tour of boston garden

UNTOLD STORIES OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN

Join the Friends of the Public Garden for a free walking tour of Boston’s iconic Public Garden. Learn about the history, sculpture, and horticulture of America’s first public botanical garden during a one-hour guided tour through this treasured oasis.

2023 TOUR SEASON SCHEDULE

Public Garden tours return to the nations first public botanical garden on Tuesday, June 20. Tours run Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. through the high season. 

CANCELLATIONS

The Tuesday,October 17  tour is cancelled due to weather.

PRIVATE TOURS

Private tours may be scheduled Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. The suggested donation will depend on the size of your group. Private tours are generally available June through September. To inquire about a private tour, please email [email protected] at the Friends office.

Additional questions? Please email [email protected].

Tour Quickfacts

• Public tours are free. No need to sign up prior; just show up!
• Please meet at the Make Way for Ducklings  sculpture in the Garden and watch for our volunteer tour guides in green aprons.
• Two volunteer tour guides lead each tour.
• Tours last about 60 minutes.
• Approximately one-half of the Public Garden (from Beacon Street to the bridge) is covered.
• A tour may be cancelled due inclement weather. Please call the office at 617-723-8144 to confirm.
• Please plan for the weather. You may want to bring a hat, sunblock, and water on warm days.

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TD Garden is the home arena for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. TD Garden is owned by Delaware North, whose CEO, Jeremy Jacobs, also owns the Bruins. It is the site of the annual Beanpot college hockey tournament, and hosts the annual Hockey East Championships.

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The Prettiest Gardens to Visit in Boston and Beyond in Spring, Summer, and Fall

Take a stroll, why don't you?

Photo by LUNAMARINA/Getty Images

If you’re the type of person who notices the first faint flowering of the trees each spring, you’re not alone. Eagle eyed garden fans can spot witch hazel as it begins sprouting its yellow flowers in February, followed by forsythia, followed by magnolias, cherry blossoms (and apple and plums), and dogwoods. By May, the purples of lilacs and wisteria take over, and flowers that grow from bulbs over the winter have sprouted in phases—daffodils, then tulips. Boston may be known for its wintry climate, but there’s almost always some plant life to appreciate if you know where to look.

In gardens in and around Boston, intentional planting also means that there are successive waves of color and new bursts of blooms each month. There are splendid gardens that have taken decades to develop, but just as importantly, they’re also carefully tended continuously to keep them looking great. To get your fill of colorful gardens, blossoming trees, stunning flowers, and burgeoning produce, check out these gardens in and around Boston. Whether it’s a well-tended urban flower bed or a whole estate, there are plenty of gardens to choose from. Enjoy a stroll or bring a book and a picnic for a longer visit.

Public Boston Gardens

Boston Public Garden 4 Charles St., Boston Open from dawn to dusk boston.gov

Boston is home to many firsts, including America’s first botanical garden. Since 1837, the Public Garden has been a showpiece of intentional planting. The Victorian era shaped the park that we know today, but the flowers in the 57 beds along the path from Charles Street to Arlington change seasonally. Tens of thousands of tulip bulbs planted in the fall fall brightening the garden in the spring. As the season transitions, they’ll gradually be replaced by heliotrope, celosia, and angelonia that have been growing from seeds at the greenhouses in Franklin Park and awaiting their turn in the garden. Winfield Clarke, the head grower, designer, and greenhouse manager, also has plans for a COVID memorial garden, red geraniums around the George Washington statue, and the return of the palm trees.

Though it’s particularly lovely in the spring, there’s no season when it’s underwhelming. Using the city’s website , you can identify the 40 notable tree species as they shift from spring buds and flowers to leafy green to many shades of red and yellow in the fall.

Arnold Arboretum (125 Arborway, Boston) Sunrise to sunset daily arboretum.harvard.edu

Nestled between residential neighborhoods, the Arnold Arboretum is a 281-acre living museum of 15,000 plants. The trees are stunning year round, whether for their unique shapes and bark in winter, blossoms in spring, shades of green in summer, and foliage colors and seed pods in fall. The excellent labelling system makes it easy for visitors to identify trees and shrubs, and this detailed interactive map also lets you identify the plants in person or at home.

