New England - New England's Gardens

Rhododendron State Park
Route 119 West
Fitzwilliam, NH  03447
Phone: 603-532-8862

Visitors exploring the trails are often serenaded by song birds which live in the grove

See Map

Rhododendron State Park is named after the 16-acre grove of Rhododendron Maximum. A 0.6-mile long universally accessible trail encircles the grove allowing visitors to observe the fragrant blossoms in mid-July. A wildflower trail winds through the forest adjacent to the grove.
Hours: Early May to mid-June, weekends only, daylight hours; mid-June to Labor Day, daily, daylight hours.

Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI  02907

Open: Daily, year-round, 7 am - 9 pm

See Map

As with most late 19th century/early 20th century parks, a focal point for visitors is the landscaped gardens. This 430 acre park also contains a zoo, landscaped grounds, a carousel and historic buildings.

Rosecliff
Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI  02840
Phone: 401-847-1000

See Map

This house was completed in 1902 and modeled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles. Rosecliff was the setting for many spectacular Newport parties and the setting for several Hollywood movies, including “The Great Gatsby,” “True Lies,” and “Amistad.”
Hours: November 17, 2007 – January 1, 2008, open daily at 10 a.m.; last tour at 4 p.m.; close at 5 p.m.; last tour on Christmas Eve at 3 pm. Closed Christmas Day. January 2-April 4, 2008, open Saturday, Sundays, holidays, and daily during Winter Festival (February 19-22); open at 10 a.m.; last tour at 4 p.m.; close at 5 p.m. April 5-May 23, open daily at 10 a.m. last tour admission at 5 p.m.; close at 6 p.m. May 24 – October 12, open at 10 a.m.; last tour at 5 p.m., close at 6 p.m.; October 13 – November 14, open at 10 a.m.; last tour at 4 p.m., close at 5 p.m. November 15 – January 4, 2009, open daily at 10 a.m.; last tour at 4 p.m.; close at 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum
936 County Street
New Bedford, MA  02740
Phone: 508-997-1401

Open: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

See Map

This 28-room Greek Revival mansion was built for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. in 1834. The house and formal gardens chronicle 150 years of economic, social and domestic life in New Bedford. The grounds encompass a full city block of gardens including a Wildflower Walk, a formal boxwood rose parterre garden, a cutting garden, a boxwood specimen garden and an historic wood lattice pergola. Fee charged.

Saint - Gaudens National Historic Site
139 Saint Gaudens Road
Cornish, NH  03745
Phone: 603-675-2175

Open: Daily late May- late October, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

See Map

This site was once the home of one of the country’s greatest sculptors, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The estate has a house, studio, and gardens. Fee charged.

Samuel Whitehorne House
416 Thames Street
Newport, RI  02840
Phone: 401-849-7300

See Map

Built in the 18th century, the house is now home to exhibits of hand-made silver, pewter, and furniture created by Newport artisans of the period. Features a traditional Colonial manor garden.

Sharon Audubon Center
325 Cornwall Bridge Road / Route 4
Sharon, CT  06069
Phone: 860-364-0520

See Map

Nature trails meander through gardens, woods and around ponds. Exhibits include a children's discovery room, live animals and natural history. A gift shop and book store can also be found in the museum.

Shelburne Museum
U.S. Route 7 / P.O. Box 10
Shelburne, VT  05482
Phone: 802-985-3346

Open May - October

Email   See Map

Shelburne Museum is one of the nation’s most eclectic museums of art, Americana, and design, displaying over 150,000 objects on 45 acres in Vermont's beautiful Lake Champlain Valley. Collections of folk art, decorative arts, tools, toys, and textiles, are exhibited as are American paintings and Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Degas, and others. The museum's 25 historic New England buildings include period houses, a lighthouse, and a 220-foot paddlewheel steamboat. New exhibits in 2006 include paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, the art of Tasha Tudor, contemporary Knoll design, and kaleidoscope quilts.

Stanley Park
Western Avenue
Westfield, MA
Phone: 413-568-9312

Set on 300 acres, this park features a Japanese garden, rose garden and arboretum. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Stanton Bird Sanctuary
Highland Spring Road
Lewiston, ME  04240

See Map

Also known as "Thorncrag," this 230 acres nature preserve is one of the largest in New England. Visitors will enjoy observing a wide variety of native birds and small animals, among thousands of wildflowers.

Stevens-Coolidge Place
139 Andover Street
North Andover, MA  01845
Phone: 978-682-3580
Fax: 978-682-3580

See Map

The house’s collections include Chinese porcelain and other Asian artifacts, American furniture, and American and European decorative arts. Landscape includes a perennial garden, a kitchen and cut flower garden, a rose garden, a French potager garden with a unique brick serpentine wall, and a greenhouse complex.
Hours: Gardens: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. House: Guided tours Mother’s Day through Columbus Day weekend, Sundays, 1-5 p.m.; July-August, Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m. Fee: Garden: no charge; house, fee charged.

