Boston Flora

Category: garden tour

  • Sunday, September 13, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – The Dead Botanists Society (Rain Date September 21)

    For New England Botanical Society’s 130th anniversary, we’ll be celebrating with the ‘Dead Botanists Society’ of Mount Auburn Cemetery. The cemetery, established in 1831, is a National Historic Landmark and considered the first “garden cemetery” in the United States. The collection features more than 2,500 taxa (in over 20,000 plantings) throughout 175-acres. It is also the final resting place for several notable botanists in NEBS’s history. The event begins at 9:30 am on September 13 (rain date September 21).

    Jim Gorman of Mount Auburn Visitor Services will provide a list of plants in flower and talk about the cemetery and eminent botanists prior to the founding of New England Botanical Club in 1896. This includes Asa Gray and the garden named in his honor that was recently renovated and Jacob Bigelow, the architect of the cemetery. Samantha Richardson, Mount Auburn Manager of Horticulture Records, will provide a customized tour map and describe the Flora of Mount Auburn online plant records database of trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Nancy Eyster-Smith, NEBS Corresponding Secretary, will provide biographical highlights of members of the “Dead Botanists Society,” at the burial sites. This includes founding members of NEBC who served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Curators of herbaria, and Editor-in-Chief of Rhodora, as well as the well-known Merritt Lyndon Fernald. Additional highlights of the tour will include trees recorded as Massachusetts or New England champions for their species and the Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha), now extinct in the wild, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

    Location: Mount Auburn Cemetery. Meet at the Story Chapel, 580 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, for an introduction before we head out on the tour. The walk is about 1 mile. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. Picnicking is not permitted on the cemetery grounds.

    FREE and open to members and nonmembers. For more information visit https://rhodora.org/meetings/

  • Tuesday, September 22 – Wednesday, September 23 – Native Plants for Cape Cod Life

    Join Grow Native Massachusetts this September in Wellfleet for Native Plants for Cape Cod Life. It’s a celebration of local plants that make Cape Cod sing. At 3 events over 2 days you can expand your knowledge of native plants and the pollinators and birds that depend on them, bring home native plants from local, independent growers, and see firsthand how to design, plant, and maintain them in your home garden. Come to 1 event or all 3!

    Native plants function as a critical building block for our ecosystems, providing food, shelter, and host plant services for nearly all of our native insects, including the abundance of caterpillars needed to sustain local bird populations. These native species are also perfectly adapted to our landscape conditions, thriving in the dry, sandy soils we all know well on the Cape. When you embrace them in your garden, you can do more for the environment by doing less (watering, mowing, fertilizing, etc.)! Join us to explore the beauty and benefits of native plants, and why it is so critical to add them back into our Cape Cod landscapes.

    At this market, we will be joined by Butterfly Effect Farm, Hilltop Natives, and Tree Talk Natives, all small businesses who specialize in sustainably-grown native plants. They start much of their stock from seed (often local ecotype), and curate their inventory with an eye toward species of particular value to pollinators, caterpillars, and other threatened wildlife. All of them are passionate advocates for native plants and creating habitat in our gardens. We will also be joined by Association to Preserve Cape Cod, who will also have plants to sell, and Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod.

    Cape Cod is part of an ecoregion we call the pine barrens, a name that belies the rich, thriving natural communities that give this place its distinctive beauty. Understanding the conditions that shape the barrens and the plants that flourish here is key to creating ecologically vibrant gardens that thrive with minimal care, and enhance and protect the surrounding environment. Join Alex Kent of Kent Land Design to learn how he puts this understanding into practice on a tour of a Wellfleet home garden that he designed, installed, and maintains.

