Love flowers? You'll want to visit these 5 public gardens and arboretums in Massachusetts
They say it's important to stop and smell the roses. But why just stop at roses? Why not try the heliotropes, the wisteria, and gardenias?
If you're not sure what some of these are, let alone where to find them, a trip to one of the state's various botanic gardens could be a great addition to the list of summer activities.
Botanic gardens are essentially zoos for plants. That may not sound as exciting as the animal counterpart, it's a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a controlled environment. And many of them even allow pets! With several botanic gardens and arboretums all over Massachusetts, chances are you have at least one in day trip range.
Here are the top five ranked (by Google) in Massachusetts.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Location: 11 French Drive, BoylstonHours: Open every day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Pricing: Adults $20, Seniors $17, Children (4-12) $10, dogs: $8 and children 3 and under are free All admission prices except dogs and children under three will have $1 added on weekends
The NEBG has been a Central Massachusetts destination for almost 40 years, but the location garden itself has actually been around over 180, having been established in 1842 by the Worcester County Horticultural Society. It's 200 acres and 18 gardens are open year-round. With regular classes and special events every month, there's almost always something going on.
Acton Arboretum
Location: 2 Taylor Road, ActonHours: Open every day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Price: Free
The Acton Arboretum is stewarded by the community, and while not as massive as NEBG, manages to fit a trail system through open meadows, beside woodland ponds, along a glacial esker, and through a bog into its 65 acres. Several trails are also handicapped accessible.
Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University
Location: 125 Arborway, BostonHours: Open sunrise to sunset every day, Visitor Center is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Price: Free
As both a public park and a research institution, the Arnold Arboretum was established in 1872, making it the oldest public arboretum in North America. The diverse array of plant life primarily represents specimens from the Eastern United States and eastern Asia such as China and Taiwan. Currently, its 265 acres boasts over 17,000 individual plants from 115 different plant families. There's no shortage of events and classes - all of which can be found on the facility's calendar.
The Butterfly Place
Location: 120 Tyngsboro Road, WestfordHours: Open seasonally every day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Valentine's Day through Columbus DayPrice: Adults $14, Seniors (65+) $12, children (3-12 years) $10 and Children (2 and under) are free
Who doesn't love butterflies? Here you can see not only local species but specimens from all over the world in a lush environment, alongside koi fish and quail birds. Regardless of the weather, be sure to have some warm weather clothing on hand, as the butterfly flight area is kept between 80 and 85 degrees.
The Botanic Garden of Smith College
Location: 16 College Lane, NorthamptonHours: Garden is open daily year-round; Lyman Plant House and Conservatory is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Price: Free
Integrated into Smith College's campus, the Botanic Garden is a total of 133 acres, including its outdoor managed gardens and arboretum, with a multitude of native and non-native plants - over 7,000 of them. Additionally, the Lyman Plant House and Conservatory houses the garden's collection of tropical plants and holds the distinction of one of the few remaining 19th century plant conservatories in the country.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Botanical gardens and arboretums in MA: You'll want to visit these 5
