The garden path: Pretty places to see spring flowers

NEW YORK — Dogwood petals rain down in the breeze. The scent of lilac fills the air. A park turns pink with blooming azaleas.

Surprises like this are a hallmark of spring, and a series of guidebooks from Globe Pequot Press called "Gardenwalks" ($14.95 each) lists hundreds of lovely places to enjoy these experiences and more.

"Rather than focusing solely on gardens by top designers or those that exhibit rare plants, each 'Gardenwalk' entry expresses what you will find when you wander the paths of a variety of gardens, arboretums, nurseries and parks," said editor Mary Norris. The books "give garden-lovers the choice of many different types of sensory experiences in very beautiful settings."

A separate "Gardenwalks" guide covers each of five regions — New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, California and the Pacific Northwest. What follows is a list of some of the authors' top picks, along with their comments. Check visiting hours before planning your trip; some gardens are open daily year-round, some in spring and summer, some only occasionally or by appointment.

NEW ENGLAND:

— Thuya Lodge Garden, Northeast Harbor, Maine, 800-258-3373, www.asticou.com/gardens.html. "A spectacular garden with a panoramic view of the harbor below and a marvelously designed area of flower beds and intertwining paths," authors Marina Harrison and Lucy D. Rosenfeld wrote in an e-mail describing some of their favorite gardens.

— Glen Magna, Danvers, Mass., 978-774-9165, www.glenmagnafarms.org. "Elegant and romantic . . . beginning with an 1896 Italianate garden with pergola and columns," according to Harrison and Rosenfeld.

— Castle Hill, Ipswich, Mass., 978-356-4351, www.thetrustees.org/pages/287-castlehill.cfm. "High above the ocean you'll find a grand allee, landscaped to resemble an undulating and unfurling ribbon," they said.

— Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass., 508-877-7630, www.newfs.org. A "quiet walk in the woods" with "one of the premier wildflower collections in the nation."

— Aspet, Cornish, N.H., 603-675-2175, www.sgnhs.org/saga.html. Home and garden of renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.

— Green Animals, Portsmouth, R.I., 401-683-1267. A topiary garden of magical creatures; perfect for families.