The Arboretum is most popular in early May when the lilacs bloom along the path up the north side of Bussey Hill, but late spring is also a great time to see the crabapples on Peters Hill and the eastern redbud. Taking the main paths up either hill provides great views of downtown Boston, but the narrower side paths have their own secret charm. A trip to the Bonsai and Penjing collection is also a charming detour. The staff provides seasonally recommended “ Wonder Spots ” around the arboretum, so be sure to seek out those whenever you go.

Boston Nature Center 500 Walk Hill St., Boston Open dawn to dusk massaudubon.org

The Boston Nature Center has three distinct kinds of gardens. A pollinator garden near the entrance to the Environmental Conservation Center (the first green municipal building in Boston) attracts butterflies from a dozen species as well as other insects. The Clark-Cooper Community Gardens provide plots for residents of adjacent communities, and the Boston Food Forest Coalition’s edible forest is based here too.

All of these gardens can be found along the fully accessible Sensory Trail with a dial-in audio guide that offers additional information. Along the trail, you’ll also cross boardwalks over the wet meadow, pass fruit trees, and spot countless bird boxes as well as the birds who nest in them.

Photo by Alice Brown

Kelleher Rose Garden 73 Park Drive, Boston Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m., May-October emeraldnecklace.org

Ninety years ago, a formal rose garden was planted in the Fenway section of the Emerald Necklace, which is generally designed to feel wild and natural while serving as a flood control system for the Muddy River. Today, the garden includes over 200 varieties of roses growing on bushes and stems and up over trellises. One hybrid rose is named for a former parks commissioner, Justine Mee Liff.

The rose garden is a quiet sanctuary whenever it’s open, but the blossoms are most abundant from mid-June to Labor Day. To learn more about the care of roses and to give back to the park, you can volunteer at “Tuesdays with Roses” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. beginning June 8.

Carolyn Lynch Garden on The Greenway along John Fitzgerald Surface Road between Sudbury Street and North Street, Boston rosekennedygreenway.org

There are many special park features along the 1.5-mile linear park that makes up the Rose Kennedy Greenway, from the mural in Dewey Square to the Rings Fountain to the Armenian Heritage Park. The formal gardens form the western boundary of the two North End parks. They are somewhat elevated and use boxwoods to dampen the bustle of Haymarket and the passing cars. The plants are designed to bloom successively across warmer months so they are always full of color.

The Carolyn Lynch Garden was reopened in 2018 after major renovations were completed with foundation funding in honor of the garden’s namesake. Like other plants along the Greenway, the flowers and bushes here are fertilized with compost tea , an organic mixture that is brewed in a nearby garage.

Japanese Garden at the MFA 465 Huntington Ave., Boston mfa.org

Tenshin-en, or the Garden of the Heart of Heaven, is an outdoor gallery at the western corner of the Museum of Fine Arts. Although there are more than seventy plant species here, it’s the 200 stones that define this garden. The stones are arranged in ways to suggest sweeping majestic scenes found in nature, and here they are situated to create a “feeling that evokes the rocky coastline and deep forests of New England.”

When the garden is open, stepping through the wooden gates and under the heavy beam provides a portal into another world. When the garden is closed, it can be viewed from Gallery 258 on the second floor of the museum.

Private Boston Gardens

Beacon Hill Various locations and online FREE to see flower boxes, Virtual tour $25 beaconhillgardenclub.org

The most extraordinary gardens on Beacon Hill are tucked away behind walls. Since 1928, ticketed tours of these gardens have been held on the third Thursday of May with funds dedicated to civic projects around the neighborhood. In 2021, the tour is staying online with a virtual tour on Wednesday, June 30th at 9:00 a.m., for a chance to visit these hidden gardens from your home.

If you’re exploring Beacon Hill on foot, you can admire the front gardens of the houses on Mount Vernon street, where the houses are set back from the street. You’ll also find wisteria pouring off of 22 Louisburg Square and a flourishing garden in the side yard of 29 Chestnut Street. The window boxes and front stoops around the hill are also well planted, since the Beacon Hill Garden Club has been co-sponsoring the window box contest since 1958. Even the box in front of the post office bursts with plants.

