THE FRANK L. HARRINGTON, SR. ORCHARD
The Frank L. Harrington, Sr. Orchard apple collection at New England Botanic Garden began as a passion project of Stearns Lothrop Davenport, a former trustee of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, who decided during the Great Depression to make preserving heirloom apple varieties his life’s work. Because of Davenport’s commitment to collecting and reproducing unique heirloom apples, the orchard showcased 119 antique varieties in an orchard of 238 trees.
Some apples represented in the Frank L. Harrington Sr. Orchard originated in Europe, but many, like the Hubbardston (c. 1832), carry the names of Central Massachusetts towns where they were bred. The Calville Blanc (1598, France), Sops of Wine (c. 1600, England), and Rhode Island Greening (c.1650) are some of the orchard’s oldest varieties.
Starting in 2018, the Garden began an orchard restoration project that involved documenting, grafting, and replanting the trees. This project was completed in the summer of 2022 with a new total of 268 apple saplings. Today’s visitors will be welcomed to the Garden by the new saplings lining the drive. Visit this page for more information about the orchard’s history, science, and continued progress.
