Whether it’s attending one of Sonnenberg’s special events, like our Off-Season Educational Classes or the Annual Saturday Mothers' Tea or planning a private event of your own to host on the grounds, there’s a multitude of things to do! Host a wine-and-cheese party after-hours in our Finger Lakes Wine Center Tasting Room or come to one of our wine-themed seasonal events, such as Roses & Rosés. Make reservations for May or August teas at our Mansion, book a training seminar or class in our Carriage House, or celebrate career achievements with members of your company at a business reception. In addition, we are now offering private rental options in the off-season at select site locations, and there are seasonal special events that enable you to enjoy Sonnenberg year-round. Take a closer look at everything Sonnenberg has to offer!

Costumed Victorian Maids serve guests at the Saturday Mothers' Tea
at the Mansion. This year's tea is May 8.

   

AUG. 21st & 22nD, 2010

 
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Willow Furniture Crafting Options:
End Table $55
Baker's Rack 1-shelf $200, 2-shelf $245
Garden Bench - $90
Garden Arbor $260
 
Butlers beckon you to the Saturday Tea!
 
Sweets, scones and other specialties are featured specialties at Sonnenberg teas!
  
 
For detailed information on upcoming special events at Sonnenberg, including ticket pricing and any applicable member discounts, please click here. We invite you to bookmark our calendar and visit this page often for promotional information.


What’s Coming Around the Corner?

Sonnenberg's Off-Season Educational Seminars: Monthly winter classes are offered in a variety of garden-related subjects and skills. All Educational Seminars will be held at the Carriage House meeting room at the north of the property, with parking and access via Fort Hill Avenue, near the VA Medical Center complex. Day-long programs are held on Saturdays and advance registration is required. Call (585) 394-4922 to reserve your space as seating is limited.
        March 20: Fresh Willow Furniture Design, 9-5 at the Carriage House. 9 a.m. Large-project session, choose from Loveseat/Chair, Garden Bench, Ladderback or Sassy Chair. 1 pm session for all other smaller-scale projects such as baker's rack/potting bench, Garden Arbor and more. All sessions taught by local expert Bim Willow. Experience the delight of forming furniture from a pile of seemingly simple sticks, an historic American craft! Bring a hammer and pruning shears, all other materials will be provided. Advance Registration required due to supplies needed. A simple trellis can be built in about one hour, while a loveseat can take approximately 4.5 hours. It is permissible for a couple to work together on a project. Costs are: $230 Single Chair, $320 Loveseat, $145 Ladder Back Chair, $200 Sassy Chair, $90 Garden Bench, Baker's Racks ($245/two-shelf, $200 one-shelf), three-piece Arbor ($260), End Table $55, Trellis and Sweet Peapod Trellis ($60) or call Lin for a custom quote on registration cost for another piece at 1-800-835-0379.     
 Single Chair: Loveseat  Ladderback Chair

Save these 2010 dates! 

  • Sat March 20: 9 - 5  Bim Willow's Fresh Willow Furniture Design Class (benches, loveseat, arbors, baker's rack/potting bench). Registration fee will vary with type of design chosen and cost of supplies. this class is expected to sell-out early, with a second-day seminar for overflow registration tentatively planned for Sun. March 21.

  •  May 1: Garden Season 2010 Begins. Join us as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Finger Lakes Wine Center with a special Canandaigua Wine Trail event.

  • May 8: Saturday Mothers' Tea at the Mansion, served by maids and butlers in Victorian costume. Elegant setting with multi-course menu, including sandwiches, scones, sorbet and sweets. All reservations must be pre-paid by Wed. May 5. Tickets are $24/person, $20/Sonnenberg members or groups of 10 or more, $12/youth ages 4-12. Reservations taken starting April 1 at (585) 394-4922

  • May 9: Annual Mother's Day Visitor Special at the Gardens. Treat Mom to a $1 entrance ticket. (All others regular pricing.)

