If you had a rental car you could visit Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston Mass. There isn't a way to get there by public transport however. They have a lovely Orangerie (Victorian style greenhouse) that is nice all year round. Unfortunately in Mass outside plantings are later this year getting started as we are still having temperatures in the 30's at night. The daffodils and bulbs are just now slowly emerging.

You might check out the Public Garden or Boston Common (reachable by walking/subway). I am not sure if much is bloom yet though. Green Line Bolyston Station or Red Line Park St. Station and walk over to either one.

You're not here April 26-29th? The Museum of Fine Arts is having their Art in Bloom event. The MFA is worth visiting in any event. They have evening hours certain days.

http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=5626

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has a courtyard of plantings but I am not sure its state this time of year. They are known for their nasturtiums.

http://www.gardnermuseum.org

Both MFA and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are close by to Copley and worth visiting. You can pop on the Green Line trolley to get to either one.

Definitely the Gardner Museum. It is the height of nasturtium season--very brief and quite spectacular. Every gardener should see it once in their lifetime.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was the private home of Mrs. Gardner, designed in the early 20c to look like a palazzo in Venice. It is built around a four-story courtyard, with a glass ceiling. It is full of plants and antiquities and the plantings change with the seasons. The museum has many famous works of art, a nice cafe and is one of the must-see sights for visitors to Boston.

There was a very interesting article about the culture and installation of the nasturtiums in the Globe last week.

I'd also recommend Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. Extraordinary plantings, wonderful memorials in the form of sculptures, winding pathways, great bird life. I'm sure they will have bulbs and early spring shrubs in bloom. Boston is known around the world for Mount Auburn (tho it's in Cambridge) and it was one of the first "parks" in the country.

It's still early here but you might stroll around Beacon Hill to drink in the atmosphere. Perhaps some window boxes and containers will be planted and there are some stores that feature garden items. Have fun!

Thank you both so much for your kind advice. I've made a list of your suggestions. The Gardner museum is at the top of that list! I had no idea about the nasturtiums! I'm quite excited! Also, Tower Hill's website says a public bus is available to get there? I'm wondering if that would be feasible for an afternoon.

Odyssey: I looked on the website at the trip they describe by public transport. I am guessing that it might take a long time to get there and that you might have a healthy hike from where you go left off. My own personal bias is that I think it is a great destination in the full gardening season, but would be frustrating to visit at this point in time. I am fonder of outdoor gardens than the plants they have inside. You would probably be able to tell it is a great place to visit, but be regretting that you were there too early to see it at its best. I am pretty sure that it is Zone 5 as compared to Zone 6 in Boston. So what you see in bloom in Boston wouldn't necessarily be a guide. (I have only been there in summer, I have never visited in April or May.

I agree with what asarum has written. I was amazed there is a way to get there via public transportation but the route they describe seems long to me and looking at the bus route -- #17 is no longer listed on the WRTA's web site (Worcester Regional Transit Authority). They do list another bus line to Clinton but the times seem very limited. On top of the hassle to get there asarum is correct that the plants that will be growing outside aren't that interesting this time of year. One months time the daffodils will be in bloom and flowering trees etc. So other than seeing the inside stuff there wouldn't be as much to see there next week. Sorry I suggested it! You'll have to come back sometime after May and visit.

Here is a link that might be useful: WRTA web site (bus)

Don't forget the Arboretum in Jamaica Plain! I forget the original name; Harvard is involved if that helps.

The Arnold Aboretum! I've only been once. They have a lovely conifer section, and a fantastic bonsai display. I keep meaning to go back.

Everything is still leafless at the moment around here, though.

Here is a link that might be useful: the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard.

The greenhouses at Wellesley College are always a treat. However, I don't know how you would get there by public transportation. Your hotel concierge may have some suggestions. Wellesley is about a half hour away from Boston.

~ Hilda

I must interject! The Arnold Arboretum is an *amazing* local and national resource, a world class plant collection, readily accessible by public transport, historically important (laid out by Frederic Law Olmstead -- and was a wintering ground for Native Americans -- and a popular destination for urbanites since the 19thC), has a terrific collection of conifers which are especially stunning in winter (and the Spring cones of abies and others are quite beautiful -- purple, pink, red), Hemlock Hill is a disappearing beauty, due to woody adelgid (see it while you can!), the witchhazels are probably still in bloom, and the magnolias have started. The crocuses (and scilla?) are out...and if you are an optimist, you could say that maybe some daffs will be starting by next week.

Then, if you are looking for another outing, I'd go to Cambridge, walk down Brattle St (historic, pre-Rev houses) to Mount Auburn Cemetery for more beautiful trees, lovely bulbs and elegant sculpture.

O -- one more thought -- the new Greenway where the Big Dig took place. It's a nice walk from the North End in Boston (start with a morning cappucino in a lovely Italian cafe), then take a very leisurely stroll south through multiple gardens to ChinaTown. Mass Hort is installing their portion of the gardens soon -- but the North End has a lovely plaza/fountain area, the middle section (Columbus Park?) is kind of nice, and the China Town section is terrific. If you walk at a regular pace, it's only about 20-30 minutes. Yes -- it's a work in progress, but it's fun to see the bones and it's wonderful to have this green space in the city. Also -- you can get some nice views of the Harbor from around the area I probably mistakenly call Columbus Park.

