Friends of the Public Garden

08/21/2026

Get ready for more FREE tours, now offered on weekends! 👣 🌿 Have you ever strolled through the Public Garden and wondered about the backstory of a monument or the name of an unusual tree? Learn the untold stories and hidden histories of one of Boston's most iconic landmarks on a walking tour led by one of our expert guides.

NEW! Can't make it during the week? Want to bring friends or family? We're now offering weekend tours on select Saturdays & Sundays at 10 AM. Registration required—visit bit.ly/fopgtours to reserve your spot.

Beginning September 1, we're also adding two new tour opportunities each week—Tuesdays at 4 PM and Thursdays at 10 AM. And get ready for more tours in October, where you'll be able to experience the beauty of the parks under the stunning fall canopy. 🍁

Join the Friends of the Public Garden for free , one-hour "Untold Stories" walking tours of Boston’s iconic Public Garden

08/20/2026

While many associate colors in the parks with the bright floral displays of spring and the striking foliage of autumn, late summer welcomes some interesting blooms to the . Enter Hibiscus syriacus, commonly known as the Rose of Sharon.

A deciduous shrub, Rose of Sharon is prized in urban landscape management for its environmental tolerance and its habit of flowering on new wood. Its late-summer blooming period is highly valuable, bridging the phenological gap between the dormancy of mid-summer and the onset of fall.

You may also notice that certain specimens, like this one, feature double blooms. This is the result of petalody, a morphological condition where a portion of the plant’s stamens develop into supplementary petals. This genetic variation produces a dense, ruffled flower that adds texture and holds up exceptionally well against late-season weather.

You can see the Rose of Sharon right at the Charles/Beacon St. entrance to the park, flanking the main gates. 🌸

08/18/2026

This , we’re revisiting important landmarks and monuments in the that spotlight revolutionary figures.

When strolling the Common, it’s easy to focus on the larger historic elements of the space and miss the smaller stone tablets lining the paths. Tucked away along Tremont Street sits one of those easily overlooked treasures: the John Barry Tablet. Sculpted by John Francis Paramino, this granite relief honors a revolutionary icon whose legacy impacted both American naval history and Boston itself.

Born in County Wexford, Ireland, Commodore John Barry earned the notable title "Father of the American Navy." During the Revolutionary War, he commanded a series of legendary vessels, including the Lexington and the Alliance (the ship that won the final naval battle of the Revolution). In 1794, President George Washington appointed Barry to organize, build, and lead the newly formed United States Navy. His connection to Boston runs throughout his career: in 1778 he set sail from Boston Harbor aboard the Raleigh, and in 1780 he was warmly celebrated by the city after bringing the Alliance home to victory.

The memorial itself has a fascinating backstory. First installed by the City of Boston in 1949 under Mayor James Michael Curley, the original bronze plaque was mysteriously stolen. A replacement granite copy was erected in 1977 to ensure Barry’s story remained part of the Common. Years later, the stolen original was miraculously recovered and now rests in the collection of the nearby USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown.

Next time you are near Tremont Street, take a moment to look closely at this stone—while it may be unassuming, it commemorates the story of the man who helped forge a nation’s navy.

08/15/2026

It's been a beautiful week in your parks, and there's no better time get outside and enjoy all they have to offer. ☀️ Here's .

🎊 African Festival of Boston | African Festival of Boston | Aug 15 | 9 AM—7 PM | Boston Common | Experience the rhythms of Africa through traditional drumming, get lost in the intricate beadwork of local artisans, and savor the flavors of authentic African cuisine.

🐘 The Great Elephant Migration | Visitors can explore the herd daily along the Mall, from the Dartmouth/Exeter block to the Exeter/Fairfield block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

🔊 UnCommon Corner | DJ Troy Frost | Aug 15 | 6 PM—8 PM | Boston Common, Boylston & Tremont | Live DJ set featuring 70s soul, Golden Era Hip Hop, Zouk, R&B, and House.

🚚 Food Trucks | Cookie Monstah will be vending all weekend long at Brewer Fountain Plaza on the Common

08/10/2026

You may have noticed a few tree stumps around the parks after some recent removals and thought to yourself, “Why did they leave these here?” These stumps will still be “alive” for a few weeks or more after the rest of the tree is gone, and can share nutrients with neighboring trees via their root system. Scientists, ever the humorists, refer to this as the “wood wide web.”

In the case of elm trees, this shared root system can spread Dutch Elm Disease. However, treating the root system of trees removed due to Dutch Elm Disease helps prevent neighboring trees from also contracting the disease. Much like girdling, treating a living stump is an effort to contain the disease and reduce the chance of transmission. This work is combined with other preventative care measures and ongoing monitoring all year long to ensure the healthiest tree canopy possible.

08/07/2026

The elephants have arrived! 🐘

On behalf of the Friends, thank you to The Great Elephant Migration, to The ‘Quin House, to our friends at Meet Boston, and to the City of Boston Arts & Culture and Boston Parks & Recreation Dept teams for bringing this incredible public art installation to Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

If these elephants remind us of anything, it’s that caring for something larger than ourselves is always a shared effort. Elephants thrive because they look after one another, and these parks thrive for much the same reason: people choose to care for them together.

So grab a friend or just yourself and get lost in the magic of the elephant migration on the Mall, here through September 13. ✨ Your parks are here for you every day, every season, all year long.

08/07/2026

George got a fresh wash this week. 🫧 Even in the humid weather, our conservators were hard at work cleaning one of Boston’s defining pieces of public art.

This work is an essential part of our mission and made possible through your support. Thanks to the crew at Daedalus conservators for their continued excellence!

08/04/2026

You asked, we added more! 🎨 We're now running free workshops ALL SUMMER LONG at Brewer Plaza after the success of our pilot Watercolor Workshops.

Join us every Tuesday and Thursday from 1—4 PM at Brewer Fountain Plaza. Capacity may be limited—RSVP in advance to secure your spot at the .

You’ll see our instructor sitting on the white and green striped blankets on the lawn behind the colorful tables and chairs. Don’t miss an opportunity to be inspired by the landscape in America’s first public park, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the city. It's the perfect vibe for creativity.

Get creative in America’s first public park, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the city

08/04/2026

🌿 Are you passionate about your local park and community greenspaces? Ready to start a brand-new project, or looking for that extra push to get an existing park initiative across the finish line?

The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks is now open and accepting submissions for the 2027 grant cycle!

Established in 2024, the Henry Lee Fund provides private funding to help Boston residents and community organizations improve neighborhood parks and greenspaces. The Fund supports locally identified projects that strengthen accessibility, environmental resilience, and long-term community stewardship while empowering neighborhood groups to shape the parks and greenspaces they know best.

Interested in learning more about making an impact in your local green space? Visit bit.ly/henryleefund

The Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks was established to support local organizations and residents by making small, but potentially impactful, investments in Boston's neighborhood parks and publicly accessible spaces. Underlying these grants is an intent to augment the resources that the City brings t...