Main Tour Preview

Welcome to Native Plant Trust’s Garden in the Woods. Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Garden in the Woods is a renowned 45-acre native plant botanic garden that attracts visitors from all over the world. Our botanic garden highlights more than 1,000 plant species native to New England while retaining historical species from across North America. You will experience both highly cultivated and minimally managed environments that show how native plants create healthy, beautiful landscapes. We encourage you to take in the sights, sounds, and smells and to gather ideas for bringing native plants into your own spaces. This audio tour will guide you through the garden’s displays.

Please proceed through our Entry Garden corridor to the left while listening to our audio clip of the Garden’s history.

As you stroll through our Entry Garden, you will notice a rich diversity of plants in the lush landscape. In the spring, the redbuds (Cercis canadensis), Trilliums (Trillium spp.), and Dutchman’s-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) are in full bloom. Deeper into the summer, the goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and umbrella-trees (Magnolia tripetala) begin to fruit. Many of these Entry Garden plants were favorites of Garden in the Woods creator, Will Curtis.

The property was cultivated primarily by the Massachusett and Nipmuc peoples prior to European colonization, and was industrialized by railroads in the mid-19th century. In 1931, landscape architect Will Curtis bought this 45-acre property from a railroad company that had mined part of it for gravel deposited by retreating Ice Age glaciers. The glaciers also created the ridges, steep-sided valleys, ponds, bogs, and perennial streams that attracted Curtis to this “naturally beautiful place,” which he saw as “just the spot for a wild flower garden.”

Trained by a pioneer of the Wild Garden movement in America, Curtis aimed in his design to “paint a peaceful picture of our land as nature intended it.” He and his partner Dick Stiles collected seeds and specimens from all over the continent to learn how to cultivate wild plants, in part to “curb the wholesale destruction” of nature by florists and others who stripped out the most ornamental plants.

Today, we honor their gift to us in 1965 by tending a garden that pairs ecological principles with the beauty of our region’s native plants.

You are now standing by the sheds and spherical sculpture in our Idea Garden, where we experiment with ecological home gardening techniques. The carex lawn and orchard next to the flagstone patio demonstrate sustainable, native alternatives to turfgrass, including Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), and pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Lawn alternatives attract pollinators, provide natural wildlife habitat, require less water, effort, and money, and eliminate pesticide and fertilizer use. As you lift your eyes from the ground textures, you will see our green roof, a creative and beautiful way to reduce stormwater runoff into sensitive waterways, increase green space, provide habitat, filter dust and smog, and reduce the urban heat island effect.

We now descend into the Curtis Woodland Garden, where our eyes travel between the soaring oaks and the details of common and rare woodland perennial specimens. The Curtis Woodland Garden offers engaging discoveries in every season. In the spring, the garden comes alive with spring ephemerals, fresh fern fronds, and gorgeous azaleas. By mid-summer, the foliage takes center stage. The variety of leaf size, shape, and color--from the delicate ferns to the lustrous leaves of beetleweed (Galax urceolota)—creates beauty and texture long after the flowers have gone. And in autumn, the scene changes yet again to highlight the blooming asters and goldenrods amid the backdrop of the spectacular fall foliage of oak, maple, and black gum.

After enjoying the panoramic views, you may find treasures beside the steps, paths, and benches. They range from the short-lived Dutchman’s-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) to the dramatic structure of the mature great rosebay (Rhododendron spp.) as you near the pond. Several endangered plants are here, including a cluster of Oconee-bells (Shortia galacifolia), a globally rare plant native to the Southeast and preserved in botanic garden collections like ours.

Our woodland is renowned for its Trillium, recognizable by its three leaves and three petals. Our Trillium collection is the most extensive in New England and includes 21 species, three of which are native to the region: nodding trillium (Trillium cernuum), white trillium (Trillium grandifolium), and red trillium (Trillium erectum). Many of our w trilliums are situated within the foundation of Will Curtis’s cottage or around the stone oval. These shade-loving early bloomers can take up to seven years to grow from seed to mature flowering plant. In the wild, they face shrinking habitats, deer pressure, and unethical collection for the nursery trade. We’re committed to maintaining a collection of healthy, genetically diverse trillium species. See how many you can spot on your way to the Lily Pond!

As you approach the open, sunny Lily Pond, you may hear a variety of lively sounds, such as bees buzzing, frogs croaking, and bird wings fluttering. These are the sounds of a healthy, complex natural system dependent on clean, fresh water. The diverse plant community helps to cycle nutrients in the soil and water, providing resources and shelter for an abundance of wildlife.

As you walk around the pond in a clockwise direction, you will notice many examples of water-loving plants, from the striking blue iris (Iris spp.) in May to the summer-blooming blossoms of rose mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) to the distinct red fruit of winterberry (Ilex verticillata) in late fall and winter. Look for common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), with its distinctive white pincushion flower head in summer that becomes a hard, reddish fruit head in fall, and persists through the winter.

