A Botanic Garden Like No Other
Discover the beauty of native plants in a naturally dramatic landscape
Our naturalistic botanic garden just west of Boston showcases New England more than 1,000 species of native plants on 45 acres sculpted by retreating glaciers into eskers and steep-sided valleys, with a brook, pond, and wetlands. Here you’ll find inspiration for your own garden and a new appreciation for the varied plant life of our region. To get a preview before you come, or for those who cannot visit in person, we invite you to enjoy this virtual visit.
Plan Your Visit
The main path through the Garden is a mile-long loop with a crushed-gravel surface, requiring about an hour to an hour and a half to walk. Benches are dispersed throughout. The natural terrain is rugged, with a steep slope at the entrance and exit. Download a Garden map here.
Enjoy our outdoor picnic tables on the patio outside the Education Center. The Education Center also contains a drinking fountain and restrooms.
More restrooms are located inside the Visitor Center, where you may also buy snacks and drinks, or pre-order a box lunch to enjoy during your visit.
You also may buy native plants at our Garden Shop near the Visitor Center.
Location
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA 01701
T 508-877-7630
F 508-877-3658
Garden Shop (plant sales): 774-301-8465
For all other contact info, click here.
Get directions from your location via Google maps. Please note: The exit to use for Garden in the Woods, formerly #12 (Framingham), is now #111 (still labeled Framingham).
Check our local weather
Hours
Members' Preview Day
Saturday, April 18, 2026
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Open to all starting on
Sunday, April 19
10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
through October 18
Members who want to reserve a time slot for Winter Walking at the Garden, please click here.
Admission
Tickets are available at the Visitor Center when you arrive.
Native Plant Trust members are admitted free.
Nonmember admission:
- Adult (18-64): $18
- Senior (65+): $15
- Student: $12
- Youth (5-17): $8
- Children under 5: free
- Active service members and their spouses admitted free with valid military ID. Veterans receive 50 percent discount with proof of service.
Please leave pets at home. Service dogs are welcome.
Between mid-April and mid-October, hours for the Garden Shop at Garden in the Woods correspond with the Garden's open hours.
Native Plant Highlights
During the Garden's open season, you can preview what’s blooming, fruiting, or displaying beautiful foliage week by week by visiting our Native Plant Highlights Board. Each garden area showcases a wide array of plant species which change drastically week to week and month to month. Our staff and volunteers survey the garden regularly for blooms and update our digital highlights board on a semi-weekly basis. Check back regularly to see what’s blooming as you plan your visit to the garden.
Nasami Farm
During the growing season, you may also shop for plants at our nursery, Nasami Farm, in western Massachusetts.
Accessibility and Modes of Transportation
Some important information
Please note that only the entrance plateau at Garden in the Woods is ADA-accessible. The natural terrain of the property is too steep for most wheelchairs, scooters, and other motorized mobility devices and presents a safety hazard to visitors using such devices.
For the safety of all visitors and the protection of plant collections and other natural resources, we do not allow bicycles, off-road vehicles, and vehicles or other power-driven devices used for mobility assistance (with the exception of wheelchairs and scooters) on the paths at Garden in the Woods or in our sanctuaries.
For details about accessible parking and other visitor guidelines, please see the dropdown box below.
Tours (in Season)
About our private group tours, drop-in tours, and more
Tours (April-October)
Private Group Tours
Tours are available at Garden in the Woods from April-October, offering an opportunity to view our seasonal displays and learn about our 125-year history through our Garden Guides. Each tour features several ecologically rich plant communities where function and beauty combine, an abundance of wildlife, views of rare plants, and information on our current conservation work across the region.
Accessibility. Tours are approximately one mile long and require the ability to walk on a gravel path, up and down steep hills. When booking a tour, guests may reserve carts to accommodate up to 10 people for accessibility.
Availability. Tours are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between April 18 - October 17 at 10:30 AM, lasting approximately 60 minutes. A tour group must have a minimum of five people. Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance.
Fees. We require a deposit in the amount of your Garden Guide fee to reserve your tour date. Your per person fee is due upon arrival at Garden in the Woods on the day of your tour.
- Guide fee, due at booking: 5–20 people (1 guide): $50; 21–40 people (2 guides): $100
- Per-person fee, due on day of tour: $15/each
Booking. Private group tours can be requested through our scheduling app HERE. If you have questions or need more information, please contact tours@nativeplanttrust.
Drop-in Tours
We offer free tours with the price of admission on select days of the week. Drop-in tours last 60 minutes and follow the one-mile main path loop. All drop-in tours start at 1:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, unless otherwise noted. We offer free cart tours on select dates. See below for our full drop-in tour schedule for 2026.
Walking Tours
- April 25-October 18, 2026
- Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 PM
- Drop-in tours are not held when specialty tours are offered. This season there will be no drop-in tours during:
- Trillium Week, May 3-10
- Caterpillar Lab Event, September 4-7
Cart Tours
- April 25-October 18, 2026
- Selected Saturdays at 1:30 PM
- April 25
- May 23
- June 20
- July 18
- August 15
- September 12
- October 10
Questions? Please email us at tours@NativePlantTrust.org.
Parking and Photography
Some do's and don'ts to know before you visit
Parking
Our parking lot is unpaved and accommodates 42 cars, including two handicapped-accessible spaces. If the parking lot is full, visitors may park on public streets, being careful not to block driveways or park on lawns. (See parking map below.) In addition, please note:
- Framingham permits parking on only one side of the street; which side is determined by whether the year is even- or odd-numbered. In 2026, parking is allowed only on the even-numbered side of streets.
- Parking is prohibited on Raymond Road and Hemenway Road, because they must be kept clear for emergency vehicle access.
- When walking to the Garden entrance, please stay along the side of the road, as local traffic and bicycles use these roads.
Photography
- Commercial photography and group photo sessions for weddings, family portraits, engagements, celebrations, or similar gatherings are not permitted. (If you're a member of the press, please call to make advance arrangements: 508-877-7630.)
- We know you'll be absorbed in capturing images, but please take care to stay on the paths—and don't even think about disturbing the plants to get a better effect.
- Please do not block the paths or stand in the way of other visitors.
Thank you!
Rental Space at Garden in the Woods
Book our Education building for a meeting
We're accepting limited rentals. You can view our rental flyer here. For more information, please email rentals@NativePlantTrust.org.
