Try a Tour!
With 323 acres to explore, there is so much to see and do at the Gardens! Not sure where to begin? Try one of our many docent-led tours, from the Gardens’ art exhibits and history to its wild and cultivated spaces. Please note that free tour tickets are only valid with an admission ticket. Please buy your ticket when reserving a tour.
Two free tours daily.
Every day at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., you can access a free tour with your admission ticket. Whether introducing friends to the Gardens on a Highlights Tour or diving deeper with a Wetlands Hike or other specialty tour, there is something for everyone. Pre-registration is recommended for specialty tours.
Highlights Tour
Daily, May 1-October 19
11 a.m.-noon
Join us for this hour-long tour through our central gardens. Meet at the Ledge and Meadow Garden, then walk through its surrounding gardens. Hear about the origin story and the people who made each garden possible, highlights of Gardens’ history, design elements, and botanical details. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket.
Hike the Trolls
Thursdays & Fridays, May 1-October 17.
1-2:30 p.m.
The Guardians of the Seeds have emerged from the woods and are waiting for you to find them! On this guided hike, we’ll find all five of the trolls hidden in the woods and, along the way, explore the botany behind the magic of the exhibit. Join us to learn more about the artist Thomas Dambo and the team that built them, hear behind-the-scenes stories of how they were constructed, and discover how you, too, can join the trolls and become a guardian of the forest. This tour will last approximately one and a half hours and will cover about 2.5 miles of paths and trails. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome.
Native Plant Hike
Mondays & Tuesdays, May 5-October 17
1-2:30 p.m.
Join our Native Plant Hike for a deeper dive into the world of native plants. We begin the hike down the Haney Hillside, moving from cultivated native plantings to the natural landscape of the Shoreland Trail and Maine Woods Trail, and end the hike traveling up the Birch Allée. This hike lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over the trails; sturdy boots or shoes are recommended. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Café building by the Ledge & Meadow Garden to join the tour. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome.
Wetlands Hike
Wednesdays, May 7-October 1
1-2:30 p.m.
From ponds and vernal pools to small rivers, on this free hike, we’ll explore the Gardens’ many wetlands to see how water affects each natural community. Learn how important wetlands are to our ecosystem, how they provide vital habitat for wildlife, and what we can do to preserve them. This hike lasts about ninety minutes and moves swiftly over our steeper hiking trails. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome. Please meet outside the Lyn and Daniel Lerner Visitor Center by the Heafitz Wetland Bridge to join the tour. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome.
Let’s Talk Biodiversity Tour
Saturdays and Sundays, May 3-October 19
1-2:30 p.m.
Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth. It provides us with everything that makes life on Earth possible—clean air and water, fertile soil, medicines, fuels, materials, shelter, places for recreation, and a stable climate. In this tour, we’ll explore the rich biodiversity at the Gardens and share stories about how biodiverse landscapes enrich and strengthen our communities against change and other challenges. Enjoy the chance to share your perspectives and explore new ones on how we all can protect biodiversity in our own homes. This tour follows an accessible route for wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids. This is a free tour with a valid admission ticket; drop-ins are welcome.
Accessible Cart Tour
Our 90-minute Accessible Cart Tours are led by trained Gardens’ docents, rain or shine, on our quiet electric cart. These tours are a wonderful opportunity for those who may not otherwise be able to walk the Gardens. The cart can accommodate up to five (5) passengers. Each passenger needs a ticket. The tour is $15 for members and $18 for nonmembers (in addition to admission), except on Wednesdays when the accessible cart tours are free.