The availability and depth of water support a wide range of plants and plant communities from aquatic plants like the white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) to emergent aquatics like water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia) to transitional communities like the sedge (Carex sp.) meadow. These meadows support a diversity of flowering plants that emerge seasonally from the grasslike matrix of the sedges. The plantings here are inspired by nearby sedge meadows in Massachusetts. Native plants help maintain a web of relationships with insects, amphibians, and other wildlife. The richness and diversity of insect life is the direct result of a plant community-driven planting design such as this. Using native plants in your garden can help to ensure those relationships endure and thrive.

On the overlook between our Lily Pond and the Habitat Gardens, you will see a steep trail to the left of the main path. This is the entrance to the Ridge Trail, the first of three trails on the property that explore the Garden’s 30 acres of minimally-managed natural areas. The Ridge Trail travels along the top of an esker, or a steep deposit of gravel left behind by glacial meltwater. The soil on the esker is dry and acidic, making it the perfect habitat for plant species like white oak (Quercus alba), white pine (Pinus strobus), and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). This audio clip can accompany you on the trail.

The American chestnut was once the dominant forest canopy tree in many forests like this one throughout the United States. However, chestnut blight, a disease that kills mature trees, ravaged these forests in the early 20th century. As you walk along the trail, look for evidence of American chestnut trees (Castanea spp.). You may see stump sprouts, young chestnut trees growing from the root systems of trees that were killed by chestnut blight, decades ago.

On the top of the ridge, you might also see pink lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium acuale) and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). As you make your way along the bottom of the ridge, notice how the vegetation changes. Under the canopy of towering white pines, you’ll find plants that require more moisture, like bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), several species of ferns, and witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).

Descending the path past the Ridget Trail entrance, you enter Laurel Bend, a transitional garden that bridges the Lily Pond and Swamp and Calciphile sections. This space features dense plantings of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) on either side of the cleft in the hills that the path follows. In spring and autumn, flowering dogwoods (Benthamidia florida) are prominent. The understory plantings feature drought-tolerant sedges, including oak sedge (Carex pensylvanica), as well as rare and unusual plants, including northern oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) and southern agrimony (Agromonia parviflora). Botanic gardens play an important role in plant conservation by displaying and educating the public about plant species under threat of extinction.

As the main trail descends from Laurel Bend, you will see a low, wet area on the right, full of shade-loving plants. In spring, the blooms of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) emerge out of the mucky soil before anything else. As the season progresses, the bold, textured foliage of skunk cabbage contrasts with the fine texture of cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum). A little farther to the right is a concentrated display of plants that prefer soils with high calcium levels. These alkaline soil lovers are sometimes referred to as calciphiles. This habitat-driven display features many species of ferns with highlights such as the Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrum) and northern maiden hair fern (Adiantum pedatum). In spring, be sure to look for our stunning display of yellow lady slippers (Cypripedium parviflorum ssp.) and American globe flower (Trollius laxus). At the end of the short path is a stone bench; consider pausing here to take in the sights, sounds, and aromas of this part of the garden. As you continue down the main path, there will be a small pool of water to your right filled with wild callas (Calla palustris). The wild calla is fairly widespread in its native New England and loves the region’s ample water and acidic soil. Calla colonies share the same rhizome and bloom for one or two months in the late spring to early summer. The plant’s elegant, white, waxy signature is not a petal, but actually a modified leaf called a spathe. The spathe and the spadix, or spike-like inflorescence, both turn green after the bloom and then develop into red berries.

In front of you spans a wide meadow dappled with wildflowers. This meadow provides an example of succession, the gradual change from one ecological community to another. In the colorful foreground, you may notice favorite native plants such as bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), mountain mints (Pycnanthemum sp.), gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis), and northern blazing star (Liatris novae-angliae). These wildflowers are crucial for supporting a diverse array of pollinators and insect herbivores. Abundant plantings with diverse species provide more resources for pollinators than plantings with fewer species. Behind the flowers are woody pioneer species such as gray birch (Betula populifolia), and eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana).

Our landscapes are constantly changing due to ecological succession, climate change, and disturbances, both human and natural. These changes allow ecologically harmful plants to move in and crowd out native species. To ensure we do not lose species diversity in the region, we collect and bank native plant seeds from the wild and, where appropriate, augment populations of rare plants to aid their survival. The wild-collected seeds also provide the plants you see in the garden today.

