You probably already know the Public Garden, but while
growing up in the Boston area, one of the unlikliest
"gardens" was a great favorite - Mt. Auburn Cemetery in
Cambridge, the first of it's kind, I believe, a final resting place consciously designed as a garden for the living. The fact that it's a National Landmark is a fairly
impressive credential as well. . .

Here is a link that might be useful: Mt. Auburn Cemetery

One garden that we saw was Tower Hill Farm and Conservatory. I'm not sure how we got there, but I
enjoyed the trip.

If you spend a day in Boston, you might consider visiting the Isabella Stewart Museum. See link below, which discusses the horticulture in the museum at the bottom of the page.

The Arnold Arboretum is great and although in Boston, it is a little out of the way.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, I am not familiar with the New Bedford area. There are a couple of other nurseries in that area I believe. Someone help me out? Is it Sylvan and there is another...can't remember the name.

pm2

Here is a link that might be useful: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

You might consider visiting th Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum in New Bedford. I haven't visited yet but it is on my to do list:

http://www.rjdmuseum.org/

Also there is a very good whaling museum nearby:
http://www.whalingmuseum.org/

Also Roger Williams Park in Providence RI has a couple of gardens to see and things for kids:
http://www.rwpzoo.org/

Other gardens of interest:

Blithewold Mansion and Gardens
in Portsmouth RI
www.blithewold.org

Tower Hill Botanical Garden
Boylston MA (just off Route 495)
www.towerhillbg.org

Garden in the Woods has an exhibit called "Big Bugs". I just took my niece and nephew ages 11 and 9 and they loved it! Wood bug sculptures in the garden and of course great to see native plants.

http://www.newfs.org/visit/bigbugs

If you want to see photos of these check out my PictureTrail photo albums of these gardens below....

Here is a link that might be useful: Sedum37's Photos of Gardens to Visit

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. garden in the wood maybe a go this year with that exhibit.

digger

If you are interested in Avant Gardens, you would surely be interested in Allen Haskell's nursery right in New Bedford.

Here is a link that might be useful: Allen Haskell

i am familiar with all the gardens recommended by other posters but i assure you that you will not find any more beautiful gardens than those at Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth Ma. It's only 30 min from new bedford. very large property; the nursery specializes in daylilies and iris, but the extensive display gardens are filled with thousands of unusual perennials and shrubs, vines and trees. the co-owner is a well respected garden designer. they are very relaxed and friendly there. you could bring a picnic lunch and eat under the trees and/or down by the pond.

After Tr.Lake, and close to you , I would also second the rec. for Blithewold gardens, not far from you, in Bristol R.I. Lovely views out to the water as well. Next to Blithewold is Green Animals, a very interesting/unique display of topiary.
I would not send you to Garden in the Woods this time of year. It is really best in the spring, when there are lots of their woodland things blooming. Summer can be a very dull time there plant wise.
Tower Hill is a very extensive botanical garden that is filled with display gardens of many many types, and a fascinating conservatory. It is definitely worth the trip, but it would take you about 1 1/2 hrs.to get there from NB.
Once there, you would want to allow yourselves at least 3 hours to see it all. they have a cafe on site. If you enter Tower Hill in the GW search box, you may be able to find a great photo album of Tower Hill, done by sue last fall.
best of touring,
Mindy

Here is a link that might be useful: tranquil lake nursery

And not too far from Blitewold is Green Animals, which children should love--as well as gardening adults. Amazing topiary.

I originally suggested Garden in the Woods since you seemed very interested in visiting and had mentioned it in your posting. I do agree with Mindy's post (arbo_retum) that there aren't many blooms now as compared to other times of year. There is the Big Bug exhibit that is fun for kids but if you want to see blooms May 1-15th (near Mother's Day) has the most gorgeous blooms and flowering trees etc. Later in Fall there is beautiful fall foliage. Other times of the year there are sporadic blooms and it is still interesting to see but if it is your only garden may be look into Mindy's suggestions above. Since I have a membership to the Garden in the Woods I can visit it several times a year but like Mindy said if you want blooms Late July into August is the least interesting time of year.

Green Animals I've also visited and like Ginny says above it is interesting year round. Good for kids and nearby to Blithewold also.

Hope we haven't confused you!

Oops meant to say that Green Animals topiary garden is interesting May to September/October as it has a vegetable gardens, many annuals, sunflowers, plus the topiary bushes all clipped in whimsical shapes (animals). You can also tour the house and it has nice views of Narragansett Bay. I don't think it is open in late fall or winter so not interesting 'year round' as my posting said.

where did you end up going? alot of us spent alot of time recommending places to you; do tell us about your trip.
best,
mindy

well vacation was fun except on monday when we had all that rain.

thank you for all your suggestions and hints. maybe next year. (its a mantra that i may adopt).

just to let you know what we did:

lucy and desi museum in jamestown new york
jello museum in leroy new york
dinner at delmonico's in utica new york. the portions are huge and the food was good-- if you happen to be going thru the area-- its right off the thruway
lunch with a nephew at agava in hartford ct (we like the
table-side prep of fresh guacamole!!
salt marsh pottery, baker books & remain's to be seen in
new bedford area. can make a trip to NE without a stop at a building 19+. Papa Gino's Pizza had surprizingly good lobster rolls (or so says my wife after 3 of them in 1 day)
clams and scallops were very sweet this year. Davy's Locker has revamped itself a bit, it was nice to sit outside and dine with a view of the harbor. we did a tour of south boston, cambridge and the charles river on the way to the museum of fine arts (don't ask me, i only navagated-- but the map was too small is my story and i'm sticking with it)

please note no trips to gardens, parks or nurseries. like i said maybe next year. if i start to plan now!!

diggerb