Fenway Victory Gardens 1200 Boylston St., Boston Free to visit, $40 for a plot fenwayvictorygardens.org

Victory gardens took America by storm during World War II as the nation rationed their fruits and vegetables at home to send supplies to the military deployed overseas. The only public victory garden that has been operating continuously in the same spot since it was founded is located on 7.5 acres in the Fenway. Here 500 plots are tended by nearly as many community members.

The original victory gardens were focused on growing produce. Today, in what’s officially called The Richard D. Parker Memorial Victory Gardens, you’ll still find plenty of gardeners cultivating vegetables, but there are many plots focused on flowers and other plants. Some gardens are heavily shaded by mature trees, and their caretakers opt for just installing seating and having a little backyard away from home. You can wander through on the warren of paths or join the waitlist to get a plot of your own.

Community Gardens Various locations thetrustees.org

The Boston Natural Areas Network was formed in the late 1970s to protect Boston’s urban wilds, undeveloped natural areas around the city. Five years later, they began protecting urban gardens from development pressures. By 2014 when they merged with the Trustees of Reservations, they owned and managed 54 community gardens in eight neighborhoods—about a third of all the community gardens across Boston and about 15 acres total.

You could spend a day or more using the Trustees’ map to explore their gardens or to find one near you to request a plot. Don’t miss the Berkeley Community Garden at 500 Tremont Street, which provides a parallel path through the solace of the gardens as an alternative to walking along a busy street. Other especially vibrant gardens are Mission Hill Community Garden (750-752 Parker Street), El Jardin de la Amistad (403-405 Dudley Street) in Roxbury, and Joe Ciampa Community Garden (124 Marginal Street) in East Boston.

Maybe *Your* Garden (or Your Neighbor’s) boston.gov

For each of the past 24 years, the City has honored gardeners across all of the neighborhoods of Boston. In recognition of Bostonians’ many different yard sizes, the categories range from “porch and container gardens” to “large gardens” of more than 500 square feet. Special awards go to shade gardens, vegetable and herb gardens, and storefronts. Winners receive a golden trowel, and gardeners who win more than three times join a hall of fame and are eligible to become judges.

Applications for this year’s contest are due on July 8. If you’re looking for inspiration, visit Holbrook Street in Jamaica Plain to see a past winner and lots of other lovely gardens amid the brightly colored homes.

Photo of Wakefield Estate by Mark Smith

Gardens Beyond Boston

Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum 1465 Brush Hill Road, Milton Open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday and selected weekends $5 recommended donation wakefieldtrust.org

Mary (Polly) Wakefield was the tenth generation of her family to live on this farm in Milton, and in her lifetime she converted the former hay fields into a splendid garden using her training at the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture for Women, plus additional training at the Arnold Arboretum. What had once been gentle hill slopes became terraces for planting a collection that ranges from dwarf conifers to towering dawn redwoods. The paths are grassy and the staff lets the buttercups and forget-me-nots bloom in abundance, to the delight of Boston school children who typically visit the garden in the spring.

Polly especially loved kousa dogwoods, which flower in June, when over 300 trees will change from green to white. (Native dogwoods bloom first, and you’ve probably seen them blossoming around Boston in May.) Check out one of the events planned for Dogwood Days between June 5 and 20. The activities include early morning bird watching and shearing the sheep that have replaced lawn mowers. On any visit, be sure to visit the sheep and the two llamas who serve as their protectors.

Garden in the Woods 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from April to October $14 for adults, purchase tickets online in advance nativeplanttrust.org

The Garden in the Woods could be the setting for a flower-filled woodland fairy tale, but sprinkled in among the magic is an incredible conservation effort. The garden was originally founded by Will Curtis and is now owned by the Native Plant Trust that serves to cultivate and protect plant species that are native to New England and grew across the region before Europeans arrived. Plants that can be vulnerable to habitat loss due to development, invasive species, and climate change are protected here by growing them, seed banking them, and selling young native plants to the public.

