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 (1) mile long and require the ability to walk on steep hills. Tours are all-terrain wheel friendly. Additionally, we can accommodate up to ten (10) guests on up to two (2) carts upon request when booking your tour.

A minimum group of 5 people is required to reserve a tour. Reservations must be made at least 3 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 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 children’s tours with our Teacher Naturalists and cart tours on select dates. See below for our full drop-in tour schedule for 2025.

Walking Tours (April–October)

• Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 PM except when specialty tours are offered.

Children’s Tours (Saturdays)

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

Cart Tours (Saturdays)

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

Trillium Tours

(Carts are available by request. Please contact us at least a week before a tour to reserve your seat.)

• May 14 at 10:30 AM
• May 16 at 10:30 AM
• May 17 at 2 PM
• May 18 at 2 PM

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!

Please see below for basic rental information. Additional details are available here.

Overview

• The meeting space is available to rent June through March, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (We do not offer rentals during April and May, the busiest months at the Garden.)
• We can accommodate groups of up to 75 people.
• The Education Center is located on the ground floor and has handicapped-accessible restrooms.
• Rental guests are invited to enjoy our 45-acre botanic garden, featuring the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in the Northeast, during public hours.
• We do not offer rentals for outdoor events in the Garden, nor for weddings and parties.

About the Meeting Room

• The room is approximately 785 square feet and features a wall of windows overlooking the Garden.
• The room is set up as a classroom, and renters can rearrange it in a variety of ways on the day of the rental, within the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. rental period.
• Renters may use the entire room or divide it with a soundproof partition (advance notice required; please request this on the separate rental form).
• The room has Wi-Fi access, air conditioning and heat, and is handicapped accessible.
• A covered, open-air stone patio with picnic tables adjacent to the Education Center provides space for small outdoor sessions and picnics in warm weather. The patio is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.
• An adjoining kitchen is available in which renters may reheat, refrigerate, and serve food that is already prepared. However, renters and caterers may not prepare food on the premises.
• Dishes and silverware are available.
• If you hire a caterer, the caterer must deliver food during the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. period, when the renter is on the premises.

Rental Fees

• $400 for groups of up to 25 people
• $600 for groups of up to 50 people
• $900 for groups of up to 75 people

Fees include the meeting room, access to the kitchen, free parking, and free admission for all attendees on the date of your rental. We also require an advance $250 Cleaning & Damage deposit.

Scheduling Your Rental

Please download and read these additional details, fill out the Rental Agreement form, and send the form to Public Programs Administrative Assistant Stephen Kiely at skiely@NativePlantTrust.org. For questions, please call 774-301-8453.