Travels - Tower Hill Botanic Garden

One of my favorite gardens to visit in New England is Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boyleston, MA.  I first visited Tower Hill about 15 years ago and immediately joined their membership roll.  Botanic gardens, I believe, are a great equalizer in society and as a true lover of horticulture, it makes sense to support a public garden that offers continuing education, gardens with a  wide variety of labeled plants, and beautiful spaces created for the enjoyment of all. 

This botanic garden houses the third oldest horticultural society in the country, the Worcester County Horticultural Society, founded in 1842.  The mission statement of the WCHS  is as follows”

  ” …educational organization for the purpose of
advancing the science and encouraging and improving
the practice of horticulture …”

The Trustees of the Society voted to establish a botanic garden in 1983 and the master plan was unveiled in 1988.  In just over 30 years, this garden has evolved and will continue to evolve along the lines of that master plan, with completion slated for 2040.   It is a daunting task and the current changes include the new entry design and the ongoing construction of the Winter Garden. New pool in Winter Garden  You can find out more about Tower Hill here (just click on the highlighted word).

Tower Hill is a destination garden which welcomes the whole family.  You can stroll through the visitor’s center, the orangerie, the systematic garden and on through Pliny’s Allee following the trail which loops up through the woods. Pliny’s Allee   The trail then leads down and around the pond area, which the kids will love.  There’s always something there to catch the eye and delight both adults and children. Fur BallsThis unusual annual, Gomphocarpus physocarpus or ‘Fur Balls’, is just an example of some of the interesting annuals that are planted seasonally in the gardens. As you can see, the bees love it.

One of my favorite gardens at Tower Hill is the vegetable garden, which is at its peak in August and early September.  Every year it has a different  theme, with vegetables and annuals being used to complement the color scheme.  In 2007, there was a red/orange theme and in 2008, it was a purple theme. Last year yellow was the predominant color through the garden and deep colors were used to highlight the structures and the companion plantings.

This year brings a rainbow of color to the garden, along with some more unusual vegetables that are growing in popularity, such as this lacinato kale. It’s the crinkly, blue-leaved plant next to the yellow stakes..Lacinato kale

While the vegetable garden changes dramatically every year, the other gardens are evolving as the trees, shrubs and perennials grow and prosper. 

Tower Hill Botanic Garden is one of New England’s horticultural gems and a visit should be on every gardener’s list.  Have you been to Tower Hill and, if so, what caught your eye?