Sundial Gardens
59 Hidden Lake Road
Higganum, CT  06441
Phone: 860-345-4290

Open: Year-round, Sat - Sun, 10 am - 5 pm; Daily Nov 1 - Dec 24

See Map

Formal gardens, tea and gift shop in the Higganum section of Haddam. Formal gardens include a Persian-style knot garden, an 18th-century style garden with geometric walkways, and a topiary garden with boxwood, roses and ivy garlands surrounding a fountain. These architectural gardens are carefully incorporated into the landscape around a restored 18th century farm house.
Hours: Tea shop and Christmas Shop open first three weekends in November, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After Thanksgiving Day, open every day except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Christmas Eve 2005. Fee charged.

Thankful Arnold House
Hayden Hill Road, off Route 154
Haddam, CT  06438
Phone: 860-345-2400

Open: July 4 weekend - Columbus Day weekend, Sat - Sun, 2 - 4 pm

See Map

This three-story, 1794 home has been restored to reflect the lifestyle and furnishings of the period. A garden on the property features herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Hours: Open year-round; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thursday, 2 -8 p.m.; Friday, noon-3 p.m.; Sunday (Memorial Day to Columbus Day), 1- 4 p.m. Fee charged.

The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel
1000 Cold Spring Road (Route 26)
Dixville Notch, NH  03576
Toll-Free: 866-714-9795
Fax: 603-255-4221

Email   See Map

Step into a world where family vacations turn into fantastic adventures, ordinary meetings become extraordinary events and weekend getaways are truly a chance to get away from it all. Set high in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel is an 8,000-acre destination providing great vacation packages that allow you to customize your experience to include elegant accommodations and award-winning dining at a resort named among the world's best. We offer everything from golf, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, horse back riding and more during the warm months, to skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and just about every snow adventure imaginable in the winter. Let our traditions be your traditions. Come experience The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden
11 French Drive
P.O. Box 598
Boylston, MA  01505
Phone: 508-869-6111
Fax: 508-869-0314

Experience "a world class garden, that's always in season!"

Email   See Map

Located on 132 bucolic acres in Worcester County, less than an hour from Boston, Tower Hill is one of the largest and most comprehensive botanic gardens in the region. It is the home of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, founded in 1842 to "advance the science, and encourage and improve the practice of horticulture." The breathtaking view provides an extraordinary setting for a variety of garden styles, at once stunningly beautiful and highly educational. Stroll through a Lawn Garden, Secret Garden, Cottage Garden, Vegetable Garden, Systematic Garden, and magical woodland paths. In winter, the Orangerie is filled with flowering subtropical plants. Browse the Gift Shop and enjoy lunch at Twigs Café.

Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, NH  03801
Phone: 603-431-6774

See Map

The center consists of 182 acres of field, forest, and salt marsh, several buildings, and the annual interest income from a trust fund. It is used as a tree farm to demonstrate proper forest management, a bird and wildlife sanctuary, a garden and landscape demonstration site, and as a learning center in forestry planning, forest management, ecology, tree and plant identification, and wildlife stewardship.

Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House
17 Broadway
Newport, RI  02840
Phone: 401-846-0813

Open: Summer hours or by appointment. Call for times.

See Map

The oldest restored home in Newport, built in 1675. The house is the site of the Stamp Act Riot of 1765, and was home to Colonial Governors, justices and patriots. Features a tour which gives the view of colonial and revolutionary war America through the eyes of individual Newport residents. Property also contains a colonial herb garden.

Wellesley College Botanic Garden
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA  02481
Phone: 781-283-3049

See Map

The Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses contain over 1000 specimens of desert, tropical and semi-tropical species. The Alexandra Botanic Garden and Hunnewell Arboretum offer hundreds of specimen trees and shrubs in 22 acres of Olmsted-inspired landscape.
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wickham Park
1329 West Middle Turnpike
Manchester, CT  06040
Phone: 860-528-0856

See Map

This park features 10 acres of gardens and an aviary, recreational and sports areas, and walking trails. There is a fee for parking.

Wilcox Park
71 1/2 High Street, Downtown Westerly
Westerly, RI  02891
Phone: 401-596-2877 ext. 334
Toll-Free: 866-460-2877 ext. 334

Open: Year round, Down - 11 p.m.

See Map

Prime example of a turn-of-the-century park, designed and constructed by Warren Manning in 1898. The park features dozens of specimen trees, shrubs and flower beds, along with a pond, fountain and monuments. Botanical arrangements include a dwarf conifer collection, daylilies and perennials. Breathtaking in May - July and the perfect spot for a stroll.

Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center
10 Deerfield Lane
Ansonia, CT  06401
Phone: 203-736-1053

See Map

One hundred-acre nature preserve, with several gardens featuring ferns and wildflowers. Of particular note is the butterfly and hummingbird garden. Natural exhibits and programs are scheduled throughout the year. Over two miles of trails run through the preserve for hiking and cross-country skiing. Visitors can also enjoy a fishing pond, picnic areas and a gift shop.
Hours: Sunup to sundown. Office and interpretive center open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except holidays. Free admission.

Arnold Arboretum
The Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA  02130
Phone: 617-524-1718

See Map

This 265 acre site is home to an incredible 7,000 varieties of trees. Free admission.

Ashintully Gardens
Sodem and Main Roads
Tyringham, MA  01238
Phone: 413-298-3239
Fax: 413-298-5239

See Map

A rushing stream, native deciduous trees, a rounded knoll, and rising meadows are blended into an arrangement of both formal and informal beauty. Garden features include the fountain pond, pine park, rams head terrace, bowling green, regency bridge, and trellis triptych.
Hours: Mid-June to mid-September, Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, 1-5 p.m.

Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary
Off Nathan Ellis Highway
East Falmouth, MA  02536
Phone: 781-259-9500
Toll-Free: 800-AUDUBON

Hours: May-August, daily, dawn to dusk. Fee charged.

See Map

This preserve features groves of holly, as well as a colony of barn swallows. Self-guided trails take visitors through the sanctuary. Open May - August. There is an admission fee.

Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden
9 Main Street
Bethlehem, CT  06751
Phone: 203-266-7596

A formal garden with historic roses, peonies, lilacs, and other flowers

See Map

Built in 1754, this colonial offers garden lovers a formal parterre garden. Other features include family heirlooms, arts and antiques on display. Admission: $5 adults, $1 children.

Berkshire Botanical Garden
Routes 102 and 183
Stockbridge, MA  01262
Phone: 413-298-3926

"Horticulture -- the Berkshire's other culture

See Map

A center for horticultural and environmental education, this 15-acre public garden features intimate country landscapes, colorful perennial and annual gardens, a terraced herb garden, pond garden, rock garden, ornamental vegetable garden, display greenhouse, woodland interpretive trail and gift shop. Collections emphasize plants that thrive in the Berkshires. Open May – October.

Bidwell House
Art School Road
Monterey, MA  01245
Phone: 413-528-6888

A Colonial history experience

See Map

This home, built in 1750, has been restored and features 18th century gardens, as well as indoor exhibits. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road / Route 114
Bristol, RI  02809
Phone: 401-253-2707

"An American garden treasure - come and be inspired"

See Map

This 45-room mansion was built in 1908 as the summer home of coal magnate Augustus Van Wickle. The property features gardens, and arboretum on 33 acres overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Hours: The mansion and gardens are open April 16 through Columbus Day for self-guided tours, Wednesday through Sunday (and most Monday holidays) 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grounds and gardens are open year-round, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fee charged.

Boothe Memorial Park & Museum
5774 Main St. Putney
Stratford, CT  06614
Phone: 203-381-2046

See Map

This 32-acre former homestead of the Boothe Family (1663-1949) offers with picnic facilities, rose garden, and wedding garden. Buildings on National Historic Landmark site with displays of early farm equipment, carriages and baskets; trolley history, toll booth exhibit. Hours: Park grounds are open year-round, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Museums and displays are open June 1 through October 1, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Free admission.

Botanic Garden of Smith College
15 College Lane
Northampton, MA  01063
Phone: 413-585-2740

A living museum of plants

See Map

Lyman Plant House and Conservatory houses tropical collections and exhibition gallery. Arboretum features woody plant collection and specialty gardens: Rock Garden, systematics garden, Japanese garden, woodland and wildflower garden, knot garden, and perennial garden.
Hours: Daily year-round. Free.

Brookfield Historical Society Museum
165 Whisconier Road / Routes 25 and 133
Brookfield, CT  06840
Phone: 203-775-4628

An extended learning and research center

See Map

Brookfield's original town hall, built in 1875 is now home to a colonial garden, as well as changing historical exhibits and a gift shop. Guided tours are available.

Cathedral of the Pines
10 Hale Hill Road
Rindge, NH  03461
Phone: 603-899-3300

Peace.

See Map

Welcome to a place of spiritual nourishment for people of all faiths. The sense of peace engendered by the tall pines that form its natural surroundings is conducive to prayer and meditation. The peaceful, garden-lined walk ways contain serene, inspirational landscapes as well as quiet spots for prayer and mediation.
Hours: May through October, open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A warm jacket is often necessary. Guided tours are available; groups are required to make reservations. Fee charged for group tours.

