Here is a list of our top ten gardens in Massachusetts with descriptions and ratings. Enjoy!
Arnold Arboretum
125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130 (617) 384-5209
265 acres
Started in 1872 with over 8000 plants catalogued. Over 30 major plant collections: beech, honeysuckle, magnolia, crabapple, oak, rhododendron, lilac.
Garden Tours. Self-Guided Tours. Docent-Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility.
Adult Education programs. Children's programs. Art shows. Exhibits.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Library. Bookstore. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Pathways and lawns. Maps available, also online.
Bartholomews Cobble
Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls, Sheffield, MA (413) 229-8600
329 acres
Established 1946, native collection of great diversity of fern species and their allies, and woodland wildflowers. Two rocky knolls rise above the Housatonic River. Shaded hemlock groves, cedars, and meadows underlain by limestone and marble. Over 800 species.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility.
Adult Education programs. Children's programs. Visitor center. Gift Shop. Outdoor. Year-round visits. 5 miles of trails. Maps available, also online.
Berkshire Botanic Garden
Stockbridge, MA 01262 (413) 298-3926
15 acres
Started in 1934. Solar Greenhouses. Wildflower meadow. vista garden. rock garden. shrub borders. primrose walk. rose garden. herb garden. woodland trail. ornamental vegetable garden. pond garden. rice greenhouse.
Plant specimens include: Paper birch. Sugar Maple. Copper Beech. Variegated Norway Maple. Red Maple. Cork Tree. Dawn Redwood. Japanese Butterbur. Weeping Norway Spruce. Dutchman's Pipe.
Self Guided Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility. Adult Education programs. Children's programs.
Gift Shop. Plants for sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, also online.
Boston Common and Public Garden
Boston Common Visitor's Information Center, 147 Tremont Street (between Temple Pl. and West St., Beacon Hill), Boston, MA (617) 426-3115
75 acres
Started in 1634, Public garden space started in 1837. Collection of mature specimen trees, display gardens in summer.
Self Guided Tours. Swan boat tours. Parking available in nearby Public garages. Restrooms onsite. Handicapped accessibility.
Restaurants nearby. Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, also online.
Elm Bank
900 Washington Street Wellesley, MA 02482 (617) 933-4900
36 acres
Headquarters of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society; display and trial gardens.
Garden Tours. Self-Guided Tours. Docent-Led Tours. Tram Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility.
Adult Education programs. Children's programs. lectures. workshops. exhibits. Visitor center. Gift Shop. Plants for sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, also online.
Garden in the Woods
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701-2699 (508) 877-7630
42 acres
Headquarters of the New England Wildflower Society. Shaded paths through rolling woodlands, wetlands, rock gardens, and more than 1,500 native plant species and cultivars, with many rare and endangered native specimens throughout the gardens. A special area cultivates rare and endangered plants of New England.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility to most features.
Adult Education programs. Children's programs.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Plants for sale. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available, also online.
Mount Auburn Cemetery
580 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 547-7105
175 acres:
Opened in 1831 as one of the country's first garden cemeteries. Adorned with over 5000 trees, ornamental shrubs, perennials and annuals,
a walk through the cemetery is a horticultural gem any time of year. 10 miles of paved roads. A complete checklist of birds,
noted persons buried there, and specimen trees and shrubs make this oasis of green a sanctuary for those who visit.
Well labeled for horticultural enthusiasts and beginners as well. Early morning birdwalks are a daily occurrence.
Garden Tours. Self-Guided Tours. Docent-Led Tours. Audio tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite.
Visitor center. Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, also online. NO picnicking or bicycles allowed.
Naumkeag
Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge, MA 01262 (413) 298-3239
48 acres
8 acres of terraced gardens. Garden "rooms" include Afternoon Garden, Tree Peony Terrace, Rose Garden, Evergreen Garden, Chinese Garden, Arborvitae Walk, Linden Walk. Fountain pools and stairs descend the hillside flanked by white birch trees.
Mansion Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available.
Gift Shop. Indoor/Outdoor. Summer visits.
Smith College Botanical Garden
15 College Lane, Northampton, MA 010633 (413) 585-2740
150 acres
College campus, with arboretum and greenhouses. Rock garden. Japanese garden. Herbarium. 6600 kinds of plants.
Garden Tours. Self Guided Tours. Docent Led Tours. Parking available. Restrooms onsite. Handicapped accessibility.
Gift Shop. Café, on campus. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Maps available, also online.
Tower Hill Botanic Garden
11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01595 (508) 869-6111
132 acres
Home of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, sited on a gently sloped hilltop, open meadows, perennial gardens, orchards, vegetable gardens, childrens' gardens, woodland wildflowers, pond and wetland plantings.
Garden Tours. Self-Guided Tours. Docent-Led Tours. Parking available, Free. Restrooms onsite. Memberships available. Handicapped accessibility.
Adult Education programs. Childrens' programs. Workshops. Lectures. Exhibits.
Visitor center. Gift Shop. Café. Plants for sale. Conservatory. Indoor/Outdoor. Year-round visits. Trails. Maps available, also online.