Photographs by the entrance introduce you to seasonal highlights, and outstanding interpretive signage throughout the garden is full of history, science, and plant notes. The ferns are unfurling and as spring transitions into summer, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for azaleas and pink lady slipper orchids. Don’t miss the Curtis Woodland, the lily pond, and the limestone area as you begin your journey, and enjoy the art incorporated into the gardens and the exploratory family activity area.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden 11 French Drive, Boylston Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. $16 for adults towerhillbg.org

Overlooking the Wachusett Reservoir to the west and descending into the forest to the east, Tower Hill Botanic Garden is full of vistas and whimsy (and plants). It is truly a four season garden. On a spring day, fields of daffodils and welcome visitors. On a hot summer day, cool paths through the woods reveal plants that grow happily in the shade as well as follies, temples, and urns. In the fall the vegetable garden spills over with bounty. And in the winter, the indoor Limonaia and Orangerie provide a tropical escape amidst the citrus trees and palms.

Through September 30, you can explore “Wild Hideaways,” eight interactive sculptures spread across the landscape. The secret garden is the best place for people watching, while those seeking wildlife should head for the rustic overlook.

The Gardens at Elm Bank 900 Washington St., Wellesley Open 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., check website for early closures for special events $10 for adults masshort.org

Whether you identify gardens with flowers, herbs, vegetables, wandering paths, or formal rows, the Gardens at Elm Bank have a bit of everything. Nestled into a larger DCR reservation that’s surrounded by a particularly bendy part of the Charles River, the gardens are managed by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

The stately Italianate Garden behind the manor house is walled in by hedges and was designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm in 1907. Adjacent to it is the Bressingham Garden, which was planted in 2007, and is packed with plants designed to have a visual impact in all seasons. Young visitors will be delighted by Weezie’s Garden for Children, a kid-friendly section with opportunities to climb and dig and make music. And in the center of it all stand statues of the goddesses Flora, Ceres, and Pomona. If you visit in June, look for Echinacea, Monarda, and Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) looking great to attract butterflies and birds.

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $10 for adults thetrustees.org

A drive up to Castle Hill will take your breath away—most classic photos of the estate are across the rolling hills of the Grand Allée, but the sunken Italian garden designed by the Olmsted Brothers more than a century ago is where the flowers are blooming. Here there are fountains and columns that offer European elegance, while the flowers themselves are more English. A walk along the raised perimeter paths or a stroll through the center will make you feel like royalty. Crossing the street to the rose garden will make you feel like you’ve entered an ancient ruin.

The high walls of the garden lengthen the growing season here by keeping out the cool Atlantic breezes. To see the gardens in early bloom, visit in June; however, you’ll find it flowering throughout the summer. You can take a formal tour on June 12.

The Stevens Coolidge House & Gardens 153 Chickering Road, North Andover Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $10 for adults thetrustees.org

The Trustees of Reservations also owns and manages the Stevens Coolidge House and Garden, and the property has recently undergone significant investment. The flourishing rainbow of tulips were featured at their spring “BloomFest” event, but this garden is planted to look abundant across multiple seasons. There are more formal and stately rose gardens, as well as spaces like the wetland garden that feel much more natural even though they’re just as intentional.

Guests who haven’t visited in a few years will discover a new entrance area and parking lot with a new “Garden Gateway” visitors center as well as a pair of curving land sculptures built in the landscape that roll up like waves out of the earth. The historic house on the property will be reopening this summer. Bring a blanket to enjoy some time on the Great Lawn.

Kendall Square Rooftop Garden 325 Main St., Cambridge Reopening in Summer 2022 kendallcenter.com

A bird’s eye view of Boston would reveal a fair number of rooftop gardens, but there’s only one in the area that’s fully open to the public, and it sits atop a parking garage in the heart of Kendall Square. Normally open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, the garden is closed during construction for now. It’s anticipated to reopen next summer; in the meantime, many of the plants are living with Cambridge residents awaiting their return to the garden.

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Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour

The annual tour of the hidden gardens of Beacon Hill honors a long tradition of urban gardening in Boston.

