our visitors, weddings and events.
Jacky Tarbin moved her family from southeastern England in 1968 when Richard was eight years old. After a few years around Kennebunkport Maine, they settled in western Franklin New Hampshire when it was a quiet edge of town road. Richard had begun gardening in England when he was only two years old; trusted to weed the correct plants. After spending some years in the states, at fourteen he traveled back to England to visit family and see the sights. What he took back with him was the love of landscaping.
The backyard of our house was small. No land had been cleared until space for his parent’s greenhouse tomato business started. With this, came room for the first garden; the Formal Garden. Richard sought to bring a piece of England to his home by modeling it after The Queen’s Garden of Hampton Court, with mirror symmetry. Richard started this garden in high school at the age of 17.
The original goal was to beautify our own backyard. The five-acres we have today were all cleared by hand, tractor and Scottish Highland Cattle with Richard following behind placing gardens as the land called for. Slowly they became his showpiece but were seen by few.
Richard became a landscaper with clients around New England while in his spare time he let the hobby go wild and his plant collection grow as the gardens stretched back.
Eventually, news got out of a secret garden on the edge of Franklin. Inquiries to visit from city organizations started to come in. A local couple even had their wedding when the gardens were still a backyard. When the city held their bicentennial to celebrate the attractions of Franklin, Richard and Jacky had their first day of public visitors. Overwhelmed by the support, they knew the gardens had to be shared.
Together, Richard and Jacky grew the gardens into a business. Paths around the property were designed and installed, gardens were named and signed. A parking lot was made and has increased four times to meet demand and an entrance building was built and rebuilt to be larger.
Jacky has supported her son and family the entire journey. From growing tomatoes, to seedlings, to setting up the business, she finally added her own touch; the English Cream Tea. It came from a trip to West Australia. On a long driving trip, she was tired and in need of refreshment. To her relief came a small sign reading, Cream Tea, with an arrow. She took her chances and it was the best Cream Tea she’d ever experienced. That wonderful stop for tea and scones is what she offered to our visitors who made the trip to see the gardens.
She never imagined her baking would grow such a following and she is thankful to all who embraced an English tradition. After 18 years of daily baking, she is retiring and so is our Cream Tea.
Richard continues to add and develop the grounds, new plants join the collection each year and improvements from arbors to lighting are installed. He has made himself an expert of English Landscape, gardening, native and exotic plants and is a wealth of information to us and our visitors.
Our goal when we opened was to educate and showcase the perennial, annual and tropical plants that can live in central New Hampshire. This was to inspire visitors how to make their backyard their own little world. From that goal, we’ve met many. We’ve become a place for gardeners, nature lovers, photographers, artists, friends, families and groups. We’ve had first dates, engagements, weddings, baby and bridal showers, graduation, prom and baby pictures, retirements and work functions. The demand for a garden wedding venue inspired the goal we carry today; New Hampshire’s venue for Garden Weddings. Some wedding venues have a garden, but our gardens have become a wedding venue.
Today we focus on being the perfect destination for a day out and a beautiful, friendly venue, for your wedding, events and pictures. Richard still maintains the gardens daily and adds to them every year. Lindsey his daughter works alongside to continue and improve the gardens into the future.
We thank everyone who has been part of our journey and look forward to those that will join in the seasons to come.