Tower Hill Botanic Garden: A Must-See Destination for Botanical Artists
by Diane Piktialis
Tower Hill’s vision is a “world where people and plants thrive.” Its mission is to “create experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world.” A visit to Tower Hill has always been a delight for me, even long before I became a botanical artist. Having grown up in Worcester, I remember Tower Hill’s modest beginnings as a farm.
In 1986, the Worcester County Horticultural Society decided to create a botanic garden at the Tower Hill Farm in Boylston, Massachusetts. In the early years, one of the major Tower Hill events was the annual spring plant sale which I attended regularly. Over the next few decades, Tower Hill steadily expanded. Today, Tower Hill Botanic Garden is a 171-acre botanic garden and arboretum located approximately 8 miles north of central Worcester, Massachusetts. Tower Hill features “17 distinct gardens, preserved woodlands, and miles of walking trails.”
Tower Hill is the site of NESBA’s Spring Exhibit which will be housed in the Milton Gallery from April 1, 2021 through May 31, 2021. We hope many NESBA members, their friends, and their families will attend the exhibit. Please be aware that Tower Hill has moved to a solely online visitor registration system for the health and safety of staff and visitors. All ticket purchases must be made online and in advance. All programs are held outdoors in the gardens or indoors in well-ventilated classrooms and galleries. Admission to indoor events is by timed entry only and adhere to current state regulations for social distancing and group gathering size. Masks are required. For more information about planning a visit to Tower Hill, go to
https://www.towerhillbg.org/planyourvisit/
Tower Hill Botanic Garden also offers the botanical artist ample opportunity to sketch or paint en-plein air. Among the many gardens at Tower Hill are The Apple Orchard, The Conservatories (Limonaia and Orangerie), The Cottage Garden, The Field of Daffodils, The Secret Garden, The Moss Steps, The Vegetable Garden, The Wildlife Garden, The Wildlife Refuge Pond and The Winter Garden. The many gardens feature collections of edible, native and ornamental plants selected for cultivation in New England. See what’s in bloom during April and May http://1vy3xb4dnlyw2hi8ft1pvwr0-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Spring-Bloom-Calendar-2.pdf
Tower Hill’s many walking trails highlight the natural features of the property and the surrounding woodlands and provide ample opportunity for visitors to be out and about in nature while getting a little exercise as well.
As you think about Spring plans, put Tower Hill Botanic Garden on your list. It’s a must-see destination for botanical artists and anyone who loves plants and nature. Check out the field of over 25,000 daffodils. And don’t forget that sketchbook.
For more on sketch booking, see Nature Journaling - Observe and Learn .