Native Plant Trust

Native Plant Trust Native Plant Trust (NativePlantTrust.org) is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants.
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We operate Garden in the Woods in E. MA; Nasami Farm nursery in W. MA; and six sanctuaries. The mission of Native Plant Trust is to conserve and promote the region’s native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes. Sign up for our free eNews here: https://newenglandwild.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=da2ac32891c8517a5f7bca27c&id=f0bd3f3eb2

Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening, but they can also tell us a lot about the places where they grow.In his lates...
08/30/2026

Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening, but they can also tell us a lot about the places where they grow.

In his latest Ask the Gardener column for the Boston Globe, Native Plant Trust Director of Horticulture Uli Lorimer takes a closer look at the plants we often label as weeds, exploring what they can reveal about our gardens and how understanding their life cycles can help us manage them more effectively.

From annuals and perennials to woody vines, Uli shares strategies for deciding which plants to pluck, which to cut back, and which might be worth admiring.

“Even when I feel overwhelmed, I remember that weeds are a human construct, and by shifting how we see them, they can lead us to appreciate their abundance.” – Uli Lorimer, director of Horticulture

Read the full article through the link here: https://www.boston.com/real-estate/gardening/2026/08/27/new-england-gardening-weeds/

Native Plant Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Tracy Trial M.Ed. as Director of Development, following a n...
08/29/2026

Native Plant Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Tracy Trial M.Ed. as Director of Development, following a national search led by Koya | Diversified Search Group. Trial brings more than a decade of leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, strategic communications, and organizational development to the nation’s first plant conservation organization.

At Native Plant Trust, Trial will lead the organization’s development strategy and philanthropic engagement, strengthening relationships with donors and supporters while helping to build the resources necessary to advance the Trust’s conservation, horticulture, and education work throughout New England.

“Tracy combines strategic thinking and fundraising expertise with a deep understanding that philanthropy is fundamentally about relationships,” said Tim Johnson, PhD, CEO of Native Plant Trust. “She has an exceptional ability to connect people with mission-driven causes, engage boards and organizational leaders in development strategy, and build collaborative systems that create lasting support. We are thrilled to welcome her to Native Plant Trust at such an important moment in our history.”

Trial’s approach to development reflects the relationship-centered philosophy she will bring to the organization. Asked during the search process what her first priority would be, she answered: “Building trust. Everything else comes after.”

“I feel fortunate to join Native Plant Trust at this moment, with so much strength in its 125-year legacy and so much opportunity ahead,” said Trial. “I look forward to deepening existing relationships and building new ones in service of native plant conservation across New England.”

Trial will work closely with Native Plant Trust’s leadership, Board and Council, staff, members, donors, and philanthropic partners to deepen engagement with the organization and broaden support for its mission.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/p/gbvftW_Y

This spring and summer, Native Plant Trust’s conservation interns have been gaining hands-on experience while contributi...
08/27/2026

This spring and summer, Native Plant Trust’s conservation interns have been gaining hands-on experience while contributing to the long-term work of conserving New England’s native plants.

Hannah Warmbrod, Haydn Suske-Funk, Jack Kagan, and Priscilla Wadlington have supported projects ranging from rare plant monitoring and natural community mapping to coastal field surveys and habitat management. Their work puts their training into practice while helping build the knowledge needed to conserve rare plants and the ecosystems they depend on.

This year’s Intern Showcase offered a chance to share some of that work and to see the fresh perspectives and energy these emerging conservation professionals bring to our team. We’re grateful for the curiosity, care, and contributions of our interns, and excited to see how they carry this work forward.

Learn more about their conservation work in our latest Conservation eNews—sign up through the link: https://newenglandwild.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=da2ac32891c8517a5f7bca27c&id=f0bd3f3eb2

Photo: (1) Atkinson Conservation Intern, Haydn Suske-Funk, (2) Lovejoy Conservation Intern, Hannah Warmbrod, (3) Everett Conservation Intern, Jack Kagan, (4) Field Botany Intern, Priscilla Wadlinton © Native Plant Trust

Join us for Introduction to Ecological Horticulture, beginning online on Thursday, August 27, and continuing Thursdays t...
08/26/2026

Join us for Introduction to Ecological Horticulture, beginning online on Thursday, August 27, and continuing Thursdays through September 17 from 7–8 PM, followed by an in-person session at Garden in the Woods on Friday, September 18, from 9 AM–12 PM. Taught by the Garden in the Woods Horticulture Staff, this course will introduce the essential practices and techniques that support resilient, successful gardens.⁠

Throughout the course, you'll learn how to plant and care for native plants, prepare soil, mulch, water, transplant, and prune, as well as how to maintain and winterize your garden and prepare it for the next growing season. The course combines virtual instruction with hands-on learning at Garden in the Woods, giving you practical knowledge you can put to work in your own garden.⁠

Whether you're beginning your journey in horticulture or looking to strengthen your gardening skills, this course offers a practical foundation for cultivating healthy landscapes while working in harmony with the plants and ecosystems around us.⁠

Register here: https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/introduction-to-ecological-horticulture/

Our fall plant sale is here! All plants are now 25% off for members and 15% off for non-members.We still have a wide var...
08/24/2026

Our fall plant sale is here! All plants are now 25% off for members and 15% off for non-members.

We still have a wide variety of perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines, including many plants that offer vibrant fall foliage and late-season color. Plus, find additional in-store specials at both of our garden shops.

Visit us at Garden in the Woods, open daily from 10 AM–5 PM, or Nasami Farm, open Thursday through Sunday from 10 AM–5 PM. Check out our updated plant list through the link in our bio to see what’s currently available.

