Tours

The Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture offers free group tours of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens led by our trained volunteer docents. A minimum of two weeks' notice is needed to schedule a tour. Tours are generally given on Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. All tours originate in the Visitor Center, adjacent to the greenhouses.

Most groups tour the Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses, whose 15 houses contain over 1000 specimens. The collection emphasizes the diversity and adaptations of desert, tropical, and semi-tropical species. Some popular features of the greenhouses are the desert and rainforest biomes, the fern room, the water-loving species of the hydrophyte house, and the tropical pitcher plants.

During the spring, summer and fall, groups can choose to tour the outdoor spaces of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, either in addition to or instead of the greenhouses. The Alexandra Botanic Garden and Hunnewell Arboretum offer more than 500 species of woody plants set in a 22-acre Olmsted-inspired landscape. Scattered amongst towering specimen trees are distinctive species and cultivars of azaleas, lilacs, viburnums, Japanese maples and rhododendrons, providing displays of spring bloom and bold autumn foliage.

Tours of the Ferguson Greenhouses typically take an hour. Arboretum tours usually last an hour and a half. Tour lengths are flexible, depending upon the attention span and stamina of the group.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the botanic gardens?

The Wellesley College Botanic Gardens consist of the Alexandra Botanic Garden, Hunnewell Arboretum, Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses and Visitor Center. These are all located on the campus of Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Are there plants for sale at the greenhouses?

No, Wellesley College does not offer plants for sale.

What ages are appropriate for a tour?

We give tours to many different groups:

School groups and after-school groups - ages K and up. Tours can be customized to reinforce classroom study and can include an activity in the Visitor Center; please arrange this when booking the tour.

Garden clubs

Senior adult groups

Other adult groups

What educational material is presented in a school tour?

The Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses at Wellesley College offer a year-round exploration of habitat diversity and plant adaptation with over 1000 specimens of desert, tropical and semi-tropical species in a dozen different houses, many representing specific biomes. Our volunteer docents lead groups of 8-10 students on greenhouse tours that last for 40 minutes to an hour, depending upon students' age. We accept school groups from Kindergarten on up.

The greenhouses can accommodate a maximum of 32 children on tour at one time, but larger groups can be split up so that every student participates in a tour and spends time in the Visitor Center. With prior arrangement, tours can include an activity in the Visitor Center. Our school tour program connects to the science standards for K - Grade 6 as laid out in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, with discussions of habitat, plant structure, and life cycle.

Highlights of a greenhouse tour:

• Desert House containing desert-dwelling plants from around the world; observation of desert adaptations; exploration of the concept of convergent evolution.
• Tropic House with several layers of plantings; observation of adaptations to a rainforest environment; exploration of a bromeliad's habitat.
• Hydrophyte (Water) House containing pools filled with fish and water-growing plants.
• Economic plants such as banana, coffee, sugar cane, papyrus; explanation of growth cycles and uses.
• Tropical Pitcher Plants; discussion of the adaptation of these insect-eating plants to their environment.
• Misters: being sprayed by the misters in the Fern House and propagation beds is often a highlight for elementary school kids!

What are the minimum and maximum numbers of people in a tour group?

Eight is the minimum number of people required for a group tour. We divide greenhouse tours into groups of 8 to 10, each led by a trained volunteer docent. The greenhouses can accommodate a maximum of 32 people on tour at a time. Larger school groups are split up so that every child participates in a tour and spends some time in the Visitor Center. Tours can include an activity in the Visitor Center if this is arranged in advance.

Is there handicap accessibility?

The Ferguson Greenhouses are wheelchair accessible. There is one handicap parking space in front of the Visitor Center and several more in the Gray Lot.

The Alexandra Botanic Garden and Hunnewell Arboretum contain stairs and uneven surfaces. The paved paths through the arboretum are wheelchair accessible.

Whom do we contact to arrange a tour?

Tours are organized and led by staff and volunteer docents of the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture. Call the Friends of Horticulture office at 781-283-3094 or email us at horticulture@wellesley.edu. A minimum of two weeks' notice is needed to schedule a tour.

We regret that we cannot accommodate tour groups arranged by commercial tour operators.

What are the hours of operation?

The outdoor spaces of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens are open daily, dusk to dawn. The Ferguson Greenhouses are open from 8 am to 4 pm every day of the year. The Visitor Center is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Tours generally take place Monday-Friday, 10 am - 4 pm, but some weekend dates are available. Arrangements can be made for slightly earlier or slightly later times.

What is the fee?

There is no charge for entrance to the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, and tours are free. Donations to the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture are greatly appreciated.

How do we get to the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens?

Directions to Wellesley College are available on the college website: http://www.wellesley.edu/CampusMaps. Tours originate in the Visitor Center, adjacent to the Ferguson Greenhouses. Visitors should park in the Gray Lot, located near the greenhouses.