Parks in Bloom

Blue Hills State Reservation
Quincy, Dedham, Milton, Randolph
The living treasures of the Blue Hills include flora, fauna and natural phenomena – from coyotes to copperheads, dogwoods to lady's slippers, and turkey vultures to dragonflies. Trails traverse upland and bottomland forests, marsh, swamp and pond edges, meadows and an Atlantic white cedar bog.

Borderland State Park
N. Easton
Borderland’s 1,773 acres surround a granite mansion dating from 1910, formerly the home of Blanche and Oakes Ames. Around the mansion pink and white dogwoods, apple trees bloom in profusion. Each of the many walking trails opens up new floral delights: a pond full of yellow and white pond lilies; and wildflowers of all kinds. The grounds are open daily, but the mansion is open only for guided tours on the third Sunday of the month April - October 1- 3pm.

Bradley Palmer State Park
Topsfield
This 721-acre former estate features pine needled paths through woods, acres of sunny rolling meadows, and spectacular rhododendrons which line the old carriage roads. Peak bloom is usually mid-June. This is idyllic “horse country” and also a fine place for a spring or summer stroll, hike or bike ride.

Charles River Reservation
Boston, Cambridge
Volunteers from the The Esplanade Association planted over 3,000 tulips and daffodils and they will pop up in April to fill the park with bright reds and yellows. Look for them in front of the Hatch Shell, near the Lotta Fountain and the Oliver Wendall Holmes Memorial, and around the Stoneman Playground. Another great harbinger of spring is the profusely flowering forsythia. Look for this fountain-like shrub, covered in bright yellow, delicately scented flowers, throughout the park and especially around the lagoons. Several of the parks trees will also be showing off in early spring, thanks in part to volunteer pruners who kept them healthy this winter. Crabapples will be full of pinks and reds, and graceful Hatch Shell Magnolias will bloom almost immediately after the last frost, displaying 5-10” whitish pink flowers with a crisp, sweet smell. Flowering Dogwoods that can be found around the lagoons and monuments will be full of whitish pink blooms, and if you have a chance to take a closer look, notice that what appear to be flower petals are actual modified leaves called bracts, and the flower itself is the small greenish structure in the middle. The bracts help protect the flowering structure and their showy appearance helps attract pollinators! Finally, the Shadblow Serviceberry will be displaying dense and showy white flowers along arching branches. This native, water loving tree is one of the first to bloom in spring, and gets its name from Native American tribes who noticed that its blooms came at the same time that the shad fish returned to the rivers to spawn. Look for the serviceberry near the edge of the lagoons and footbridges.

Elm Bank State Reservation
Wellesley, Dover
The 182 acres of woodlands, fields, and old estate property is surrounded on three sides by the Charles River. The reservation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its many elements of estate landscaping. A variety of wildlife, including deer, thrive in the upland habitats and along the river. The reservation is also home to the headquarters of the Mass. Horticultural Society.

Maudslay State Park
Newburyport
The former Mosley family estate on the Merrimac River, this 476-acre park features 19 th century gardens and plantings, rolling meadows, towering pines, and one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel in Massachusetts. Most breathtaking are the ornamental trees and masses of azaleas and rhododendrons that bloom in May and June. An exquisite place for walking, biking and informal picnics.

Moore State Park
Paxton
A peaceful 400-acre retreat in Central Massachusetts, Moore was the site of grist and saw mills from 1747 through the early part of the century. It then became a private estate. What remains today is the best of both: gorgeous stone mill foundations, and mountains of glorious rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurel. The flowers cascade down hills, line wooded paths, and decorate the already stunning waterfalls.

Pittsfield State Forest
This Berkshire County forest offers a wealth of recreational opportunities – camping, fishing, swimming, and picnicking, hiking – but it also hides a spring treasure. Sixty-five acres of wild azaleas bloom in the midst of the forest each June. The best time to view the azaleas is late May to early June. Visitors may hike in amongst them, or view their glory from the comfort of a car. The forest also offers a ¾ mile accessible wooded trail for people who use wheelchairs.

Amazing Waterfalls and Gorges

Best visited in spring and early summer for most dramatic viewing

Savoy Mountain State Forest

Mount Everett SR: Race Brook Falls, Sheffield, contact Mt. Washington (413) 528-0330

Mt. Greylock SR: Money Brook, March Cataract and Deer Hill Falls, Lanesboro (413) 499-4262

Amazing Waterfall and Gorges