March 28, 2024

The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring

Rehoboth Ramblings

Posted

It’s spring again! You know, that brief interlude between too cold and too hot. I’m enjoying the cheerful sounds of birdsong in the morning and eager to visit local garden centers again. It’s also a good time to visit beautiful botanical gardens this time of year, once spring is really in bloom. Here are a few gardens I’ve enjoyed visiting, all within an hour’s drive. Just looking at the photos from these gardens is enough to make you want to drop everything and go visit (and maybe do a little bird-watching while there.)

Blithewold: One of my favorite spring activities is viewing all the daffodils blooming at the Blithewold Estate in Bristol, RI in April. Blithewold has greatly expanded its programs recently, so there is more to do there than just tour a stately mansion and walk around the lovely waterfront estate. There are talks, teas, dinners, garden demonstrations, and much more. Check out their website at www.blithewold.org to find out more. You can also find out just when the daffodils will be at their best this season.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden: Heading north, there is Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, a short distance from Worcester (www.towerhillbg.org). This beautiful site overlooks Wachusett Reservoir so you can enjoy some great views while visiting. In addition to having 17 unique gardens, including an apple orchard, there is also a garden shop, a café and such a variety of programs offered that I wish it was closer to home.

Garden in the Woods: The New England Wildflower Society operates Garden in the Woods in Framingham; it opens for the season on April 15. The Wildflower Society explains “Garden in the Woods is the Society’s botanic garden, showcasing an unrivaled collection of both rare and common native plants in a dramatic woodland setting.” The 45-acre property includes trails through valleys with a pond, a bog, and a stream. The colors and textures of the native plants change with the seasons. Garden in the Woods includes a garden shop with plants that are hard to find elsewhere. Find out more at www.newenglandwild.org.

Happy Trails!

Spring is also a time to get out for a walk in our own woods. The Rehoboth Land Trust maintains several local hiking trails. At their annual meeting in March, I was impressed once again by the great work this all-volunteer group is doing to conserve Rehoboth land now and for future generations and maintain local trails. You might want to become a member and maybe a volunteer too. Find our more on their website: www.rehobothlandtrust.net.

The Keep Rehoboth Beautiful Committee is organizing a town-wide roadside cleanup the last week of the month, April 22-28. Find out more about how to register and take part in this very worthwhile activity on their Facebook page. A big thank-you to all those taking part in the town-wide litter cleanup. I just wish it wasn’t necessary, but that’s another story.

While spring cleaning is on your mind, the Mass Audubon Society invites you to join volunteers for “a morning of family fun on Sat. April 27 as they spruce up trails, gardens, and nature centers and dive into other spring cleaning projects. There are plenty of activities planned for all ages and abilities, whether you're looking for kid-friendly work (preparing gardens for spring planting) or more strenuous activities (trail restoration).” The closest location will be at Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary in Attleboro. You can find out more about this event at www.MassAudubon.org or by calling 781-259-2185.

Looking for a touch of the tropics? Visit the new Faces of the Rainforest exhibit hall at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. Animals include anteaters, howler monkeys, an anaconda, and two amazing and rare giant river otters (my favorite, though I’m also fond of the sloths.) In the free-flight aviary you can see many tropical birds, including colorful toucans. We visited in February when being in the moist tropical air was a treat (there is even a little waterfall), but the lovely palms and other plants and all the fascinating animals make it worth visiting any time of year.

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