Garden in the Woods

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 (April–October)

Private Group Tours
Tours are available at Garden in the Woods from mid-April through mid-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.

Tours are available on select days seasonally between April 15–October 11 at 10:30 AM, lasting approximately 60 minutes:

April–June: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

July–August: Tuesday and Saturday

September–October: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Tour accessibility: Tours are approximately one mile long and require the ability to walk on steep hills. You may also reserve carts to accommodate as many as 10 guests when you book your tour. Each cart seats up to five people, and we have a limit of two carts per tour.

A minimum group of five people is required to reserve a tour. Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance.

We require a deposit in the amount of your tour guide fee to reserve your tour time. A quote for the deposit will be sent to you over email, which you can pay with all major credit cards. Our current tour fees are:

• $15 per person, plus a guide fee
• 5 –20 people (1 guide): $50
• 21–40 people (2 guides): $100

Please complete our Tour Request Form to request a tour or email education@nativeplanttrust.org for more information.

Drop-in Tours
We offer free tours with the price of admission on select days. Drop-in tours:

• start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays unless otherwise noted
• last 60 minutes and follow the one-mile main path loop
• are free with admission to the Garden
• are limited to 20 people and are first-come, first-served. We do not reserve spaces on drop-in tours.

Our full drop-in tour schedule for 2025 appears below.

Drop-in Walking Tours

Walking tours are available on these dates and leave from the Visitor Center:

• May 10, May 31
• June 14, June 28
• July 5, July 26
• August 2, August 23, August 30
• September 13, September 20, September 27
• October 11

Drop-in Children’s Tours

Tours are geared towards 8–12-year-olds, but learners of all ages are welcome to join. Caregivers are required to stay with children at all times. Teacher Naturalists will meet participants in the picnic area next to the Education Building.

Children's tours are available on these dates:

• April 26
• May 24
• June 21
• July 19
• August 16, August 30

Drop-in Cart Tours

Tours have up to 10 cart seats available and are limited to 20 people total, whether they are riding in or walking with a cart. Tours are first-come, first-served, and leave from the Visitor Center. We do not reserve spaces on drop-in tours.

Cart tours are available on these dates:

• April 19
• May 3
• June 7
• July 12
• August 9
• September 6
• October 4

Trillium Tours

Walking tours of our nationally recognized trillium collection are a special treat during Trillium Week (May 11–18), the peak bloom time for most species. (Carts are available by request and must be reserved in advance. Please contact us at least one week before one of the scheduled trillium tours to reserve your cart.) Trillium tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and do not follow the same schedule as drop-in tours.

Trillium tours are available on these days and dates:

• Wednesday, May 14, at 10:30 a.m.
• Friday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m.
• Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m.
• Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m.

Audio Tour and Virtual Visit
Enrich your visit with our free audio tour app, which guides you through our plant displays. The app is available from Google Play and Apple's App Store. Please download the app before you arrive or at the Visitor Center to ensure best access.

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 2024, 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!

We're accepting limited rentals in 2025. You can view our rental flyer here. Please reach out to Stephen Kiely for more information at skiely@NativePlantTrust.org or 774-301-8453.