Chesterwood
Williamsville Road, one mile south of Routes 183 and 102
Stockbridge, MA  01262
Phone: 413-298-3579

History!

See Map

This mansion was the summer home of sculptor Daniel Chester French. Exhibits feature French's work and life, as well as 19th century furnishings and a garden. Open seasonally. There is an admission fee.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Barters Island Road, PO Box 234
Boothbay, ME  04537
Phone: 207-633-4333

Open: Year-round, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and until8 p.m. on Wednesdays in July and August; weekends, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

See Map

New England’s largest botanical garden features acres of spectacular ornamental gardens and stonework, waterfront and woodland trails, a beautiful visitor center with café and gift shop, and a shorefront Fairy House Village – all on 248 acres of coastal landscape. Special events and programs for all ages, year-round, include a house and garden tour, book fair, Maine Fairy House Festival, Kitchen Garden Series, college horticulture courses, and more. Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, $8 seniors; children age 5-17, $5; free for children under 5.

Colt State Park
Route 14
Bristol, RI  02809
Phone: 401-253-7482

Enjoy the Ocean State

See Map

Enjoy this 464-acre state park on the shore of the sparkling Narragansett Bay, with four miles of hiking and biking trails, gardens, 10 playing fields and 6 picnic groves. Fishing, concerts and naturalist programs are available in season.
Hours: Year-round. Free.

Jeremiah Lee Mansion
161 Washington Street
Marblehead, MA  01945
Phone: 617-631-1069

Beauty and history

See Map

Stroll through the historic gardens at this 1768 this mansion. The site also features exhibits of military and maritime items, antique childrens toys and furnishings, and examples of decorative arts from the 18th and 19th centuries. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

John Whipple House and Garden
53 South Main Street
Ipswich, MA  01938
Phone: 508-356-2811

See Map

The house was built in the 1650s and moved to its present site in the 1920s. With more than 60 authentic Colonial flowers and herbs, the garden in front of the Whipple House represents a traditional housewife’s garden of the 17th century. The plantings are made up mostly of herbs that would be used in cooking and for medicinal purposes.
Hours: May 25-October 22, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment only. Tours begin on the hour. Fee charged.

La Salette Shrine
947 Park Street, Route 118
Attleboro, MA  02703
Phone: 508-222-5410

See Map

These historic statuary gardens were designed as areas for meditation and worship. During the Christmas holiday a unique and decorative light display is offered.

Linden Place
500 Hope St. / Route 114
Bristol, RI  02809
Phone: 401-253-0390

New England history, from barns to ballrooms

See Map

The mansion was built in 1810 in the historic district of Bristol. The property includes the mansion, a ballroom built in 1906, a barn built in the 19th century, and an 18th century summer house. The grounds include historic sculpture and gardens.
Hours: Mansion and museum store, May 1 through Columbus Day, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, noon-4 p.m.; office open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Long Hill
572 Essex Street
Beverly, MA  01915
Phone: 978-921-1944
Fax: 978-921-1948

See Map

From 1916 to 1979, Long Hill was the summer home of author Ellery Sedgwick and his first wife, Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished horticulturist and gardener. Five acres of cultivated grounds are laid out in a series of separate garden rooms and accented by garden ornaments, structures, and statuary.
Hours: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. No charge.

Lowell Holly
South Sandwich Road
Mashpee & Sandwich, MA  02563
Phone: 508-679-2115

Open: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset

Email   See Map

Lowell Holly’s 135 acres feature stands of a wide variety of holly trees, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel, but the property’s most intriguing feature may be its two peninsular knolls, jutting into Mashpee Pond and Wakeby Pond. Both vantage points offer spectacular views over these large ponds. Mashpee and Wakeby ponds are renowned for their exceptional trout, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and bluegill. Four miles of carriage paths and footpaths connect all points of interest, including two small sandy beaches. Activities at the reservation include swimming, fishing, boating, bicycling, birdwatching, hiking, food concessions, restrooms, bathhouses, and wheelchair access. Year-round parking area is free to all. Seasonal parking area is available Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fee is $6 per car or motorcycle. Boat landing fee is $6 for daily landing fee or $40 for seasonal permit.

Lyman Estate and Greenhouses
185 Lyman Street
Waltham, MA  02452
Phone: 617-893-7232

Go green

See Map

On this historic country manor, built in the 18th century, visitors will find interesting gardens, landscaping and indoor furnishings. Of particular interest are the grapevines and camellia trees, both of which are over 100 years old.