• Contact: Beacon Hill Garden Club
• Price: $50 on or before May 9; $60 after that date
• Neighborhood: Beacon Hill
• Event Type: Learning and lectures Preservation Month
• Posted: 04/10/2019 - 9:44am
• Downloads: Beacon Hill Garden Club website

We will welcome more than 2,000 visitors to our neighborhood. They will enjoy not only our hidden gardens, but also our shops, restaurants, and museums.

From its first garden tour since the club was founded in 1928, club members have opened their gardens every year on the third Thursday in May, even through the Depression and World War II. We hope you will enjoy the day visiting the nooks, crannies and charming spaces that make Beacon Hill special.

The tour is rain or shine.

Boston Kids Tours

Quick Details

• Users Ages: Best for ages 5 and up
• Info Note: All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Walking Tour for Kids in the Public Garden

Calling all curious kids! Boston Kids Tours is kid-friendly history in a nutshell! This walking tour is a fascinating “must do” for visiting families. Led by friendly, dynamic local educators who have a passion for history and a love for sharing stories with kids, we’ll take a walk through Boston’s Public Garden learning about amazing Boston history by investigating the statues and monuments in the Garden. How did a Boston dentist change the world? Why did a Boston attorney represent a 5 year old girl in court? How does Boston’s most photographed bridge stay up? And of course, we’ll visit everyone’s favorite statue: our “Make Way for Ducklings” ducks. We even include a mini-lesson on mastering the Boston accent! Take a ride on the Swan Boats before or after your walking tour–a perfect double feature for kids and families. One hour, meets at the George Washington statue at the Arlington Street entrance to the park. ages 5-12.

• Chevron down What are the recommended ages for your tours:

Our tours are best for ages 5+. This tour was designed with elementary and middle school students in mind.

• Chevron down Can my child(ren) join the tour alone?

No. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult who agrees to monitor the child’s safety while on this tour. This tour is extremely low-risk, as it takes place entirely within the confines of the Boston Public Garden.

• Chevron down Is this tour accessible for folks on wheels, including wheelchairs and strollers?

Yes. There are no streets to cross and the route is flat. There are winding paths and a short flight of stairs to climb to get off of the bridge over the lagoon, but this tour is suitable for mostly all levels of fitness. The stairs to the bridge can be skipped, and we can meet you along the path; no worries. Everyone can access the bridge and the full tour. For those with hearing challenges, just let us know. Although we do not normally need voice amplification on this tour (the park is pretty quiet), we will gladly experiment with a voice amplifier so that everyone can hear.

• Chevron down Does the tour take place in bad weather?

The tour is held entirely outdoors, and there is no spot under which to take cover if the skies open up. Dress for our famously changeable Boston weather! If the forecast is very obviously rainy, cold, windy, or otherwise horrible, I will send you a text and email to let you know what’s happening, and you’ll get a full and prompt refund if we cancel due to weather. Sometimes this is a very tough call to make, so please bear with us as we keep a close eye on our weather app. We generally are able to do a fun, comfortable tour if the weather is 40F and up. As for heat, the park has many shady spots. We have never had to cancel for extreme heat, but you never know. We’ll keep you informed and do the best we can to have a wonderful tour.

• Chevron down What about dogs?

Leashed dogs are allowed in the Boston Public Garden, and owners are expected to pick up after their dogs. Please contact me at alicia@bostonkidstours in advance of the tour because some children are afraid of dogs, are allergic, or can get distracted by dogs, so let’s discuss this before you buy tickets. Also, a barking dog, or a dog that gets excited by people and groups might be an issue as well. We might be better off with a private tour for your group so that all guests, including furry friends, have the best time.

NCAA Tournament coming to Boston, with four teams hoping to cut down nets at TD Garden

B OSTON -- After gripping the country with an exciting first weekend of action, March Madness is now set to take over Boston. TD Garden will play host to Sweet 16 and Elite 8 matchups later this week , and one lucky team will get to cut down the nets on Saturday night.

Will that be the defending champion UConn Huskies? Or will one of the three other teams coming to Boston knock UConn out of the East bracket?

Basketball fans will actually be treated to a rematch of last year's national final in Boston, with the top-seeded Huskies set to face off against the No. 5 San Diego State Aztecs on Thursday night. When UConn and San Diego State are done doing battle, 3-seeded Illinois and 2-seeded Iowa State will duke it out for a spot in Saturday's Elite 8.

