Garden in the Woods

Garden in the Woods is a botanical garden spread across approximately 45 acres, combining woodland areas, meadows, ponds, and collections of native plants. Winding paths connect these different landscape types throughout the property.

Will C. Curtis founded the garden in 1931 by purchasing 30 acres of land north of Framingham, later transferring it to the New England Wild Flower Society in 1965. This transfer marked a turning point in how the site would be managed and developed.

The garden displays the largest landscaped collection of New England wildflowers, with approximately 1700 plant varieties representing around 1000 native species. Visitors encounter this diverse flora while walking through the different sections.

The property has natural elevation changes and woodland paths, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended for visitors. Spring through fall offers the best conditions for seeing wildflowers in bloom.

The property was shaped by glacial movements and displays uncommon geological features such as eskers and steep-sided valleys. These ice-age formations give the landscape distinctive contours that most visitors do not initially recognize.