Gardens & Gardening

Gardens are much more that just beautiful outdoor spaces—they are living, complex, biodiverse ecosystems that support everything from microscopic organisms to amphibians to birds to mammals. 

Mass Audubon strives to educate people of all ages about the many ways they can make their own gardens, backyards, farms, and fields safer and more welcoming to wildlife. By using organic, nature-friendly gardening practices, even the smallest patch of dirt can become an oasis for thousands of species.  

We invite you to visit our wildlife sanctuaries to explore these kinds of special garden habitats—ranging from native pollinator gardens to apiaries (collections of beehives) to rain gardens. Interested in learning even more? Sign up for one of our gardening, beekeeping, or pollinator-focused programs!

Visit a Demonstration Garden

Many of our wildlife sanctuaries have specially managed gardens designed to support wildlife, help manage stormwater runoff, or provide community gardening space.

Allens Pond, Dartmouth and Westport

Find a pollinator garden certified MonarchWatch.org waystation as well as a sensory garden along their All Persons Trail. Visit Allens Pond

Boston Nature Center, Mattapan

Find a butterfly garden, the Boston Food Forest Coalition's food forest, and the Clark Cooper Community Gardens—the largest and oldest community garden in Boston. Visit Boston Nature Center

Broad Meadow Brook, Worcester

Find a butterfly, bird, and rain gardens that provide food and shelter while improving water quality. Visit Broad Meadow Brook

Drumlin Farm, Lincoln

Find several wildlife garden areas, including the gardens at the front entrance and the Mass Audubon Shop with native perennials. Visit Drumlin Farm

Habitat, Belmont

As part of a Mass Audubon initiative called “Nature by the Yard” stemming from our goal to reduce the loss of biodiversity, the 1,500 square foot grassy courtyard at Habitat is undergoing a transformation. Learn more about this project and how to visit

Ipswich River, Topsfield

Find a butterfly garden and a bird habitat garden. Visit Ipswich River

Felix Neck, Edgartown

Find a butterfly garden, bird garden, and a garden with scented plants believed to have mosquito-repelling properties. Visit Felix Neck

Long Pasture, Barnstable

Find a butterfly mosaic trail, which is a series of native wildflower plots along a trail through open fields. Visit Long Pasture

Moose Hill, Sharon

Find a small native plant garden and a larger bird garden, both alive with birds, butterflies, and insects. Visit Moose Hill

North River, Marshfield

Find several specialty gardens, including a native plant garden and a rain garden with native plants. Visit North River

Stony Brook, Norfolk

Find a butterfly garden that's managed by the Garden Club of Norfolk. Visit Stony Brook

Wellfleet Bay, South Wellfleet

Find a large pollinator and wildlife garden with plants to feed birds, bees, and butterflies, as well as a native bee "hotel." Visit Wellfleet Bay