(1) UConn vs. (5) San Diego State: Thursday, March 28 at 7:39 p.m.

The Huskies are looking to become the first repeat champ in nearly 20 years and began their quest with a pair of statement wins. UConn cruised to a 91-52 win over Stetson in the opening round before thumping Northwestern, 75-58, on Sunday to make it to the Sweet 16.

UConn has one of the most talented starting fives in the country. The Huskies are led by guard Tristen Newton and sharpshooter Cam Spencer in the backcourt, and anchored by 7-foot-2 big man Donovan Clingan in the middle. Newton and Clingan can take over a game, as both posted double-doubles against Northwestern. Newton poured in 20 points and dished out 10 assists, while Clingan had 14 points and 14 rebounds. The big fella -- aptly nicknamed "Cling Kong" -- also brings some game-changing defense to the floor, as he rejected eight shots against Northwestern. 

Freshman Stephon Castle (21 points off 9-for-17 shooting in the tournament) and glue guy Alex Karaban (21 points, 10 rebounds over the first two rounds) round out the UConn starting lineup, while Big East Sixth Man of the Year Hassan Diarra packs a punch off the bench.

That's what the San Diego State Aztecs have standing in their way in the NCAA Tournament -- again. UConn won its fifth title last year with a 76-59 win over San Diego State in the championship game, and the Aztecs will be looking for some revenge this Thursday in Boston.

San Diego State is through to the second weekend thanks to a 69-65 win over 12-seeded UAB in the first round and a much more comfortable 85-57 win over Yale on Sunday. The Aztecs are once again led by their defense, which has held opposing shooters to 37 percent from the floor during tournament action.

Offensively, the Aztecs are led by senior Jaedon LeDee , with the 6-foot-9 forward averaging 29 points over the first two games of the tournament. Guard Darrion Trammell stepped up with 18 points against Yale, while senior guard Lamont Butler had 14 points, four assists, and four steals for the Aztecs against UAB.

(2) Iowa State vs. (3) Illinois: Thursday, March 28 at 10:09 p.m. 

Iowa State and Illinois both had relatively easy paths to Boston, winning each of their tourney games by double digits. Iowa State bested 15-seeded South Dakota State, 82-65, in the first round and then beat 7-seeded Washington State, 67-56, on Saturday. Illinois was tested by Morehead State in the opening round, with the game tied at the 14:21 mark, but the Illini got things together and won big, 85-69. They followed that up with an 89-63 win over 11-seeded Duquesne on Saturday.

Iowa State is extremely balanced offensively, with four players scoring in double digits in both of their tournament wins so far. Sophomore Tamin Lipsey is leading the way at 16 points per game, while freshman Milan Momcilovic is averaging 14.5 points off 50 percent shooting over his two tourney games. The Cyclone are shooting the bell really well from deep, hitting 48.6 percent of their 3-pointers over the first two rounds. 

Terrence Shannon Jr. is the man on Illinois, with the senior guard dropping 26 points on Morehead State before a 30-point explosion against Duquesne. He's shooting 63 percent for the tournament so far.

And when it's not Shannon Jr. doing the scoring for the Fighting Ilini, senior forward Marcus Domask usually picks up the slack. He's coming off a 22-point evening against Duquesne, and had a 12-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against Morehead State.

The two winners from Thursday night will advance to the Elite 8, which will be played in Boston on Saturday. The winner of that game will get to cut down the nets at TD Garden and then head off to the Final Four, which is being held in Phoenix, Arizona on April 6.

Boston last hosted an NCAA regional in 2018, when eventual champion Villanova cut down the nets at TD Garden.

Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail returns this weekend

The eight-studio driving tour of western massachusetts includes stops in the northampton area, hadley, shelburne falls, and more..

This weekend is one for the potheads, in the most literal sense.

For the 20th year, the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail returns in Western Massachusetts. On Saturday and Sunday, pottery enthusiasts from all over can tour the scenic Pioneer Valley to visit open studios, talk shop, and purchase works from 29 different potters.