    September 22, 7pm – Why Native Plants? with Erin Camire of APCC at the Wellfleet Public Library. September 23, 8 am – noon – Native Plant Pop-Up Market at the Wellfleet Farmers Market. September 23, 2 pm, Garden Tour. For more information visit https://grownativemass.org/

  • Monday, July 5 – Monday, July 12, 2027 – Grand Gardens & Hidden Gems of Austria & Bavaria

    Early July is a glorious time to explore the gardens of Austria and Bavaria, when long days and warm light bring landscapes into full, exuberant bloom. This thoughtfully curated American Horticultural Society journey with Panayoti Kelaidis traces a path from imperial Vienna through the Danube Valley and Upper Austria to the Bavarian Forest, revealing a rich spectrum of garden styles, from grand Baroque masterpieces to intimate, passion-driven private gardens. Along the way, enjoy expert-led explorations of historic palace grounds, owner-guided visits to gardens rarely open to the public, and meaningful conversations with horticulturists who share both technique and philosophy. Balanced with elegant accommodations, regional cuisine, and scenic drives through some of Central Europe’s most beautiful landscapes, this program offers a deeply engaging experience that connects you to the people, traditions, and ideas shaping these remarkable gardens today.

    Trip Highlights

    • Owner-led visits to exceptional private gardens in Austria and Bavaria, offering intimate access and personal insight
    • Expert-guided tours of Vienna’s great Baroque gardens, including Schönbrunn and the Belvedere, illuminating their design, symbolism, and imperial legacy
    • Peak summer bloom at its most vibrant, with fragrant roses, abundant perennials, and crisply defined formal plantings at their seasonal height
    • Behind-the-scenes access to innovative, sustainable horticulture at Die Garten Tulln, Europe’s pioneering ecological garden showcase
    • Engaging conversations with gardeners, designers, and horticulturists, sharing techniques, philosophies, and the stories behind their landscapes
    • A rich progression of garden styles, from imperial estates and monastic gardens to expressive, privately created landscapes
    • Scenic travel through Central Europe, from Vienna and the Wachau Valley to the Bavarian Forest, blending horticulture with cultural discovery

    For complete itinerary and information visit https://ahsgardening.org/travel-study-program/germanyandaustria2027/. You may also call (703) 768-8801 or email travel@ahsgardening.org

  • Update: Now Through August 23, 2026 – Sunflower Spectacular

    Experience a stunning field of thousands of blooming sunflowers available for display and pick-your-own. Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at the Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley to be a part of one of the newest and closest sunflower fields to Boston. Admission includes pick-your-own sunflower stems, access to the 1.3 acre display area, and access to the 36-acre Garden at Elm Bank. Entries are from 10 – 5 Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 – 4 Fridays and Saturdays. $5 for MHS members, $20 for nonmembers, $10 for kids 3- 17, children two and under free.

    Tickets are on sale now. Sign up for updates to visit Sunflower Spectacular this August! https://www.masshort.org/sunflower-spectacular#signup

  • Saturday, August 29, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Connecticut Master Gardeners Association Hidden Gem Orchard Tour

    Hidden Gem was established in 2017 on land that was formerly part of Southbury Training School Farm. It consists of 3,600 apple trees grown on 6 acres. Most of the trees were planted in 2017 and 2018. Presently, 32 varieties are grown and more are being added yearly. Some are common varieties that consumers are generally aware of such as Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Gala, Courtland and Fiji. Others are either uncommon or antique apples that are not readily available. Examples included varieties such as Esopus Spitzenburg, which was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple grown at Monticello and a 16th century French Variety, Calville Blanc.

    There are hilly areas within the orchard, however there is a wagon to transport those that may need assistance. Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes. The address is 2500 Purchase Brook Road. Registration is required and this is a members-only event. To learn about membership ($30) visit https://ctmga.org/why-should-i-become-a-member. To register, visit https://ctmga.org/cmga-events/hidden-gems-tour-2025-77xm8

  • Grandmothers’ Garden in Westfield

    The American Horticultural Society has announced the inclusion of Grandmothers’ Garden in Westfield as part of the AHS Garden Network. Located within Chauncey Allen Park, this historic 1935 design by landscape architect Thomas Desmond features a formal layout of geometric beds organized around a central Summer House. Designed in the Colonial Revival style, Grandmothers’ Garden is home to a vibrant mix of formal flower beds and delicate herb gardens. Each season brings new color and fragrance, from spring bulbs and perennials to lush annuals planted by dedicated volunteers. The blossoms and herbs offer beauty, texture, scent and timelessness, creating a living tapestry that recalls both the Garden’s history and the humanity that allows it to thrive.

