One of my favorite places to visit in New England is a hidden gem in central Massachusetts called Tower Hill Botanic Garden. It consists of a wide variety of beautiful garden areas, including both formal and informally-designed spaces, and ranging from large open sites to shady woodland trails. The visitor/education center is also very impressive, with tropical greenhouses, classrooms, a café, and gift shop.

Gazebo at the garden entrance

Bromeliads frame the gazebo archway

The Entry Garden

Approach to the visitor center

A colorful vertical garden was recently installed near the visitor center entrance.

Café terrace

The Winter Garden

Mist fountain at the entrance to the Systematic Garden

The Systematic Garden

Inviting seating areas are scattered throughout the property.

Outdoor fireplace surrounded by plants near the old farmhouse (administrative offices)

A pleasant, shady spot in the garden

Terraced entrance to the Lawn Garden

The Lawn Garden is surrounded by colorful plantings.

Pergola at the south end of the Lawn Garden

A seating area in the Secret Garden also provides a view to Tower Hill’s heirloom apple orchard to the south.

Heading back to the parking lot through the lovely Entry Garden

For views of Tower Hill (and its tropical greenhouses) during another season, check out Winter Garden Scenes — an earlier post in this blog.

Photos by Alice Webb