Explore Troy, N.Y.’S Charming Hidden Gardens With Virtual Tour

21st Annual Event Can Be Experienced Online Through Interactive 3D Photos + Video Messages

By Duncan Crary
[email protected]
June 2020
[A perfect idea for urban agriculture tours! Mike]

TROY, N.Y. (6/15/2020) — Troy, New York is a small 19th century American city known for its architecture and abundance of Tiffany stained glass windows. Once per year, visitors are invited to view the residents’ private gardens during the annual Troy Hidden Garden Tour. This year, for the first time, the tour is available virtually for anyone in the world to explore online.

“Earlier this spring, we realized that we would not be able to host The Hidden Garden Tour as usual this year. So we set to work bringing the garden tour to you,” said Peter Grimm, president of the Friends of Prospect Park which organizes the annual event. “This is always such a beloved, friendly event that invites visitors into the hidden, green spaces of our city. We did not want to lose that community spirit this year, so that’s why we’re bringing it to you, virtually.”

Now in its 21st year, the tour is a fundraiser to benefit Troy’s Prospect Park. Ordinarily, tour goers pay an admission fee to receive a self-guided map to more than 40 private gardens which are open for one night only throughout the Historic Sage, Washington Park and adjoining neighborhoods. In previous years, the rain-or-shine event has attracted more than 1,000 tour goers in one day.

This year’s virtual tour features 28 gardens, captured in 360-degree interactive photographs that viewers can explore online with their computer or mobile devices. Twelve gardeners recorded personal video messages, which are embedded in their stop on the virtual tour at HiddenGardenTour.com. (Hint: look for the “Play” button in the tours.)

“We hope that you will enjoy this tour and that you’ll see how different each garden is. They all kind of exemplify the personality of each of the homeowners,” Grimm said. “This event has always been about showcasing the humanity and livability of Troy. And we think that still shines through, even in a digital medium.”

Organizers are very proud to point out that people have purchased homes in downtown Troy after going on the hidden garden tour and seeing all the private backyard sanctuaries.

While most of the gardens are approximately the same size, about 20 feet by 30 feet, they vary greatly in style. Some of the gardens feature charming pathways, fountains and pools. Some are filled with flowers, while others have more plants and vegetables — all lovingly tended by gardeners of all skill levels.

The online virtual tour is offered at no charge, but donations are welcomed and will benefit ongoing improvement projects in historic Prospect Park, located on Congress Street in Troy. Friends of Prospect Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hopes to provide free event programming in the park in future, when such activities are deemed safe to the public. Donation information is available on the tour’s website.

The virtual tour can be accessed through a desktop or laptop computer as well as via tablet or smart phone. The experience differs slightly by device. On a tablet or smart phone, one can interact with the 3D garden photos by touching the image. On some devices, the 3D photo moves as the device moves, creating a virtual reality effect. On a desktop or laptop the tour will automatically cycle through the gardens, spinning slowly or users can control the view with their mouse or track pad. Certain gardens have a “play” button that will launch a special video message. The gardens are listed by number and the owners first names in the left hand column and clicking on the circular icon will open that particular garden’s 3D tour.

One upside of the virtual version of the garden tour is that this one is always sunny, Grimm notes. It’s also accessible 24 hours per day for at least the next month.

The virtual tour was produced by Troy-based Hudson Reality Capture, a technology company that describes itself as “The Space Agency.” Co-founded by V Owen Bush, a resident of Troy’s Washington Park neighborhood, the company produces 3D virtual tours for real estate agencies, museums, schools and other cultural institutions.

“One of my passions is using this technology to share the beauty of our region,” Bush said. “I particularly enjoy creating virtual tours that give access to amazing places that aren’t always accessible the public, so it was a real honor to produce a virtual Hidden Garden Tour.”

Bush said reality capture technology is proving to be invaluable during the COVID-19 crisis. Not only are realtors using the service to offer virtual house showings, but Bush has worked with several museums and galleries to offer virtual art exhibits and field trips. Many schools are now offering or planning to offer virtual tours of their campuses.

Visit the tour.