The low-lying habitat displayed past the meadow on your right is the coastal sandplain. The Coastal Sandplain mimics the poor soil typical of the Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens ecoregions, which encompasses Cape Cod and the Islands. You will see species from two highly threatened plant communities. First, the sandplain grasslands, which have been driven out by development. Our habitat features endangered and rare grassland species such as the sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis) and yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria). The second threatened plant community is the maritime juniper woodland, defined by the eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), scattered short trees, and a shrub layer. This evergreen community lives in the spray zone, on the edges of sand dunes, salt marshes, and rocky cliffs. Our maritime juniper woodland features small bayberry (Morella caroliniensis) and the eastern prickly-pear (Opuntia humifusa), New England’s only native cactus.

As you leave the Coastal Sand Plain, you enter a section of woodland that is undergoing some rapid changes. Forest ecosystems have always been dynamic, changing their composition over long stretches of time. However, during the Anthropocene, we are seeing the pace of change accelerate. Pests and diseases now threaten major components of New England's forests, from hemlock decline due to hemlock woolly adelgid, to ash dieback because of emerald ash borer, to the declines in American beech stands thanks to beech leaf disease. While it is sad to witness this decline, nature is resilient, and the forests will adapt anew. Another characteristic of gardening in a woodland is the ever-present amount of small sticks and limbs. While these materials play an important role in cycling nutrients into the soil, they may not be great in pathways or lawns. You can keep this material on-site and create habitat by stacking the brush in attractive, artistic ways. Brush piles need not be a nuisance nor look messy. With some intention, they can become an architectural element of the garden while generating ecological value.

As you move deeper into the beech forest, you will see a family activity area on your right. Take a moment to engage with the activity features, designed to explore the natural world. The materials here are intended to introduce younger visitors to the ecosystems of our forests through tactile and experiential means. Outdoor play has been shown to provide significant benefits for the health and resilience of people of all ages. By finding value in local ecosystems, we can encourage future generations to connect with the New England landscape.

Just past the Family Activity Area, you will see the entrance to Hop Brook Trail, one of three trails exploring the Garden’s natural areas. This trail traverses Hop Brook along a series of raised boardwalks and bridges, affording visitors a comfortable opportunity to explore wooded waterways and the biodiversity they harbor and support. The beginning of the trail is a great example of accelerated forest dynamics, with declining beech and ash canopies giving way to young yellow birches and tulip poplars. The standing tree snags continue to provide resources for other life forms, such as fungi and wood-boring insects. As you cast your eyes upwards, notice the large cavities in some of the trees excavated by our resident pileated woodpeckers. The trail continues upstream and through a stunning grove of our oldest white pines before crossing Hop Brook again and taking you through the stream floodplain, dominated by skunk cabbage and ferns. This trail has something to experience in all seasons!

On your left is the entrance to Lost Pond Trail, one of three trails exploring the Garden’s natural areas. Lost Pond Trail features a loop through and past a natural vernal pond. Also called ephemeral pools, vernal pools are temporary bodies of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals, such as salamanders. Vernal pools fill with water in fall and winter, but often dry out in the heat of summer. This section of the garden is often quiet and a great place to slow down, take in the sounds and smells of the forest, and recharge and reconnect with nature.

Walking up the hill, you will come to the back side of the Horticulture Building and to a pair of moth-rearing enclosures. The garden staff and interns have been rearing several species of native giant silk moths to highlight the connection between these incredible nocturnal animals and the native host trees they require to complete their lifecycle. Once adults emerge from their cocoons in late spring, they mate and lay eggs, which we collect and place on their preferred host plants. Once hatched, the staff shepherd these young caterpillars to fresh forage throughout the garden to help them grow and mature. In late summer, most are beginning to spin new cocoons, and the whole process resets for next year. If your visit is timed well, you may see the adults or the caterpillars throughout the garden. While we all delight in seeing butterflies and moths in our gardens, they require the right host plants. Diverse native plantings, intentionally selected to support these organisms, not only ensure their presence in gardens but also provide important resources for nesting songbirds and other animals. Once again, native plants form the foundation for the dizzying web of relationships that sustain our ecosystems.

At the top of the hill, you will see our Education Center, where Native Plant Trust offers many of our 200 botany and horticulture programs every year. We also offer programs at several locations throughout New England, as well as online.

Continue walking toward the Visitor Center, where you first entered, to discover our wide selection of native plants for sale. We grow many of these plants from seed at our nursery, Nasami Farm, in Whately, Massachusetts. Our nursery conducts research to use the best ethical strategies and ecological techniques. We prioritize biodiversity when sourcing and cultivating native plants.

Thank you for joining us today for a walk through Garden in the Woods. We hope you have enjoyed your exploration and discovered how native plants create healthy, beautiful landscapes.

If you would like to learn more about native plants and become involved with Native Plant Trust, we invite you to join as a member, purchase our own nursery-grown native plants at our shop, or attend one of our many public programs. For more information, ask one of our staff or visit our website at www.NativePlantTrust.org