Welcome to Garden in the Woods, the renowned 45-acre botanic garden of the Native Plant Trust (formerly the New England Wild Flower Society). Nestled in a glacially carved landscape in Framingham, Massachusetts, our garden is a living museum dedicated to the immense beauty and diversity of North American native plants. Here, visitors can stroll through a constantly changing tapestry of flowers and foliage, showcasing the region’s largest collection of both rare and common native flora.
Our Mission: Conserving and Promoting Native Plants
As the flagship garden of the Native Plant Trust, our mission is to conserve and promote the region’s native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes for future generations. We believe that native plants are the foundation of a resilient and vibrant ecosystem. Garden in the Woods serves as a center for inspiration, education, and conservation, demonstrating how these incredible plants can be used to create stunning, ecologically sound gardens.
Explore the Beauty of a Naturalistic Garden
Garden in the Woods is not a formal, manicured park. It is a unique, naturalistic garden designed to showcase plants in habitats that mimic their native environments. Winding paths and woodland trails guide visitors through a diverse landscape featuring over 1,000 species of native plants, including more than 200 rare and endangered species.
Highlights of the Garden Experience
- Themed Gardens and Habitats: Explore a series of distinct garden spaces, each designed to highlight a specific plant community or habitat, including:
- The Woodland Groves, where you can wander among stunning displays of trilliums, lady’s slipper orchids, and other spring ephemerals.
- The Idea Garden, offering inspiration for home gardeners on how to incorporate native plants into their own landscapes.
- The Curtis Prairie, a small re-creation of a New England meadow, buzzing with pollinators.
- The Western Garden, showcasing beautiful native plants from beyond the New England region.
- A Year-Round Spectacle: The garden offers a different kind of beauty in every season.
- Spring: A breathtaking explosion of color with woodland wildflowers and flowering shrubs.
- Summer: Lush foliage, vibrant meadow flowers, and the hum of pollinators.
- Autumn: A spectacular display of fall color from native trees and shrubs like maples, tupelos, and witch-hazels.
Plan Your Visit
Immerse yourself in the tranquility and natural beauty of Garden in the Woods.
Hours of Operation
- Garden and Garden Shop: Open from Mid-April through October, Tuesday through Sunday, and on holiday Mondays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (Last admission at 4:30 PM).
- Off-Season: From November through Mid-April, the garden and shop are closed to the public for the winter.
Admission Fees
- Native Plant Trust Members: Free
- Adults: $12
- Seniors (65 and over): $9
- Youth (3-17): $6
- Children under 3: Free
Guided Tours and Plant Sales
- Guided Walking Tours: Enhance your visit with an expert-led tour. Tours are offered free with admission, Tuesdays through Fridays and holiday Mondays at 10:00 AM, and on weekends at 2:00 PM. No reservations are necessary.
- Garden Shop and Plant Sales: Take a piece of the garden home with you! Our Garden Shop offers a curated selection of books, tools, and gifts. Our plant sales feature one of the largest selections of healthy, nursery-propagated native plants in all of New England, grown by our own experts.
Directions
Address:
Garden in the Woods
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA 01701
From North, South, or East (via Route 128)
- Take Route 128 (I-95) to Route 20 West.
- Follow Route 20 West for eight miles.
- Turn left onto Raymond Road and continue for 1.3 miles.
- Bear right onto Hemenway Road and proceed up the hill to the Garden entrance.
From the West (via Mass Pike)
- Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 12 (Route 9 East).
- Follow Route 9 East for 2.4 miles to the Edgell Road exit.
- At the top of the ramp, turn left at the lights onto Edgell Road.
- Follow Edgell Road for 2.1 miles to the traffic lights.
- Turn right onto Water Street, then an immediate left onto Hemenway Road.
- Continue for 1.0 mile. (The road name changes to Eisenhower Road.)
- Turn left onto Catherine Road, then take the first left to the Garden entrance.
From Route 9 Westbound
- Follow Route 9 West into Framingham and take the exit for Route 30 West.
- At the top of the ramp, turn right onto Edgell Road and follow the directions from the “West” above. Look for the green “Garden in the Woods” signs that point the way from Route 9.