Lynn Woods
Great Woods and Penny Brook Roads
Lynn, MA
Phone: 617-593-7773

This 2,200-acre municipal forest is the perfect spot for hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, cross-country skiing or just enjoying the view. A rose garden adds to the scenery.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset. No charge.

Martin House Farm
22 Stoney Hill Road at Route 6
North Swansea, MA
Phone: 508-379-0376

Stunning rose gardens

Built in 1728, this farmhouse features a rose garden and 18th century furniture. Open seasonally. There is an admission charge.

Mayflower Society Museum
4 Winslow Street
Plymouth, MA  02360
Phone: 508-746-2590

Open: July – mid-September, daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Memorial Day weekend-June 30 and mid-September to mid-October, Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

See Map

The headquarters of the General Society of Mayflower Descendents is located in this 1754 home built by Edward Winslow, a Pilgrim descendant. It features furnishings spanning three centuries, a flying staircase and formal gardens.
Hours: July-Labor Day, open daily; Memorial Day weekend-June and early September-October, Friday-Sunday. Fee charged.

Mayhew Chapel and Indian Burial Ground
South Indian Hill Road
West Tisbury, MA  02568
Phone: 508-627-8687

See Map

This Christiantown memorial is the site of an Indian burial ground and the Mayhew Chapel, named after Thomas Mayhew Jr., a missionary. This site is owned by the Wampanoag Tribe and grounds are maintained by Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club. Includes a wildflower sanctuary.
Fee charged.

Merryspring Horticultural Nature Park
Conway Road
Camden, ME  04849
Phone: 207-236-2239

See Map

This nature preserve offers visitors ample opportunities to observe gardens of wildflowers and wildlife, as well as hiking and cross-country ski trails.

Mission House
19 Main St.
Stockbridge, MA  01262
Phone: 413-298-3239

See Map

Built in 1739 and originally located atop Prospect Hill, this National Historic Landmark was disassembled, moved, and restored between 1926 and 1927. Landscape architect Fletcher Steele designed the Colonial Revival garden, which features a colonial-style dooryard garden of circular brick paths enclosed by a tidewater cypress fence. A replica of an old cobbler shop serves as the entrance to the property; a grape arbor in the Well Courtyard behind the house leads to a small Native American museum.
Hours: Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day, daily, 10 a.m.- to 5 p.m. Fee charged.

Mohegan Park Rose Garden
Judd Road
Norwich, CT
Phone: 860-823-3791

Norwich is known as "The Rose of New England", and this formal rose garden commemorates this, and is dedicated to all veterans of foreign wars. Especially delightful in late spring and summer.

Mytoi
Dike Road, Chappaquiddick Island
Martha’s Vineyard, MA  02568
Phone: 508-627-7689
Fax: 508-627-3659

Immerse yourself in the meditative qualities of the landscape.

See Map

You'll want to stay forever in this Japanese-style garden set within an open pine forest. The flora includes mixed plantings of native and exotic trees and shrubs, some rare. The garden’s signature feature is a small pond with an island that is reached by walking over an arched bridge. Winding footpaths take visitors through a birch walk, camellia dell, stone garden, and hillside garden. A rustic meditation shelter offers broad views of the garden and landscape.
Hours: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. No charge.

Naumkeag
Prospect Hill Road
Stockbridge, MA  01262
Phone: 413-298-3239
Fax: 413-298-5239

Eight acres of terraced gardens

See Map

This 44-room house was the summer cottage of the Choate family, and features original furniture, ceramics, and artwork collected from America, Europe, and the Far East. Famous for its eight acres of terraced gardens and landscaped grounds, transformed from 1926 to 1956 into separate garden rooms such as the afternoon garden, rose garden, evergreen garden, Chinese garden, arborvitae walk, and linden walk. The most famous feature of the landscape is Steele’s Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools flanked by four flights of stairs overhung by birch trees.
Hours: Memorial Day to Columbus Day, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission fee for non-members.

New Canaan Nature Center
144 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan, CT  06840
Phone: 203-966-9577

Dedicated to helping people of all ages better understand, appreciate and care for the world of nature

See Map

Fascinating look into the science and nature in the area. Set on 40 acres, the nature center features gardens and a solar-heated greenhouse, as well as numerous trails, exhibits, an arboretum, live animals, and even a maple sugar shed. A donation is requested from all visitors.

New England Gardens

Every spring and summer, gardens across New England come alive with color. For the gardener and flower-lover alike, there are numerous botanical gardens, historic gardens, and even some unusual gardens from Western Connecticut all the way up toward the Canadian border. What follows is a state by state list of these gardens. Each is worth visiting for its natural beauty and vivid colors during the height of the season. Good luck choosing!

