Garden in the Woods Closed Sept. 30-Oct. 1, and Then...
We're taking a pause on Tuesday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 1, while our staff attends Native Plant Trust's 125th-anniversary gala in Boston.
On Thursday, October 2, the Garden reopens on a new, extended fall schedule: Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., through Sunday, November 23.
Come reap the joys of autumn at the Garden during our extended fall hours! Click here for more visitor info.
Photo: Red maple (Acer rubrum) in the fall
Plant Sale Discounts Just Got Deeper
Discounts just dropped again at our Fall Plant Sale, now on at Garden in the Woods and Nasami Farm: ALL PLANTS are now 40% off for members, 30% off for nonmembers! The shop at Garden in the Woods is open until October 19 (unless plants sell out earlier). Nasami Farm's Garden Shop closes this Sunday, October 5.
Before you head out, download our current plant list and check the hours of the location where you plan to shop. Not a member yet? Join now to apply your member discount immediately.
Photo: Plant display at Nasami Farm
Our Herbarium Has Gone Digital
Thanks to the hard work of our Conservation staff and volunteers, the digitization of our herbarium's nearly 6,000 specimens is complete! The process involved transcribing each specimen’s data—including the species identification, collector’s name, and collection date and location—applying a unique barcode, removing soil residue (pictured above), repairing any damage, and then scanning these fragile preserved plants using a device that was specially developed for this purpose. These digitized specimens are now available for viewing by botanists and other plant scientists via the Consortium of Northeastern Herbaria. Congratulations to all who completed this work, and thanks to our generous donors for making it possible!
Photo: Herbarium assistant Fitz Dettmer cleans a specimen for scanning
Browse Our New Classes
Probe the mysteries of predatory plants. Tour a forest in Massachusetts to observe ecological change after a prescribed burn. Or learn from your living room: Choose from six self-paced courses and 30 classes available via Zoom.
New this season: A suite of lower-priced options starting at $10, plus an Introduction to Native Plants Package that bundles eight intro classes for only $60, total! And we're continuing our Personalized Pathways, five groupings of classes curated for particular personal interests.
Get ready for a fascinating fall—browse our full class lineup.
Photo: Purple pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea) © William Cullina
Members: Save the Date for Night of Illumination
Shadows are lengthening, and evening lights shine brighter in the early dusk. It is time for Native Plant Trust members to reserve the evening of Thursday, October 23 for our annual Night of Illumination at Garden in the Woods. This unique, members-only event brings a bit of night magic to the Garden, as hundreds of luminaria line the paths, and orbs of light cast a glow through the trees.
Start time, parking instructions, and other details will follow in our October member eNews. And if you are not a member, join now to enjoy this memorable evening!
Photo: Night of Illumination 2024
Native Plant Trust in the News
A selection of recent stories—see more here:
- WBUR, "Sound designer Skooby Laposky amplifies the hidden lives of plants"
- WGBH, Uli Lorimer chats with Dave Epstein: "Native plants Q&A: New England experts share their advice"
- Boston Globe, "Ask the Gardener: Use native grasses to let the sun light up your yard"
- WGBH, The Culture Show Podcast with Uli Lorimer on fall planting
- New England Living: "Going Native"
Photo: Sound designer Skooby Laposky (R) and workshop participants explore hidden life at Garden in the Woods, Andrea Shea/WBUR photo