Trade Secrets Weekend Guide
Visit Extraordinary New England Gardens, Shop Antiques & Much More
Created by legendary designer Bunny Williams, Trade Secrets is a 2-day event celebrating antiques, gardens, rare plants, decor, books and more that benefits Project SAGE, a non-profit domestic violence agency serving local communities.
If you love nature, if you love beauty that blossoms over time, objects with patina, extraordinary gardens that have grown into themselves over years of care, then Trade Secrets — the annual 2-day Litchfield County event — is for you. Fifty curated vendors, such as Kabinett & Kammer, Marston House, RT Facts and Helia Native Nursery (full vendor list here) will assemble under tents on the tidy green expanses of Lime Rock Park to sell their wares.
Stay with us at Belden for this special weekend — for which tickets go on sale April 1 and garden tours are already selling fast — and enjoy our curated list of Litchfield and local must-dos, for when you are not at the event itself. Gardens, nature preserves, shops and restaurants that are aesthetic magnets with thoughtful selections and menus, to round out your weekend in Litchfield County.
Book Belden now and plan the rest of your weekend below.
GARDENS & NATURE PRESERVES
White Memorial Conservation Center & Nature Preserve | Litchfield | Encircling Litchfield is 4,000 acres of preserved forests, fields and wetlands. It offers 40 miles worth of hiking trails, a Nature Museum, excellent for curious minds of all ages, a bird feeding area, marina and boating launch onto Bantam Lake, and incalculable natural beauty. For the safety and enjoyment of all visitors, please read the rules and regulations (dogs on leash! beware of bears! no littering) ahead of your visit, which is free of charge.
Topsmead | Litchfield | One of the most bucolic, abundant, elegant "parks" one could imagine, Topsmead is the former summer estate home of Miss Edith Morton Chase, who left it to be enjoyed by the people of Connecticut, requesting that it be kept in "a state of natural beauty." Her endowment has helped guaranty this fate. It's exquisite...and five minutes from Belden House.
Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy | Litchfield | Located a few miles from Belden, the Conservancy is dedicated to protecting over 90 species of rare and endangered birds from around the world. The professionals at Ripley are breeding specialists who work to maintain genetic diversity and safeguard these species for generations to come. As a visitor, you can explore Ripley's acres of natural habitats which are home to more than 500 birds and see wildlife conservation efforts in action right here in Litchfield. Founder S. Dillon Ripley was a world-renowned scientist and the eighth Secretary of the Smithsonian from 1964 to 1984. Ripley became one of the first ornithologists to successfully propagate many threatened and endangered waterfowl species, including the Red-breasted goose and the Nene goose. Open to the public on weekends from May through November.
Bellamy- Ferriday House & Garden | Litchfield | Discover the history of the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, from its 18th century origins as a renowned minister’s home to its transformation into a vibrant summer estate. The talk highlights Caroline Ferriday’s legacy, from preserving the property’s rich past to her humanitarian work supporting survivors of World War II.
Hollister House Garden | Washington | An American interpretation of renowned English gardens, such as Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, and Hidcote, Hollister House Garden was begun in 1979 by George Schoellkopf and Ron Johnson, the garden has evolved under George’s direction into a unique synthesis of the formal and the natural, walls and hedges melting seamlessly into the lush surrounding landscape which forms a magnificent backdrop for the exuberant plantings.
White Flower Farm | "You cannot care about gardening and not know about White Flower Farm," recently said a local green thumb. This nationally renowned nursery in its 75th year sells plants via mailorder all over the United States; it just happens that the farm itself is in our very town, 8 minutes from Belden. Browse in person and have your order shipped home or pick up a little souvenir to remind you of your time in Litchfield County.
SHOPPING
Milton Market | Litchfield | A 3-minute walk from Belden, tucked behind East Street on an adorable mews is one of our favorite shops: Milton Market offers gorgeously curated home, table and apothecary items. Baskets, vintage ceramics and year round paper blooms round out this wonderful store.
Lawrence Jeffrey Estate Jewelers | Litchfield | Extraordinary antique pieces with botanical themes, as well as those from Bvlgari, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpel await here. From Victorian to modern, whimsical to classic, there's a piece for the person you adore. Lawrence Jeffrey also stocks luxury objets for the hosts who have everything, not to mention one of a kind rings, should you need to pop the question. As a guest of Belden, you'll receive preferential pricing.
Guy Wolff Pottery | Litchfield | Legendary ceramicist Guy Wolff's commitment to his craft is evident in every graceful, streamlined vessel he sells, and Wolff epitomizes the artistic energy that is so at home in Litchfield County. Wolff Pottery's studio is 13 minutes from Belden in Bantam and open from 9am to 5pm daily except Mondays.
Westerlind | Litchfield | Snuggled into Cobble Court with Milton Market, Westerlind focuses on apparel and gear at the cutting edge of fashion and outdoor technology...the chicest gardening clothes you'll find.
R. Derwin | Litchfield | This Litchfield institution on West Street just off the green offers fine knitwear — Scottish wool, Italian cashmere, yes please; country staples, such as well-cut work coats, tailored suiting, neckties, scarves, shawls and more.
Plain Goods | New Preston | Beloved by aesthetes and collectors the world over, this exquisitely curated shop in a former church makes you pine for every piece, an artful combination of antiques, found treasures and their own line of streamlined clothes and reupholstered furniture.
Rentrayage | Kent | Stylish and sustainable clothing and home goods abound at this Kent concept store. Their sustainably sourced denim is particularly excellent.
Peggy Mercury | Kent | A multi category boutique and gallery featuring a curated selection of beauty, accessories, art and objects, founded by James Boehmer, an acclaimed makeup artist and former global artistic director for Shiseido, and Greg Fricke, a scout for some of the most renowned modeling agencies in the world.
DINING
Arethusa al Tavolo | Litchfield | At Arethusa al Tavolo, Executive Chef Dan McGill sources the best ingredients from Litchfield County — particularly celebrating those of Arethusa Farm, the affiliated dairy of the same name that began in Bantam in 1868 and continues to produce award-winning dairy today. Al Tavolo is the quintessential country fine dining establishment, beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Lost Fox Inn Tavern | Litchfield | The Tavern at new hotel Lost Fox Inn is a wonderful place for a meal or drink. The layered ambiance, food and warmth of staff are all a very welcome addition to town.
Community Table | New Preston | The name says it all: "Ct" is a beloved local dining institution. Frequented by Washington Montessori families and the county at large, Community Table sources impeccably from the region for new American menus with hints of chef Bolivar Hillario's native Mexico and the French and Japanese kitchens he's worked in.
Ore Hill & Swyft | Kent | A modern tavern in a beautifully restored former home, the Swyft-Bull House (built 1781), Swyft serves neapolitan style pizzas and small plates with top notch ingredients often sourced from Rock Cobble Farm nearby.
The Pink House | West Cornwall | Steps from West Cornwall's extraordinary c. 1864 covered bridge is this gorgeous restaurant newcomer with a lovely natural wine by the glass list, local sourcing and stylish atmosphere featuring work by local (and internationally esteemed!) artists.