EXPERIENCE AUTUMN AT THE GARDEN
While the Garden has unique charms on display year-round, autumn is the most dramatic. Did you know that when New England’s deciduous trees and shrubs change color each autumn, the spectacle can be seen from space? Now you can get a closer look at one of nature’s most impressive transformations when you visit the Garden in autumn.
During autumn, New England Botanic Garden is a must-see destination for fall foliage. And it starts from the moment you visit the Garden. When visitors first drive in, the view of Wachusett Reservoir amidst the fall colors of its surrounding foliage offers a spectacle unlike any other. Once you enter the Garden, the formal and naturalistic gardens showcase abundant fall charm. Some good spots for foliage include Pliny’s Allée, with its rows of fothergilla, oakleaf hydrangea, witch hazel, and towering oaks, which puts on a dramatic show as verdant green leaves transform into shades of orange and red. Venture deeper towards the Wildlife Refuge Pond, and you will see the diverse array of native plants capturing all the shades of autumn’s palette. And, of course, a stroll through the Inner Park reminds us there is no place as peaceful as woods in the fall.
There are also plenty of exciting events in the Garden to herald the arrival of the season. Read on to discover more: the science behind why trees change their color and lose their leaves, as well as the exciting events in the Garden.
SCIENCE OF THE SEASON
Deciduous trees and shrub species grow in temperate regions across the globe. Unlike cold-loving conifers with hardy needles, deciduous trees and shrubs have tender, thin leaves that they must shed each year in order to protect themselves during the cold, dark winter season. Leaves are the busy sites of photosynthesis, the essential food-production process where energy from the sun is used to transform carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen. Because water expands when it freezes, cold temperatures would cause damage to leaf cells where photosynthesis occurs if deciduous trees didn’t move into a state of seasonal leafless dormancy each year.
Decreasing daylight and colder temperatures tell trees and shrubs to prepare for winter. The plants then send sap made of water and sugar from their leaves into their root systems, essentially cutting off circulation to their leaves. In plant roots, valuable sugars can be stored until the next growing season. Learn more about deciduous trees in autumn.
The magic of fall color is all in the science. Three key factors influence the brilliant hues we see — leaf pigments, length of night, and weather patterns. Chlorophyll, the pigment that creates green leaf color, allows plants to absorb sunlight during photosynthesis. In autumn, as daylight hours decrease and nighttime lengthen, chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and other colors within the leaf become visible.
The most commonly occurring fall color is yellow, which comes from xanthophyll. You can also find xanthophyll in dandelions, egg yolks, and bananas. Orange colors result from carotenoids, the pigment found in pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Not all fall colors result from a pigment that originates in the leaf, however. Purples and reds come from anthocyanins, pigments that emerge through chemical reactions that occur when some sugar gets trapped in a leaf. Learn more about factors that affect leaf color.
The Northeastern region of the U.S. is one of the fastest-warming places in the world, according to recent research. Exactly how this warming, a result of human-caused climate change, has and will continue to influence the ecology of our region, the weather patterns we experience, and the extreme weather events we endure is the subject of important ongoing research.
When it comes to fall foliage, experts say that climate change is making it more difficult to experience the dramatic color shows New England is known for. Temperature and moisture availability affect when color appears and the degree of vibrancy we see. Lingering warm temperatures can slow the onset of leaf color change, dry summers stress plants, and excessive rain can produce less vibant colors.
Climate change causes rapid disruptions to our natural systems. That’s why, at the Garden, we pursue sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing our reliance on gas-powered equipment, limiting paper and plastic use, and implementing a variety of ecologically friendly land management practices.
Learn more about how climate change impacts New England ecology.
FALL EXPERIENCES
FAIRIES AGLOW | Select Fridays & Saturdays | September 21 – October 26
Enchanted Forest becomes even more mesmerizing with dazzling light displays, illuminated fairy houses, enchanting activities, ethereal music, and real-life fairy friends.
FAIRY FEST | October 12 through October 14, 2024, 10am–4pm
Join us for a weekend full of magic this autumn as our fairy friends transform the Garden into a realm filled with imagination, wonder, and enchantment.
AMERICAN CRAFT FAIR | October 19, 10AM–5PM & October 20, 10AM–4PM
Discover the artistry of craftsmanship with the finest handcrafted ceramics, prints, jewelry, weaving, and more.
ENCHANTED FOREST | Until October 31
Experience the magic as you journey through our enchanted fairy forest featuring over 30 magical fairy houses built with natural and nature-inspired materials.
SEASONS OF CHANGE | Until October 15
Photographer John Rich has spent the last year photographing the Climate Garden and the Garden of Inspiration from a unique perspective: from above. These images document what a year at the Garden looks like from an aerial view as the seasons change and the daylight shifts. John Rich’s stunning photographs will be on display in the Milton Gallery.
GNOMEVEMBER | Through the month of November
Visiting from near and far, our sneaky garden gnomes will take up residence in some of their favorite hiding spots around the Garden. Search for all of our garden gnomes and uncover their unique stories. Come be part of the magic this Gnomevember!
SPECTACULAR FALL FOLIAGE
As you explore the Garden this season, keep a look out for these autumn stunners.
Hamamelis virginiana
American witch hazel is a deciduous, multi-stemmed woody shrub that grows prolifically in forests across eastern North America, as far west as Texas and Minnesota. In the fall, look for bright, wispy yellow flowers along this plant’s branches. You can see Hamamelis virginiana along Pliny’s Allee, throughout the Inner Park, and in The Ramble. Ozark witch hazel (H. Vernalis), Chinese witch hazel (H. Mollis), and several hybrid varieties are also present in The Ramble.
Liquidambar styraciflua
Commonly called sweet gum, this tree puts on a show that shouldn’t be overlooked. Its leaves, like five-pointed stars, turn hues from yellow to red to purple. New England Botanic Garden sits near the very northern edge of the sweet gum tree’s native range. While a few sweet gum trees grow in the Inner Park, the best place to find them is the Lawn Garden and The Ramble.
Cotinus coggygria
Native to temperate regions of Asia and Europe, smoke bush, or smoke tree as it’s commonly known, is a unique ornamental favorite for many gardeners. It produces large, feathery flowers like puffs of smoke, and its leaves are also a great source of fall color. In the Secret Garden, compare and contrast four different smoke bush cultivars including ‘Grace,’ ‘Young Lady,’ ‘Purple Smoke,’ and ‘Winecraft.’ You can also visit the Garden of Inspiration and The Ramble to enjoy the fiery fall foliage of the smoke bush.
Itea virginica
Commonly known as Virginia sweetspire, this spreading shrub has a native range that extends across eastern North America. In early summer, tiny white flowers cluster cylindrically on drooping stems. By fall, flowers are gone and the Virginia sweetspire’s dark green leaves turn brilliant shades of emerald, ruby red, and purple. Find Itea virginica near the Garden of Inspiration on either side of the entry to Pliny’s Allée, as well as in The Ramble, the Lawn Garden, and the Entry Garden.