Day Trip to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
This post highlights our Spring 2022 visit with scenes from the outdoor gardens and updates a previous post that covers the indoor gardens and hiking paths around the grounds.
Welcome to New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Historically known as the Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the now rebranded New England Botanic Garden is a must see destination for a tremendous variety of spring plants, flowers and being outside in nature along easy walking paths. Set on a 171 acre property in Boylston, Massachusetts close to Worcester, the New England Botanic Garden has expanded to showcase 18 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens with flowering plants in bloom all four seasons.
How to get to New England Botanic Garden |
Reserve tickets (you can purchase tickers at the gate depending on availability) and get directions here. The parking lot has been expanded, and there is an ADA-accessible path from the parking lot to the visitors center.
What to see at the New England Botanic Garden
After checking in at the visitors center (masks are optional indoors), we headed outside to the Lawn Garden situated in front of the farmhouse pictured above. Walking along the paved paths, you’ll see a plethora of trees, bushes/shrubs and spring and summer flowers.
This tree caught my attention along the path, and there are plenty of benches you can sit down on to take in the spring colors and central Massachusetts landscapes.
By the Lawn Garden, you can grab a seat at the farmhouse to view the expansive landscape or walk down the curving paths to the Secret Garden with a small reflection pool.
Situated at the lowest level of the Lawn Garden scape (look for the double staircase directly across from the base of the farmhouse), the Secret Garden holds a fountain and reflection pool with aquatic plants. The image below captures it from a distance (the Reel on my Instagram page has a close-up clip).
From here, check out the gravel paths that lead away from the visitor center to the preserved landscapes and woods. You can see a wildlife pond, garden and various sculptures along the miles of walking/hiking trails.
The pond is part of a wetland habitat that is home to birds, fish and other wildlife and can be viewed from a pavilion looking towards the woods and at the far end at a small access point.
Close by is a rustic, screened-in Bird House structure in the woods (pictured below), and meandering the various paths in the woods you’ll see benches and sculptures.
Walking on the paths in either direction take you to scenic, quiet woods with a variety of trees and landscaped areas home to native plants and wildflowers, as well as, unique sculptures and pavilion-type structures.
One can’t miss section in spring is the field of daffodils that is popping right now. The field is on the walking trail making your way back from the Inner Park (one of the landscaped wooded areas) to the indoor gardens, and there are rows upon rows of vibrant daffodils looking towards the wildlife refuge pond.
Even if flowers are not your thing, there is a ton of diverse nature to see and photograph here, and the trails make for a serene experience walking in the woods stumbling upon the different landscapes and plant life.
Have you visited the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill recently?
Leave a comment below to help others enjoy this place.