New Hampshire Farm Museum
Route 125, Plummer’s Ridge
Milton, NH  03851
Phone: 603-652-7840

Open: April through October.

See Map

The Farm Museum consists of the historic Jones Farm and the Plummer Homestead. The properties consist of 50 acres of field and forest, a working farm, historic houses and barns, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop and exhibits on agriculture and rural life. The museum hosts special events, programs, and workshops.

Norwich Rose Garden in Mohegan Park
Rockwell Street
Norwich, CT  06360
Phone: 860-823-3791

See Map

Situated on two acres of gently sloping parkland, the garden features 2,500 rose bushes in 120 varieties. The roses are at their full height during June but continue to blossom throughout the summer.

Ogden House and Gardens
1520 Bronson Road
Fairfield, CT  06824 - 2828
Phone: 203-259-1598

See Map

Built in the 18th century, this traditional New England farmhouse is host to exhibits detailing the daily lives of colonial Americans. The property also has a wildflower garden and a kitchen garden. Admission: Adults $2, children $1.

Osborne Homestead Museum
500 Hawthorne Avenue (near Osbornedale State Park)
Derby, CT  06418
Phone: 203-734-2513

Open: Late April-mid-December, Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Grounds: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

See Map

This 1850 estate offers several gardens, including an English rock garden and formal rose garden. Inside, visitors will find art and antiques collections. $1 donation is requested from visitors.

Osterville Historical Society Museum
Parker and West Bay Roads
Osterville, MA  02655
Phone: 508-428-5861

Open: Mid-June-mid-September, Thursday-Sunday 1:30-4:30 p.m.; other times by appointment

See Map

Set in the home of a sea captain built in the 18th century, the museum features home-oriented exhibits, a boat shop and outdoor gardens. seasonally. There is an admission fee.
Hours: June-September, Thursday-Sunday, 1:30 -4:30 p.m. Fee charged.

Pardee Rose Gardens
180 Park Road
New Haven, CT  06517
Phone: 203-946-8025

See Map

These gardens include more than 15 different types of roses (peaking in June and July), annuals, perennials, and herbs. Picnic areas are available in this tranquil formal rose garden open free to the public. The garden is also available for weddings and special events.
Hours: Open mid-May to early September.

Pine Tree State Arboretum
153 Hospital St.
Augusta, ME  04332
Phone: 207-621-0031

See Map

Enjoy the native trees of Maine and North America while strolling on over 25 miles of trails. Good for hiking and winter cross-country skiing.

Portsmouth Harbor Trail
Portsmouth, NH  03801
Phone: 603-436-3988

The trail passes more than 70 points of scenic and historic significance in Portsmouth, include ten buildings on the National Register of Historic Buildings, ten National Historic Landmarks, and three homes maintained by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.
Hours: Tours offered July 4 through Columbus Day, 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday; and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Pratt House
19 West Ave.
Essex, CT
Phone: 860-767-0681  860-767-1191

Colonial home, built in 1734, features antique American furniture and an herb garden. The house documents the life of early Essex through a single family over 200 years.
Hours: June-Labor Day, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Fee charged.

Putnam Cottage
243 East Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, CT  06830
Phone: 203-869-9697

Centuries of history

See Map

Known as Knapp’s Tavern during the American Revolution, this Colonial house dates to the early 1700s. It is furnished with period antiques and artifacts and includes a Colonial herb garden and carriage shed. Located on the Boston Post Road, it has been a tourist destination for almost 100 years.
Hours: Tours by appointment only during January, February and March. In season, open Sundays, 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. Call for group tour information. Fee charged.

Edgerton Park
75 Cliff Street at Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT  06511

Beautiful history

See Map

Once an experimental mulberry orchard, this stately public park was the home of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin. Bought in 1906 by the Brewster family, the stately mansion stood near the great lawn of an estate designed to replicate an English landscape garden. Now a city park hosting many public cultural events.
Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. The conservatory is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day except major holidays.

Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
2468B Washington Street / Route 138
Canton, MA  02021
Phone: 781-821-2977

sprawling gardens on an historic estate

See Map

Once a Colonial farmstead, the property was transformed into a country estate. The property includes a country house, landscaped grounds, and a complex of farm and estate buildings, manicured lawns, a walled garden, and a brick-edged garden. Visitors may explore more than 60 acres of meadow and woodland along three miles of trails.
Hours: Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. No charge.

Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens
Corner of Prospect Avenue and Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT
Phone: 860-231-9443

World famous rose garden

Friends of Elizabeth Park
The park’s world famous rose garden is the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country. The two-and-a half-acre rose garden has 15,000 plants in about 800 varieties of roses. The park is also home to a rock garden and specialized gardens of annuals, herbs, and perennials.
Open: Daily all year, dawn to dusk.