Not sure where to start with your fall planting? Book a garden consulting appointment for one-on-one advice from an ecological gardening expert. You’ll receive a planting plan tailored to your space and garden priorities, helping you make the most of the plant sale.

And starting October 1, Garden in the Woods will once again have extended fall hours. Through November 22, the Garden will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM–4 PM. Prepare for the fall color and browse our current plant list through the link: https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/for-your-garden/buy-native-plants-new/

Photo: Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) © Native Plant Trust

This spring and summer, Native Plant Trust’s horticulture interns have been gaining hands-on experience across our garde...
08/19/2026

This spring and summer, Native Plant Trust’s horticulture interns have been gaining hands-on experience across our gardens, nurseries, and programs while exploring the many ways native plants can support both biodiversity and people.

At Garden in the Woods, horticulture interns Jess Nelson and Amanda Mackie have been investigating the relationships between plants and pollinators, using iNaturalist observations to explore bloom times and studying plant-insect interactions, in collaboration with Earthwise Aware, to better understand how native plantings support arthropod biodiversity. Their work highlights an important part of ecological horticulture: providing continuous habitat and food sources for pollinators throughout the growing season, not just during peak bloom.

Through Native Plant Trust’s internship program, interns have the opportunity to learn alongside our horticulturists, contribute to meaningful work, and deepen their understanding of native plants and the ecosystems they support. Their experiences help connect hands-on horticulture with the larger work of conservation, education, and stewardship that happens throughout Native Plant Trust.

We’re grateful for the curiosity, care, and fresh perspectives our interns bring to our work, and excited to see where their growing knowledge takes them next. 🌱

Photo: (1) Amanda Mackie holding a luna moth (Actias luna), (2) Jess Nelson tending to the meadow at Garden in the Woods, (3) Amanda and Jess working in the GITW greenhouse © Native Plant Trust

Plants have long offered more than standard beauty, they can also provide an incredible palette of color. In Coaxing Col...
08/18/2026

Plants have long offered more than standard beauty, they can also provide an incredible palette of color. In Coaxing Color from Plants, participants will explore the art of natural dyeing through the seasonal plants of our surrounding landscape, discovering the surprising colors that can be drawn from the natural world.

Join us on Saturday, August 29, from 10:30 AM–1:30 PM at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA for this hands-on Special Event led by artist and educator Maggie Ruth Haaland. Working in rhythm with the season, participants will learn to gather plant materials with care, prepare dye baths, and explore the possibilities of plant-based color. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to see plants in a whole new way.

Whether you're interested in natural dyes, creative practices, or simply finding new ways to connect with the plants around you, this workshop offers an opportunity to slow down, experiment, and uncover the colors rooted in the landscape.

Register through the link: https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/coaxing-color-from-plants/

Photo: Swamp rose-mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) © Uli Lorimer

08/17/2026

Caterpillar activity is not uncommon at Garden in the Woods in the summer months—but watching these astonishing creatures is just as fascinating each time🐛🌱

Check out this video from Native Plant Trust Horticulturist Poe Johnson, who caught this Cecropia caterpillar on camera, crawling up the branch of its black cherry (Prunus serotina) host tree.

Video: Caterpillar at Garden in the Woods, Native Plant Trust © Poe Johnson

Good horticultural practices are the foundation of a healthy, thriving garden. From choosing the right plant for the rig...
08/14/2026

Good horticultural practices are the foundation of a healthy, thriving garden. From choosing the right plant for the right place to understanding how soil, water, pruning, and seasonal care shape plant health, thoughtful horticulture can make all the difference.

Join us for Introduction to Ecological Horticulture, beginning Thursday, August 27, and continuing Thursdays through September 17 from 7–8 PM, followed by an in-person session at Garden in the Woods on Friday, September 18, from 9 AM–12 PM. Taught by the Garden in the Woods Horticulture Staff, this course will introduce the essential practices and techniques that support resilient, successful gardens.

Throughout the course, you'll learn how to plant and care for native plants, prepare soil, mulch, water, transplant, and prune, as well as how to maintain and winterize your garden and prepare it for the next growing season. The course combines virtual instruction with hands-on learning at Garden in the Woods, giving you practical knowledge you can put to work in your own garden.

Whether you're beginning your journey in horticulture or looking to strengthen your gardening skills, this course offers a practical foundation for cultivating healthy landscapes while working in harmony with the plants and ecosystems around us.

Register through the link: https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/introduction-to-ecological-horticulture/

Photo: NPT Horticulture team © Hope Miller

This summer, our Horticulture team traveled to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to collect seeds from black huckleberry (Gaylussac...
08/13/2026

This summer, our Horticulture team traveled to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to collect seeds from black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), one of many sustainable seed collection trips that help conserve New England’s native flora.⁠

Seed collection is careful, hands-on conservation work, and our Horticulture team brings knowledge, dedication, and a deep understanding of native plants to every collection trip. Each trip helps preserve the genetic diversity of New England’s native flora and safeguard local ecotypes—plants uniquely adapted to the conditions of their natural habitats. These seeds can become an important resource for conservation, restoration, research, and future reintroduction efforts, helping protect the plants and the broader communities of wildlife and pollinators that depend on them.⁠

Our latest Horticulture eNews takes a closer look at this important work, along with what’s blooming at Garden in the Woods, upcoming classes, and projects from our summer interns.⁠

Sign up to read our full Horticulture eNews here: https://nativeplanttrust.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=da2ac32891c8517a5f7bca27c&id=f0bd3f3eb2

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321 Commonwealth Road, Suite 204
Wayland, MA
01778

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