Which reminds me...I should post a link to info about volunteering with Mass Hort in case anyone is interested.

Enjoy your trip to Boston!

Here are some easy suggestions, all an easy walk or a couple of t stops from Copley Square. It is a wonderful location!
-The Christian Science center is just outside of Copley Square. It is a lovely building with a big reflecting pool. You will also find the very unique mapparium there in the Mary Baker Eddy Library, which is well worth a visit.
-The public garden is very nice and you can walk through to Charles Street for lunch on Beacon Hill. You can take the t one stop from Copley to the Arlington stop but if you want to walk the extra few blocks go down Newbury Street for fancy window shopping. Even better, you could walk straight down to Beacon then over to Charles. On the side of the street closest to the river there are many tiny new england gardens along the front of the brownstones. It is one of my favorite things to walk along and see how creative people can be with 100 square feet in the shade!
-Commonwealth Avenue is a couple of blocks down and there is a nice mall (the grass kind, not shopping) to walk along. The trees along the mall are wrapped with tiny white twinkle lights at night (I think donated by a private citizen). With the brownstones lining both sides it is the classic Back Bay experience.
-If the weather permits and you are into walking, the esplanade along the Charles river is very nice.
-You can easily take the t to harvard square (green line inbound to Park Street, change to the red line toward Alewife and go a few stops). There is so much there to see. Harvard yard, nice gardens on Brattle and an old cemetery on Garden Street.
navigational hints:
-When your in the Back Bay, notice that the cross streets are in alphabetical order from Arlington to Hereford.
-Get a t map and keep an eye on the stops. Sometimes the automated announcements give incorrect information.
-On the t, inbound always means toward Park Street station.
Have a great trip!

Here is a link that might be useful: mapparium

gfult's mention of Harvard Square reminded me of "The Glass Flowers" at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Absolutely incredible and not-to-be-missed if you are in the area.

~ Hilda

Are the 'glass flowers' currently at Harvard? We saw them last summer at Corning as a special exhibit. I don't remember how long they were going to be there, but it was a while.

They were very, very impressive. Unfortunately, I was there with a 9 year old who was totally unimpressed. Why, I don't know, since she loved the entire rest of the museum, and has been bugging us to return ever since.

the glass flowers (always amazing) have been joined by glass sea creatures!

"Sea Creatures in Glass
Many years before they were commissioned by Harvard University to make the 'Glass Flowers,' father and son artists Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka meticulously shaped glass and wire into lifelike models of marine animals.
This new exhibition features dozens of these spectacular glass animals, many on display for the first time since Harvard acquired them around 1878. Combined with video, real scientific specimens, a recreation of the BlaschkaÂs studio, and a rich assortment of memorabilia, these models of marine invertebrates offer intriguing insights into the history, personality, and artistry of the extraordinary men who created them."

i'm very much looking forward to seeing this.

Here is a link that might be useful: glass flowers

Have to agree with Mayalena...Arnold Arboretum is a lovely place to spend an afternoon and one of my very favorites and I haven't even seen the new Greenway yet. Thanks, Mayalena.

:-)

And the park system is called the Emerald Necklace, not pearls.

I would think the forsythia would be blooming at the Arboretum and a few bulbs popping up.

You could at least walk over to Winston Flowers on Newbury Street.

I just came back from the Philadelphia area and their trees were flowering and the grass a vivid green.

Hey Bostongardens,
I have always wanted to visit the greenhouses on the Wellesley Campus. How does one go about this? It sounded like you had some good information there. Have you seen them and how are they if you have? Do you need to make a reservation or call a specific place to ask permission?

Debra

I am the OP, back from a great (but very cold!) time in Boston. Of course I ran out of time to get everything done, what with having to work some and all, but I did see the glass flowers exhibit--everything it is cracked up to be! Amazing! The sea creatures less so--lots of jellyfish which didn't have the detail of the flowers. The Gardner was also fantastic--there is something in the courtyard year round since it is glassed in. I hit it right for the nasturtiums. I also toured the Public Library, which was very palatial. Not much blooming in the Public Gardens, but the willows just starting to bud were a very beautiful light green. I will have to go back one summer. Thank you all again for helping me! P.S. I had a cannoli at Mike's in Little Italy. As good as NY!!

Odyssey -- so glad you enjoyed your visit to Boston!

Debra -- Have enjoyed visiting and writing about the Wellesley College Greenhouses many times. Always something to learn! They are open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission.

Best to call in case there is a tour or special program going on. (781-283-3094)

Wellesley Friends of Horticulture sponsor a variety of programs and classes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wellesley Friends of Horticulture

Thanks for getting back to us Odyssey. It is so great to know you were able to find something close enough to fit your time schedule. I have not seen the glass flowers yet, so thanks for that rave. :-) Have been to the Gardner which I have really enjoyed and of course Mike's has been popular here for many years. They also have a great ricotta pie. :-)

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