Idea Garden, Garden in the Woods - Framingham, MA - Demonstration Gardens on Waymarking.com

In Framingham, outside the Saxonville part of town, is the Garden in the Woods, which has a demonstration garden they call an "idea garden."

The garden is part of a larger display of botanical gardens. Though you could consider the entire property as a demonstration garden, this plot is specifically set up to provide people with ideas on using native plants in more landscaped areas such as patios and structures, rather than showcasing plants in their own natural settings.

To access the garden, you have to pay admission at the gift shop, currently about $9/person. This goes to the New England Wildflower Society, a non-profit society devoted to the preservation and use of native plants in New England. Once you pay and get your map, you walk a short distance on level ground to the plot, by the greenhouse.

The Idea Garden has the following feature:

The Patio - this partially fences in area features mainly a container garden of standing and hanging pots in a brick square area.

Roof Garden, or Green Roof - this roof on a shed is a mat of grasses and green plants on the top of a shed that provides an alternative to an asphalt shingle covering.

Sedge Lawn - this shaggy square plot of sedge is an alternativce to thirstier grasses on lawn.

Border Gardens - these plots are more traditional landscaping arrangements showing how natural plants can be planted together to provide a small ecosystem.

Edible Plant Garden - this area is reserved for plants that are, in some way, edible. This is the latest addition, and continues to evolve.

Nearby is a labrynth where you can literally walk in circles to the center and back.

There is also more to see in the botanical gardens, overall.

Getting there can be a challenge for those are not familiar with the area and miss one or more of the small direction signs. From Route 9, take the exit to Route 126. Travel north on 126 under the Massachusetts Turnpike to a fork in the road with Concord Street. Take the left fork onto Concord Street into Saxonville. At a light, take a left onto Water Street, then take a right soon afterwards (don't cross the river). Follow Water Street to the intersection with Potter Street. Take a left, still Water Street, and drive about a quarter mile to Hemenway Road. Take a right on the road and follow that road to the entrance on the left.

Address: 180 Hemenway Road Framingham, MA United States 01701 Educational programs: Yes Demonstration garden's website:: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/05/2015 Roscoe45 visited it