In person. Free.
Join us outside! This spring makes our seventh season of Inside/Out -- outdoor, on-site walking tours of landscape architecture across our region. Tours are free. All are welcome.
RSVP here
About this tour:
Our 2026 series continues in Boylston, Massachusetts...
This tour focuses on a few recent projects at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill:
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a living museum of gardens, woodlands, and conservatories dedicated to creating experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world.
This tour will focus on three of the many spaces designed by Ryan Associates: the recently completed Arrival Garden, Pliny's Allee, and The Ramble.
The Arrival Garden
Ryan Associates worked closely with the NEBG as part of a multi-year phased endeavor to expand visitor capacity, significantly improve accessibility, and reimagine the overall entry experience. Fundamental was relocating the initial visitor interaction from a gatehouse at the edge of the property into the main building at the center of the campus. This move included the construction of a lushly planted Arrival Garden -- "The Court; A Garden within Reach" -- as well as universally accessible pathways, lighting, parking, and rain gardens.
Pliny's Allee
Pliny’s Allée provides a pedestrian connection between the main campus building and the new children’s garden. Previously, a grass path between the rows of existing and beloved mature oak trees was not usable for all visitors. Ryan Associates was tasked with creating a fully accessible pathway without damaging the roots of the trees, part of the campus-wide effort to create equitable circulation routes.
The Ramble
The Ramble is a new 1.5-acre children’s garden. Designed in collaboration with landscape architect W. Gary Smith, the garden is composed of a series of destinations set within a lush botanic collection and encourages engagement with nature through unscripted play. Garden features include an interactive water sequence and wildlife pond, an “outcrop” amphitheater and boulder scramble, and a “stumpery” that turns felled trees into natural play structures.
Designed with accessibility at the forefront, visitors of all abilities can discover nooks and crannies that reveal opportunities for active and passive play. Paths meander through the woodland setting and lead to the heart of the space, a sunlit circular lawn and perennial garden, which is positioned with views of the surrounding garden.
After the tour, participatants will be invited to explore the rest of the grounds.
This tour will be led by
Laura Knosp, ASLA, Principal, Ryan Associates Landscape Architecture + Planning and BSLA Member-at-Large
Zach Kalette, ASLA, Senior Associate, Ryan Associates Landscape Architecture + Planning
.
This Inside/Out ticket includes entrance to the grounds.
This ticket does not include lunch. Participants are encouraged to bring along a picnic, so that we don't overwhelm Tower Hill's small cafe.
All are welcome.
Members and non-members, coworkers + friends + families too. We aim to go in most weather. We look forward to exploring with you!
