![]() This Berkshire County forest offers a wealth of recreational opportunities – camping, fishing, swimming, and picnicking, hiking – but it also hides a spring treasure. The flowers cascade down hills, line wooded paths, and decorate the already stunning waterfalls. What remains today is the best of both: gorgeous stone mill foundations, and mountains of glorious rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurel. An exquisite place for walking, biking and informal picnics.Ī peaceful 400-acre retreat in Central Massachusetts, Moore was the site of grist and saw mills from 1747 through the early part of the century. Most breathtaking are the ornamental trees and masses of azaleas and rhododendrons that bloom in May and June. The former Mosley family estate on the Merrimac River, this 476-acre park features 19 th century gardens and plantings, rolling meadows, towering pines, and one of the largest naturally occurring stands of mountain laurel in Massachusetts. The reservation is also home to the headquarters of the Mass. A variety of wildlife, including deer, thrive in the upland habitats and along the river. The reservation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its many elements of estate landscaping. The 182 acres of woodlands, fields, and old estate property is surrounded on three sides by the Charles River. ![]() ![]() ![]() This 721-acre former estate features pine needled paths through woods, acres of sunny rolling meadows, and spectacular rhododendrons which line the old carriage roads. Each of the many walking trails opens up new floral delights: a pond full of yellow and white pond lilies and wildflowers of all kinds. Around the mansion pink and white dogwoods, apple trees bloom in profusion. Trails traverse upland and bottomland forests, marsh, swamp and pond edges, meadows and an Atlantic white cedar bog.īorderland’s 1,773 acres surround a granite mansion dating from 1910, formerly the home of Blanche and Oakes Ames. The living treasures of the Blue Hills include flora, fauna and natural phenomena – from coyotes to copperheads, dogwoods to lady's slippers, and turkey vultures to dragonflies. Look for the serviceberry near the edge of the lagoons and footbridges. This native, water loving tree is one of the first to bloom in spring, and gets its name from Native American tribes who noticed that its blooms came at the same time that the shad fish returned to the rivers to spawn. The bracts help protect the flowering structure and their showy appearance helps attract pollinators! Finally, the Shadblow Serviceberry will be displaying dense and showy white flowers along arching branches. Flowering Dogwoods that can be found around the lagoons and monuments will be full of whitish pink blooms, and if you have a chance to take a closer look, notice that what appear to be flower petals are actual modified leaves called bracts, and the flower itself is the small greenish structure in the middle. Crabapples will be full of pinks and reds, and graceful Hatch Shell Magnolias will bloom almost immediately after the last frost, displaying 5-10” whitish pink flowers with a crisp, sweet smell. Several of the parks trees will also be showing off in early spring, thanks in part to volunteer pruners who kept them healthy this winter. Look for this fountain-like shrub, covered in bright yellow, delicately scented flowers, throughout the park and especially around the lagoons. One of the signs of spring is the profusely flowering forsythia. I n the spring, when all is abloom, you’ll especially want to visit: You'll find beautiful scenic views in almost all of our parks.
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