Next To Normal: Trade Secrets Is Back, But In A New Location

After a two-year hiatus, Trade Secrets is back, and for anyone in the gardening and antiques world, that’s cause for joy. Adding to the excitement, it’s returning to a new location, with a more diverse group of vendors, an expanded selection of garden tours, and additional events to round out the weekend of May 14 and 15.

But before we move on to the razzle dazzle of the renowned rare plants and garden antiques sale, let’s not forget that the volunteer-driven event was founded in 2001 and continues to be the primary fundraiser for Women’s Support Services in Sharon, Connecticut. The organization helps adults and children who are victimized by domestic violence, providing services focused on safety, support, advocacy, and prevention education. Trade Secrets could take the two years off, but the need for Women’s Support Services couldn’t. While the garden and antiques event, by necessity, suspended operations, the pandemic was doing damage to families in the throes of domestic violence.

“Things got pretty quiet at the beginning of the shutdown,” said Betsey Mauro, executive director of Women’s Support Services. “When you’re forced to shelter in place with someone who abuses you, it’s hard to reach out for help. After about three months we saw an increased need for shelter, safety planning and other kinds of support for people experiencing violence and abuse in their relationships. That hasn’t abated.”

Last year, Women’s Support Services made up some of the Trade Secrets losses with a successful auction, but nothing compares to the garden event. The big news this year is that Martha Stewart’s favorite garden sale* is moving from its longtime location at LionRock Farm in Sharon to Lime Rock Park in Lakeville.

“We were blessed to be at LionRock Farm under the gracious hospitality of Elaine La Roche,” said Mauro. “Elaine passed away and 2020 was to be the last event at her farm. We needed to find another venue that could accommodate our ever-increasing event. Everybody’s first association with Lime Rock Park is as a race track, but it’s set in a beautiful valley, with lots of parking space and it will be more convenient for our vendors and patrons.”

More space means more room for vendors to spread out. Ten-foot tents are the standard size, but there are three vendors who will be selling under a 40-foot tent. Many of the familiar vendors will be there, and others are joining the Trade Secrets bustle for the first time. Added to the lineup is a new category: artisans, bringing in, for example, Star Bright Farm’s items for body, home, garden and table, and Blackwell Botanic pressed blooms art.

As always, the Sunday of the Trade Secrets weekend is devoted to garden tours, but this year’s lineup is a bit different. There will be three private gardens and, now, three public gardens open to visitors. Designers Bunny Williams and John Roselli, Christopher Spitzmiller, and Michael Trapp are opening their awe-inspiring gardens. Public venues Hollister House and Innisfree Gardens, as well as Wethersfield Estate and Garden will encourage visitors to compare, contrast and connect with nature. Tickets for the private gardens are $20 each; for the public gardens, $10 each.

Beyond the traditional garden tours, organizers have added new Sunday activities. The White Hart Inn hosts a brunch and a book-signing by gardeners-authors-style leaders Matthew Patrick Smyth, Carolyne Roehm, Frances Palmer, and James Golden. Happening all day are community events throughout the Litchfield Hills, and in Millerton, Amenia and Millbrook in New York State. Galleries, antique shops, bookstores and other businesses will be welcoming Trade Secrets guests with their own festivities.

“It’s sort of like going to a wedding; after the big event you want a brunch,” said Carolyn Piccirelli, vendor co-chair and owner of Honeychurch Home in Salisbury. “We want to make sure people have options for things to do.”

It’s a national event — people fly in from places like California and Texas just for Trade Secrets. Actually, make that international.

“A few years ago I found someone who came in from Australia,” Piccirelli said. “They take the prize for distance.”

The rare plant and garden antiques sale opens for early buyers at 9 am and includes breakfast. Ticket prices vary with time of entrance. The general admission begins at 10:30 am, and “late bloomer” tickets are only sold on-site day-of start at 12:30 p.m. The event ends at 3 p.m. All garden and Sunday brunch tickets can be purchased through the Trade Secrets ticket site. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tradesecretsct.com or call (860) 364-1080. All attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination.

*One of the few events that goes on to my calendar a year in advance is Trade Secrets Rare Plant and Garden Antique Show in Sharon, CT. Why? Because I find amazing varieties of plants, meet all kinds of extraordinary gardeners and find many antiques and tools for my own garden. –Martha Stewart