Enfield Shaker Museum
24 Caleb Dyer Lane / 447 Route 4A
Enfield, NH  03748
Phone: 603-632-4346

See Map

This museum features the history of the Shakers, including gardens, a walking tour, demonstrations and classes. Events are scheduled throughout the year.
Fee charged.

Fells Historic Site
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Sunapee
Route 103A / P.O. Box 276
Newbury, NH  03255
Phone: 603-763-4789

See Map

Outstanding gardens, a 100-foot perennial border, and a view of Lake Sunapee from the Rose Terrace. A brook trickles to a Japanese water lily pool in the hillside rock garden, which includes a large collection of alpine and native plants. Hidden behind masses of rhododendron, a walled secret garden awaits discovery.
Hours: Late May through October, daily with tours of the estate on weekends.

Florence Griswold Museum
96 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT  06371
Phone: 860-434-5542
Fax: 860-434-9778

Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

See Map

An 11-acre riverfront campus for lovers of art, architecture, nature, and history. The Museum provides visitors an experience unlike any other – the opportunity to view Lyme Art Colony paintings in the very setting in which they were created. After exploring the historic gardens and the landscape of the Lieutenant River that captivated the artists so many years ago, wander into the Griswold House and see how these views have been captured on canvas. Opening this summer is the John and Dyanne Rafal Landscape Center, an original structure located in the Museum’s historic gardens, offering a self-guided exhibition as well as an array of special events, lectures and tours.

Fuller Gardens
10 Willow Avenue
North Hampton, NH  03862
Phone: 603-964-5414

See Map

Designed in the Colonial Revival style on a two -acre plot, these gardens bloom throughout the season, from an extensive tulip display in early May, followed by the Japanese garden and other late spring flowering shrubs, through the 2,000 rose bushes that bloom through October.
Hours: Mid-May through mid-October, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Garden in the Woods
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA  01701
Phone: 508-877-7630

See Map

The New England Wild Flower Society maintains this garden, the largest landscaped collection of native plants in the northeastern United States. Guided tours are offered weekdays at 10 a.m. and weekends at 2 p.m.
Hours: April 15-Labor Day, daily, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; September 2-October 31, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; after October, trails close for the season. Museum Shop remains open with winter hours. Fee charged.

General James Mitchell Varnum House
57 Peirce Street
East Greenwich, RI  02818
Phone: 401-884-1776

See Map

James Mitchell Varnum was one of George Washington’s generals. His mansion was built in 1773, and visitors can enjoy the Colonial garden, the paneled walls, and period furnishings.
Hours: June-August, Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Donation suggested.

General William Hart House
350 Main Street
Old Saybrook, CT  06475
Phone: 860-388-2622

See Map

A Georgian-style Colonial built in 1767, featuring an herb garden and intricate decor. Of particular interest are the eight corner fireplaces. Notice the nine-window facade with 12 over 12 panes, the cornices, cornerboards and graduated clapboards.
Hours: June 12- September 13, Friday - Sunday, 12:30 - 4 p.m. Donation is requested.

Glebe House and Gertrude Jekyll Garden
Hollow Road / P.O. Box 245
Woodbury, CT  06798
Phone: 203-263-2855

See Map

Farmhouse built in 1740 is set in the picturesque Litchfield Hills in historic Woodbury’s village center. It offers a glimpse of Revolutionary War-era Connecticut. Birthplace of the Episcopal Church in the New World and graced by the only existing American garden planned by Gertrude Jekyll.
Hours: May-October, Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; November, weekends only, 1–4 p.m. Fee charged.

Glen Magna Farms
Ingersoll Street
Danvers, MA  01923
Phone: 978-774-9165  978-777-1666-garden tour

See Map

Mansion built in the 19th century features decorative gardens and a teahouse.
Hours: Gardens open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-dusk; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon. A guided tour of the house and gardens is offered May-July. Reservations required. Fee charged.

Governor Stephen Hopkins House
15 Hopkins St.
Providence, RI  02903
Phone: 401-751-1008  401 751-1758

Open: April - December, Wed and Sat, 1-4 p.m. Tours also by appointment.

See Map

Stephen Hopkins was one of Rhode Island's signers of the Declaration of Independence, and elected Governor of the state a record 10 times. Hopkins also served as the Chancellor of Brown University, and resided in this colonial home, originally constructed in 1707, but enlarged in 1743. The house is a National Historic Landmark, and contains historic items of note, furniture and an 18th century parterre garden. George Washington slept there -- twice.

Green Animals Topiary Gardens
Cory's Lane off Route 114
Portsmouth, RI  02871
Phone: 401-847-1000

Hours: May 24 – October 12, 2008, open daily at 10 a.m.; last tour admission at 5 p.m.; close at 6 p.m. Schedule is subject to change; call 401-847-1000 for more information.

