Who can resist a Bridge of Flowers?

A recent road trip to northwestern Massachusetts resulted in an unanticipated and much appreciated visit to The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA.  Shelburne is a small New England town situated on the Deerfield River at Salmon Falls, which was an important salmon fishing site used by Native Americans.  The town’s located in the foothills of the Berkshires, and the Mohawk Trail goes right through it. 

There is much to see in this little town. There are the usual and unusal shops, restaurants, and historic buildings, but Shelbourne Falls has one attraction that’s unique.  It has a 400-foot trolley bridge that was built in 1908 and then used for a mere 20 years before the trolley faded into history.  Not so the bridge.  Antoinette Burnham had a vision - to turn this bridge into a garden that would connect the towns on either side of the river - so she teamed up with area women’s clubs to raise the money to make it happen. The bridge opened to both flowers and foot traffic in 1929 and has been maintained largely by a group of volunteers, who work under the auspices of a hired head gardener.  I asked one of the locals, Pat Leuchtman, author of a gardening column and her own blog, Commonweeder, what season has the best bloom?  She replied ‘It’s glorious in all seasons’.  The goal of the workers is to have a dazzling display from spring through late fall. I can attest to the beauty of September on the bridge and can only imagine it will look spectacular as the fall foliage unfolds.  The bridge is open, free of charge, from spring through late fall.  The bridge is maintained through donations, bequests and memorial gifts, and a donation box sits at both entrances.  The generosity of visitors is evident in the beautiful array of flowers, shrubs and even trees that adorn the bridge and are a credit to the volunteers and the many hours they spend weeding, deadheading and planting for the enjoyment of others. If you want to take a ride to see the fall foliage, remember to stop in Shelburne Falls and walk this historical bridge of beauty.  I promise that you will not be disappointed.