  • May 12- July 5: Specialty Exhibit: "Fashions and Flowers" Exhibit at the Mansion featuring vintage gowns and accessories from the Sonnenberg historic collection. Floral designs provided by supporting garden clubs and florists (Rockcastle Florist featured Memorial Day Weekend). Exhibit included with daily admission. Special thanks to "Fashions and Flowers" committee for the hard work in coordinating this specialty presentation.

  • June 14: Annual Roses & Roses Wine & Dine Gala, 6-8 p.m.  $30/person, 2/$45 Members-only special  - Celebrate the start of Rose Week and the 10th Anniversary of our Finger Lakes Wine Center

  • June 20: Annual Father's Day Car Show & Club Competition, noon - 4 p.m. Advance registration for show vehicles $5, rises at door to $10.  Entry to this special event is included with regular admission for all visitors PLUS enjoy chicken BBQ, 50/50 Raffle, musical entertainment and vote for your favorite vehicles in the People's Choice Awards!

  • July 4: Celebrate Ontario County and Community Non-Profit Information Fair. Garden admission for all Ontario County residents (with proof of residence) is just $1. Come meet your community non-profits!

  • July 20: Annual Card Party & Luncheon. Advance reservations required; suggested to reserve in pairs or tables of 4.

  • July 9 - Aug. 13: Moonlight Stroll Music Series - The Gardens are Lit Again! Friday nights, from 8-10 p.m enjoy live music from a variety of performers (a different musical genre each week!) $9/person or $7/members. Also enjoy refreshments, wine by the glass, horse & carriage rides along with the music and lights. 

     

Sonnenberg invites you to visit our Facebook page and become a fan!

Plan Your Private Event: JUST REDUCED!! Our private event site rentals, particularly off-season rental pricing has just been reduced for the 2010 year! Click on the first link below to see all the options. Whether it’s a wedding, a family celebration or remembrance ceremony, a business seminar or a function for a non-profit organization, Sonnenberg wants to welcome you! Please follow the links below for more information on private rental options and pricing, or contact our Events Manager for further details or to check site availability.
  • Private Rental Options for Businesses, Non-Profits or Families
• Wedding Ceremonies, Receptions or Photo Shoots
 
Our Photo Contest! Throughout the duration of our garden season, shutterbugs of all sorts were invited to enter our annual Photo Contest. Submit a photo taken during our 2010 Garden Season in a .JPG format, at least 300 dpi resolution, to our Facebook  Page! By viewing and sharing your images online, more visitors will see your image(s). Entrants are able to submit up to three images per contest year. The competition includes the following categories: People, Trees & Flowers, the Mansion, Architectural Art, or the miscellaneous “Views from the Sunny Hill.” (“Sonnenberg” is German for “sunny hill”).
The 2008 and 2009 entries (running concurrently following unforseen technical difficulties) will soon debut in an online Facebook Album "Gallery" for voting.  We invite photo buffs, visitors, fans and more to visit our Facebook page, join our online community and chat over your favorite images of Sonnenberg!
In 2010, plans are underway for a specialty Photographic Exhibit at the Mansion, featuring both historic photos from Frederick Ferris Thompson and entries from those who've visited the estate throughout the years!

Winning Photos from the 2007 Photo Contest
     
“Yellow and Blue”
“Art in the Garden”
“The Volunteers”
“Pause Along the Path”
(click images to enlarge)


Overall Winner: Linda Murphy, Whitney Point, NY “Art in the Garden” (Also Winner, Architecture)
Categories: Architecture, Portraits of People; Plants, Flowers & Trees
Winner, Portraits of People: Ed Loiuz, Bradford, NY “Pause Along the Path”

2nd Place, People: Dory McKenzie Wilson, Rochester, NY “The Volunteers”
Winner, Plants, Flowers & Trees: Linda Murphy, Whitney Point, NY “Summer Nectar”

2nd Place, Plants, Flowers & Trees: Stan Zack, Henrietta, NY, “Yellow and Blue”

 
Latitude 42.90 ( 42°, 53') - Longitude -77.27 (-77°, 16')

151 Charlotte Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424   (585) 394-4922
© Designs by Bridgette - 2008