    The history of the garden may be found at https://www.grandmothersgarden.org/home. Photography is encouraged – for policies, click HERE. The garden is located on Smith Avenue in Westfield, open daily from dawn to dusk.

  • Saturday, August 22, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Biodiversity in the Solar Pollinator Meadow

    The Arnold Arboretum will host a members only event on August 22 from 10 – 11:30 in front of the Weld Hill Research Building with Naturalist Louise Miller. The Horticulture team planted the Solar Array Pollinator Meadow to provide a habitat for a wide variety of insects, birds, and other pollinators under and around the Weld Hill solar panels. Until recently, they had no good way of knowing just how well their experiment was working. Louise Miller took it on as a research project for her Mass Audubon Field Certification. She conducted a biodiversity survey of the meadow and recorded 70 species of plants and nearly 300 species of non-plant creatures, from snails and mushrooms to insects and salamanders. Join her to learn about the diversity she found here, view some of her incredible photographs, and get a chance to record some observations yourself. Visit https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/ for more information, and if you aren’t already a member, join now.

  • Thursday, August 6, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Understanding Microclimates & Soils in the Garden

    Grow Native Massachusetts will host Marie Chieppo and Trevor Smith of CFS Regenerative Designs Group on August 6 at 10 am in Sagamore Beach (exact location provided with registration.) Grow Native members $45, nonmembers $55. This in-person workshop will explore a landscape replete with native plants across a variety of microclimates on site- from dry, sunny areas to more sheltered, moisture-rich spaces. We’ll talk deep roots, seasonal timing, ecological value, and work with actual soil samples to show how to work with what you have to create a glorious garden. Link for registration may be found at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar

  • Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, September 26 – UNESCO Treasures of Ancient Greece

    Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime American Horticultural Society voyage through the legendary landscapes of Greece, where ancient history, horticultural heritage, and breathtaking coastal scenery converge. Traveling aboard the Emerald Azzurra, a private, 50-cabin luxury mega-yacht, you’ll experience a complete circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula, exploring iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, hidden harbors, and coastal villages rarely visited by larger ships.

    From the sacred sanctuaries of Olympia and Delphi to the medieval hilltop city of Mystras and the tranquil gardens of Athens and Kardamyli, each day offers insight into Greece’s deep cultural and botanical roots. Along the way, enjoy expert lectures, private garden visits, and authentic culinary experiences.

    Hosted by Panayoti Kelaidis, an award-winning horticulturist, educator, and AHS Liberty Hyde Bailey Award recipient, this journey offers rare opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection in one of the world’s most storied landscapes. Dates are September 17 – 26, 2026.

    Contact

    Travel Department
    703.768.8801
    travel@ahsgardening.org

  • Wednesday, August 5, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Art & Design in Providence: A Day Out with the President

    Horticulture and art have a long and storied history, often co-mingling and inspiring each other to exciting ends. In this near-daylong program in Providence—America’s “Renaissance City”—join Garden Conservancy President & CEO James Brayton Hall on a visit to the house and garden of acclaimed artist Andrew Raftery in the morning, followed by lunch and a visit to the RISD Museum in the afternoon. James, who began his career in Providence, eventually serving as Deputy Director of the RISD Museum, will discuss the rich interchange between Andrew’s garden and artistic practice. At the RISD Museum, one of America’s foremost university art museums, this discussion will expand to consider a rich array of design objects that draw on horticultural themes in a private session with museum curators Emily Banas and Kate Irvin. This program is currently sold out but join the waitlist at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/events/gm26-art-design-in-providence