Polly Hill Arboretum

The Polly Hill Arboretum is a botanical garden and woodland reserve spanning 60 acres on Martha's Vineyard, with parts that are intensively landscaped and sections left as natural forest. The grounds feature diverse plantings arranged across the property for easy walking and observation.

This arboretum started in 1958 when a horticulturist transformed former sheep farmland into a plant collection and forest garden. The property earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 for its cultural value.

The site contains buildings from the 1670s, including a barn from the 1750s, which tell the story of farming life that once defined Martha's Vineyard. Walking through the grounds, you see how agriculture shaped the landscape over centuries.

The arboretum opens daily from sunrise to sunset, allowing time to walk through different plant zones at your own pace. Wear comfortable shoes since paths wind through both open gardens and wooded areas.

The site holds rare monkey puzzle trees from South America alongside a local azalea variety found only in this region of Martha's Vineyard. These unusual plants thrive in what seems like an unlikely home for such species.

Location: Massachusetts

Website: http://pollyhillarboretum.org

GPS coordinates: 41.39750,-70.68050

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:04