Garden In The Woods
Visit Botanical Gardens Near Boston Massachusetts
While visiting botanical gardens in Massachusetts, see Garden In The Woods. It is a living museum with walking trails and native plants.
Gardeners in search of a botanical garden should head to Garden In The Woods. Garden In The Woods is located approximately 20 miles west of Boston, on 45 acres of land, in Framingham, Massachusetts. This outdoor living museum, with walking trails, is home to more than 1500 native plants of North America.
Walking Trails
The main walking trail is approximately one mile of rustic paths interrupted by rolling hills and, sometimes, slippery rock. There are benches to rest on while taking in the view and observing plants and wildlife.
The trails will take walkers past the Lily pond full of frogs and turtles found in wetlands. The Meadow is planted with grasses and wildflowers attracting birds and butterflies. It is a good place to get ideas for the home garden. Along the way are a series of habitats to see: Tufa Rock Garden, New England Bog and Pine Barrens.
Native Plants
The Garden In The Woods collection includes 200 rare and endangered native plants. The garden displays are meant to instill the value of native plant conservation.
Gardeners may use many meanings for the term native. The New England Wild Flower Society’s meaning of native plant is stated as, “these species were growing in the forests, marshes, prairies, and mountains in North America before the European colonists arrived.”
There are two native plant nurseries open to the public. One is Garden In The Woods; the other is located at Nasami Farm in Whately, Massachusetts. Visitors are able to purchase native plants from the Visitor Center without fear of damaging precious species in the wild. Wildflower seeds are ecologically collected, prepared and sold during the year, as well.
Educational and Volunteer Programs
Each year displays and programs are offered that will further educate and encourage native plant appreciation. The Rock On Stone sculptures exhibit combined the earthly elements of stone pieces and native plants. In 2008, 13 Big Bugs sculptures, the size of dinosaurs, will be on display. Programs are available for adults and children, held in spring, summer and fall.
The New England Wild Flower Society offers a variety of learning opportunities. Field trips and symposiums and a Certificate in Native Plant Studies are just a few of the educational options.
History of New England Wild Flower Society
Garden In The Woods is a native plant botanical garden. It is also home to the New England Wild Flower Society started, in 1900, by a group of Boston women. The Society is the oldest plant conservation organization in the United States and has almost 1500 volunteers.
In 2007, a rain garden was installed at Garden In The Woods to take advantage of rainwater running off the gutters on the education building. The rain garden has further demonstrated the organization’s conviction to encourage using sustainable garden practices and plants.
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