Garden in the Woods
Discover the beauty of native plants in a naturally dramatic landscape.
What’s New
Our Fall Plant Sale is Here
Starting September 17, all plants are 40% off for members and 30% off for non-members. We still have a variety of perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines, including a number of plants that offer vibrant fall foliage and late season color, as well as in-store specials.
Visit our garden shops at Nasami Farm (open Thursday through Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM) and Garden in the Woods (open daily through September 30, 10 AM–5 PM; then Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM–4 PM from October 1 through November 22) to make your purchase. Plant sales at Garden in the Woods end on October 18.
Boston Dance Theater Presents "Plants: Solos for Native Species"
Boston Dance Theater (BDT) returns to the Garden this September for Plants: Solos for Native Species. On September 26, visitors are invited to experience immersive dance performances throughout the Garden, featuring 20-minute solo works inspired by native plant species. Four solo performances will loop throughout the day in different locations, allowing guests to discover each piece at their own pace and to come and go freely during regular Garden hours.
This event is free with garden admission, and takes place during Garden opening hours.
Plan Your Visit
Admission Pricing
Tickets are available at the Visitor Center when you arrive.
Native Plant Trust members are admitted free.
Non-member pricing:
- 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.
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.
- 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, 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.
Directions
Get directions from your location via Google maps. The MassPike exit for Garden in the Woods is #111 (Framingham).
Facilities
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.
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. Pre-order a box lunch to be delivered to the Garden on the day of your visit through our Online Garden Shop.
In order to protect our plants and the fragile ecosystem they live in, dogs and other pets are not permitted on the property. Service animals are welcome.
View map here.
Free Drop-in Tours
We offer free drop-in 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.
Private Tours
Private tours are available at Garden in the Woods from April-October. 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 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.
Private 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. 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.org
Check Out Upcoming Garden Events
There is always something interesting going on at the Garden! Check out our Events page for upcoming classes, special programs, and members-only happenings.
What’s in Season
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.
Garden Shop at Garden in the Woods
Shop for native plants, gardening tools, seeds, books and nature-themed merchandise.
We have an ever-increasing selection of annual and perennial herbaceous plants, including grasses and ferns, as well as shrubs, trees, and vines that are native to New England and its ecoregions. Many of our plants start from seed that is sustainably harvested from wild populations throughout our region, building in genetic diversity and resilience. All the plants we sell are grown without pesticides, so they will delight your eye and support the insects and other animals that depend on them.
Garden in the Woods FAQ
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 avoid blocking paths for other visitors.
Accessibility and Modes of Transportation
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 those with mobility challenges we offer a combination of scheduled drop in and private cart tours.
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.
Things to Do with Kids
We have some fun ways to introduce children to plants and animals at Garden in the Woods.
Before you come:
Check our Events calendar on the home page for Plant Play, Children’s Tours, and other family activities.
While you’re here:
Pick up a free scavenger hunt list at our Visitor Center when you arrive.
Kids love watching the turtles in the Garden’s Lily Pond.
Visit the naturalistic playground in our Family Activities area.
Adult caregivers must accompany their kids in all children’s activities (and they have a great time too).
Rental Space
Book our Education building for a meeting!
Enjoy a relaxing retreat at Garden in the Woods for your next meeting or event. Our Education Building offers a 785-square-foot meeting space with room for 50 people, a ceiling-mounted projector, and a sound system. The classroom windows look out into our lush botanic garden. After your event, enjoy a stroll through the Garden to get the full experience.
We’re accepting limited rentals. For more information, please email rentals@NativePlantTrust.org.
Visit Our Other Locations
Nasami Farm
In the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts, Nasami Farm grows New England native plants from seed that we harvest sustainably from healthy, well-established wild populations.
Sanctuaries
Native Plant Trust sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are open for your enjoyment.