Top Spots To See Spring Wildflowers Around Boston

Boston is full of hidden and public gardens filled with manicured landscapes. The city is also home to varied wildflowers, spread among the parks and paths of Boston. Whether visitors are looking for wildflowers to identify or just a lovely place to see what's growing this season, these locations are among the best in the area to see what naturally grows in Boston. They are all free and open to the public, so anyone can enjoy them.

Jamaica Pond
507 Jamaicaway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 522-5061
www.friendsofjamaicapond.org

Jamaica Pond is a park and kettle pond in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. As part of the Emerald Necklace, it is one of several planned parks that run through the city. A number of wildflowers grow in the small park area surrounding the pond. Be on the lookout for gorgeous native wildflowers like the pinkish-purple thistle. There are walking trails and plenty of shoreline to search for blooms.

Related: Boston's Best Botanical Gardens

Franklin Park
1 Franklin Park Road
Boston, MA 02121
(617) 541-5466
www.cityofboston.gov

Franklin Park is a great place to walk, bicycle, play games and picnic in one of city's greenest areas. Adventurous visitors can take a stroll in the park in search of errant wild flora in the spring. The park, which includes the Franklin Park Zoo, is a total of 485 acres, though much of it is too developed for wildflowers to grow. Stick to the wilder areas of the park for a better glimpse of what is blooming in Boston's soil.

Charles River Bike Path/Greenway Path
www.mass.gov

The Charles River Bike Path is part of a large network of paths both inside and outside of Boston. Some of the path takes bicyclists through developed areas with few plants. However, other areas go through natural spaces that sometimes sprout wildflowers. Because some of these trails venture into very rural areas, this a great place to see a variety of plants. Those who do not have bikes or do not enjoy bicycling can still check out the Charles River Bike Path. It is open to everyone.

Back Bay Fens
www.cityofboston.gov

Back Bay Fens or "The Fens" is a large park in the Back Bay, near the Fenway neighborhood and the Museum of Fine Arts. It was originally reclaimed for a brackish sewage marsh and turned into one of the city's most attractive parks. It has changed much over more than a century. Today, it is home to a number of landscaped gardens and areas where wildflowers are free to grow. Go for a picnic, a ball game or a stroll and see the various treats the park has to offer.

Garden In The Woods
New England Wildflower Society
180 Hemenway Road
Framingham, MA 01701
(508) 877-7630
www.newenglandwild.org

While not in Boston, this space is perhaps the best for viewing wildflowers in Eastern Massachusetts, and is only roughly 20 minutes from the city. The Garden in the Woods is a cultivated collection of native plants in a woodland setting. The trail itself is paved with stones, creating a whimsical walk that is very enjoyable. Of course, guests will be given ample opportunity to learn about the various plants grown by the New England Wildflower Society. There are also flowers for sale at the Garden Shop.

Related: Boston's Best Garden Centers

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.