Carlee WrightImmerse yourself in the art of nature as you wander one of Salem’s most beloved historic landscapes.
The Lord & Schryver Conservancy welcomes the public to explore Gaiety Hollow, the historic home and garden of pioneering landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, during the 2026 Open Gardens season.
“The Open Gardens season offers a wonderful opportunity for the community to experience the garden as Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver intended — as a welcoming and inspiring space connected to nature, beauty, and gathering,” said Yvonne Putze, executive director of the conservancy.
Open Gardens take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, May through September, as well as from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on select Saturdays, which include additional programming.
Featured events include:
- May 30 — Constant Billy, a fun and energetic Americana music duo
- June 13 — Explore an exhibit in the museum home about Lord and Schryver
- June 27 — Finn Yang Quartet, instrumental live music
- July 11 — Constant Billy returns to the Garden Terrace
- July 25 — Salem Madrigal Singers, a Renaissance musical group
- August 8 — Explore an exhibit in the museum home about Lord and Schryver
- August 22 — Artists in Action! Paint/Write the town artists creating works in the garden
- September 5 and 19 — Mid-Valley Poetry Society readings on the Garden Terrace
Performance times may vary by group, though most begin during the 11 a.m. hour. Admission is free, but donations supporting the preservation and care of Gaiety Hollow are encouraged.
Gaiety Hollow is located at 545 Mission St. SE. It is maintained by The Lord & Schryver Conservancy, which aims “to preserve, steward, and interpret the legacy of landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver for public enrichment.” Learn more at lordschryver.org
Author: Carlee Wright
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes (Hello, John Fluevog!) who turns waste into wearable art in her "spare" time.
