Garden in the Woods

Our Administration, Philanthropy, and Conservation teams have moved out of the Garden and into new offices nearby (321 Commonwealth Road, Suite 204, Wayland, MA 01778). The move provides the long-planned opportunity to make changes that better meet the needs of visitors, plant shoppers, and our programs. We have:

• Demolished the administration building and moved all the utilities
• Moved retail plant storage to the newly open space and to the stock bed area and added fencing
• Reconfigured parts of the parking lot
• Constructed a larger, fireproof conservation seed vault, with a small laboratory for seed processing
• Rewired the education, horticulture, and shop buildings with upgraded cabling for wi-fi and a new phone system

Parking

Our parking lot is unpaved and accommodates 42 cars, including two handicapped-accessible spaces. If the parking lot is full, visitors may park on public streets, being careful not to block driveways or park on lawns. (See parking map below.) In addition, please note:

• Framingham permits parking on only one side of the street; which side is determined by whether the year is even- or odd-numbered. In 2024, parking is allowed only on the even-numbered side of streets.
• Parking is prohibited on Raymond Road and Hemenway Road, because they must be kept clear for emergency vehicle access.
• When walking to the Garden entrance, please stay along the side of the road, as local traffic and bicycles use these roads.

Photography

• Commercial photography and group photo sessions for weddings, family portraits, engagements, celebrations, or similar gatherings are not permitted. (If you're a member of the press, please call to make advance arrangements: 508-877-7630.)
• We know you'll be absorbed in capturing images, but please take care to stay on the paths—and don't even think about disturbing the plants to get a better effect.
• Please do not block the paths or stand in the way of other visitors.

Thank you!

Please see below for basic rental information. Additional details are available here.

Overview

• The meeting space is available to rent June through March, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (We do not offer rentals during April and May, the busiest months at the Garden.)
• We can accommodate groups of up to 75 people.
• The Education Center is located on the ground floor and has handicapped-accessible restrooms.
• Rental guests are invited to enjoy our 45-acre botanic garden, featuring the largest landscaped collection of wildflowers in the Northeast, during public hours.
• We do not offer rentals for outdoor events in the Garden, nor for weddings and parties.

About the Meeting Room

• The room is approximately 785 square feet and features a wall of windows overlooking the Garden.
• The room is set up as a classroom, and renters can rearrange it in a variety of ways on the day of the rental, within the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. rental period.
• Renters may use the entire room or divide it with a soundproof partition (advance notice required; please request this on the separate rental form).
• The room has Wi-Fi access, air conditioning and heat, and is handicapped accessible.
• A covered, open-air stone patio with picnic tables adjacent to the Education Center provides space for small outdoor sessions and picnics in warm weather. The patio is available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.
• An adjoining kitchen is available in which renters may reheat, refrigerate, and serve food that is already prepared. However, renters and caterers may not prepare food on the premises.
• Dishes and silverware are available.
• If you hire a caterer, the caterer must deliver food during the 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. period, when the renter is on the premises.

Rental Fees

• $400 for groups of up to 25 people
• $600 for groups of up to 50 people
• $900 for groups of up to 75 people

Fees include the meeting room, access to the kitchen, free parking, and free admission for all attendees on the date of your rental. We also require an advance $250 Cleaning & Damage deposit.

Scheduling Your Rental

Please download and read these additional details, fill out the Rental Agreement form, and send the form to Public Programs Administrative Assistant Stephen Kiely at skiely@NativePlantTrust.org. For questions, please call 774-301-8453.