“We all have this weird, innate drive to transform clay into a pot,” said Tiffany Hilton, who’s based in the Northampton area. “How that brings meaning to our lives and adds value to someone else’s life is this weird, shared goal.”

The trail , a self-guided tour for drivers to complete at their own pace, features eight different studios and activities along the way including live music, food trucks, and demonstrations. It spotlights many local artists who have lived in Western Mass. for years, as well as guests from all over the country, some this year coming from as far away as Minnesota or Arkansas.

Hilton, who’s been on the trail for 19 years, will be selling mugs, bowls, and decorative planters. One of the great joys, she observed, is seeing returning customers who not only continue to buy her work, but comment on her growth as an artist.

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“Twenty years ago, I was not making the best pots I’ve ever made,” she said. “It’s really fun to see the customers who come once a year when they tell me the changes they see in my work. It’s kind of this time-lapse film.”

The Pioneer Valley has attracted many potters over time. Though there’s no single answer why, Mary Barringer, a potter who’s been living in Shelburne Falls for more than 35 years, thinks it’s a mix of the relative affordability compared to other parts of the state and proximity of studios to one another.

“Things are relatively close together compared to many rural places,” said Barringer, who’s been on the trail for 18 years. “Potters are an interesting mix of solitary and convivial. Most of us work alone, but we do really love to connect up with each other.”

The trail offers an opportunity for potters to solidify these bonds among themselves, while also connecting deeper with the public, who can take a peek inside studios that often remained closed throughout the year.

“This is practically the only time that our workspaces are actually open to the public,” said Barringer. “This is a chance for us to clean up, which is always good — without the pottery trail, I might never clean my studio — but it’s a chance for people to see where it all happens.”

The pottery trail is also an opportunity to see some of the top potters in the country in their element, Hilton said.

“Even if you have no interest in making your own pot, it’s really fun to see people who are so jazzed up and excited about what they’re doing,” said Hilton. “You can’t not be happy and proud for them.”

Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail. April 27-28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit asparagusvalleypotterytrail.com .

Henry Bova can be reached at [email protected] .

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Little Big Town

• Date October 31 , 2024
• Event Starts 7:00PM
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Event Information

Celebrating their 25th anniversary as one of country music’s most successful groups, multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-winning four-piece Little Big Town – comprised of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook – joined forces with longtime friends and collaborators Sugarland at this year’s CMT Music Awards to deliver a stunning world premiere performance of their new song “Take Me Home.”

Fans will hear the newly released single live this fall on the Take Me Home US tour, produced by Live Nation and Sandbox Live, with special guest Sugarland and support from The Castellows . The Take Me Home Tour will stop in Boston on October 31, 2024. The general sale begins Friday, April 12 at 10am local time on Ticketmaster.com. 

Lineup subject to change without notice.

Limited Ticket Inventory Access

Offers for special, limited time inventory may become available during the period of time between the on sale and show date for some events. To inquire about access to these special offers, email [email protected].

Want to be alerted when special inventory becomes available? Sign-up to receive SMS Texts from TD Garden by sending GARDEN to 51984, text & data rates apply.

Suite Rentals

Events are better with friends! Nothing beats a suite for your group of 18 or more for you and your crew, including private entrances, premium views and personal restrooms. Gather your group and rent a suite for your next event at TD Garden. Explore suite rental options and outreach at TDGarden.com/SuiteRentals

Ticket Availability

Tickets are available online, at the TD Garden Box Office & all Ticketmaster outlets.

Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station

Experience a unique sense of comfort and style at the Courtyard Boston Downtown/North Station, located in the heart of downtown, steps away from the TD Garden and within walking distance to Boston’s Financial District, Government Center and North End neighborhood.

Battery Wharf Hotel

Ideally located on beautiful Boston Harbor, our sophisticated, urban, waterfront retreat is just steps away from Boston’s charming Italian North End, TD Garden, Financial District, Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Battery Wharf Hotel features 150 luxurious guestrooms, 10,000 Square Feet of flexible event space, award winning Exhale Spa, onsite indoor/outdoor dining at Battery Wharf Grille, and Café Amalfi Coffee Shop.

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