See Map

The gardens have more than six dozen trees and shrubs, immaculately groomed and sculpted, some in the shape of animals. Also features fruit trees, flower beds, and a rose arbor. The gardens are the site of a Victorian toy museum

Grotto Cascade Park
State Street, past Eastern Maine Medical Center
Bangor, ME  04401
Phone: 207-992-4490

See Map

Cascade Park, the city’s most beautiful and popular park, features a lighted water fountain and a water fall that's more than 20 feet high. The park, which overlooks the Penobscot River, also has a small gazebo, picnic tables, and short walking trails.

Harkness Memorial State Park
275 Great Neck Road / State Route 213
Waterford, CT  06385
Phone: 860-443-5725

See Map

This beachfront park on Long Island Sound, site of a former mansion is home to an unusual historic and beautiful experience. Enjoy a garden of heliotropes, bred from the plants grown on the site over a century ago.
Hours: 8 a.m.-sunset. Mansion is open for tours weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. The first tour starts at 10 a.m. and the last at 2:15 p.m. Fees for parking.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House
77 Forest Street
Hartford, CT  06105
Phone: 860-522-9258

Open: Tours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4:30 p.m.; open on Mondays, Memorial Day to Columbus Day and December. Closed major holidays.

See Map

Harriet Beecher Stowe lived in this home from 1873 - 1896, which features a picturesque Victorian garden. Inside, exhibits focus on family antiques and Victorian furnishings. Guided tours are available during regular operating hours.

Harvard University Museums
24 Oxford Street and 11 Divinity Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138
Phone: 617 495-3045

See Map

Botanical Museum contains the world famous collection of Blaschka glass flowers, hand-blown detailed glass models of dozens of flower species. It’s like a garden made of glass.
Hours: Daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Fee charged.

Hatheway House
55 South Main Street
Suffield, CT  06078

See Map

This mansion is a showplace for the history of the 18th century including a formal colonial garden. Exhibits include French wallpaper and neo-classical architecture.

Heritage Museums & Gardens
67 Grove Street
Sandwich, MA  02563
Phone: 508-888-3300

There are several miles of passive recreational trails as well as five acres of lawn.

Email   See Map

Heritage Museums & Gardens consists of one hundred spectacular acres of labeled trees and shrubs, beautiful flowers and sweeping lawns. The gardens are a delight any time of year. Spring features showy Dexter Rhododendrons and flowering trees, while summer boasts brilliant annuals and dazzling daylilies. Autumn highlights blazing foliage and the fall-blooming Franklinia. Winter showcases beautiful heathers, bright berries and noble evergreens.
Heritage offers many excellent garden-related workshops, lectures and activities throughout the year. For more information on workshops, lectures and activities go to our events calendar.

Holley - Williams House Museum
15 Millerton Road
Lakeville, CT  06039
Phone: 860-435-0566

Open: Early July-Labor Day, Memorial Day and Columbus Day weekends: house tours, Friday-Sunday and holidays, noon-5 p.m. or by appointment. Grounds and outside exhibits open daily year-round.

See Map

The focal point of this 173 year old home is its outdoor garden with maze. Other exhibits include historic portraits, furnishings, an outhouse, and an ice house.

Hubbard Park
West Main Street
Meriden, CT  06450
Phone: 203-630-4259

See Map

Hubbard Park is located around East Peak and West Peak of the area called the Hanging Hills. It comprises approximately 1,800 acres of carefully kept woodland, lake and stream, flower gardens, and picnic spots.
Hours: April-October, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fee: Call for details.

Hunter House
54 Washington Street
Newport, RI  02840
Phone: 401-847-1000  401-847-7516

Elaborate and fragrant Colonial-style gardens

See Map

Take a stroll through Hunter House’s beautifully manicured Colonial-style gardens. The mansion is one of the finest examples of Georgian Colonial architecture from Newport's "golden age" in the mid-18th century. The carved pineapple over the doorway was a symbol of welcome throughout Colonial America. Call 401-847-1000 for information and tour hours.

Garden In the Woods
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA  01701
Phone: 508-877-7630
Fax: 508-877-3658

Email   See Map

New England Wild Flower Society maintains this 45-acre garden, the largest landscaped collection of native plants in the northeastern United States. Guided walking tours given weekdays at 10 a.m. and weekends at 2 p.m. Garden Shop offers native plants, books, compost tea, eco-friendly garden tools. Hours: April 15- October 31, Tuesday through Sunday plus Holiday Mondays 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Extended hours Thursday and Friday evenings until 7 p.m. April 15-July 3, After October, trails close for the season. Fee charged.