Wildflower Garden
Located on the grounds of the historic Mann House, at the corner of Stockbridge and Greenfield Streets, the Scituate Garden Club’s Wildflower Garden is a hidden gem that delights in all seasons. The garden showcases wild and primarily native plants.A well-groomed path, which features several natural stone benches and antique farm tools, leads visitors through the garden to a large glacial rock which borders a vernal pool.
In 1980, the Garden Club carved the garden out of an overgrown wilderness. Over the years, club members have developed and maintained the garden to its present size of two acres with more
than 75 plant and tree species.
The Garden Club has been awarded national, state and district awards for the garden. In June 1986, the club presented the Wildflower Garden to the town of Scituate as part of the town’s 350th birthday celebration. The club members continue to maintain the garden.
The Wildflower Garden is free and open to the public year-round for walking, bird watching, and peaceful contemplation.
Why Native?
The plants that we call ‘natives’ have been growing in this country for thousands of years. Animals birds and insects adapted and became dependent on them for their survival. Over time, humans have changed this environment.
When we speak of natives, we mean plants that were growing in the North America before the earliest settlers arrived from Europe. These settlers brought with them hay to feed their livestock which was chock full of seeds that were native to Europe. Ever since that time we have been planting non-native plants for what seemed perfectly good reasons. Well-known examples include Japanese knotweed to feed the pandas at the zoo (it is not a bamboo!); kudzu for erosion; burning bush because of its lovely autumnal color; Asian honeysuckle to feed the humming birds. The list is endless.
Unfortunately, these alien plants are rarely useful to our native wildlife. None provide food for caterpillars. The Asian bush honeysuckle, which the robins love, does not have the calories necessary for them to survive the winter! Most insect herbivores can only eat plants which share their evolution. Good examples are milkweeds for monarchs, parsley family for swallowtail butterflies.
Suburban gardens, big or small, can create their own environment, and if adjacent to other gardens full of native flora, can become a haven for birds - think chickadees and goldfinches. A group of trees along a street is a woodland; flower beds full of coneflowers, sunflowers, asters, bee balm and phlox are a prairie; lots of shrubs are the woodland’s edge.
Cudworth House
Herb Garden
The Cudworth House Garden is located on First Parish Road adjacent to the Senior Center and the former Gates School. GPS 331 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA. For a list of plants currently in the garden, CLICK HERE
History
1797, Zephaniah Cudworth built the present Cudworth House around the chimney of the original structure that was on this site that was built around 1646. At that time, the home was surrounded by fields. At present, the Cudworth House looks out on the former Gates Middle School and the Scituate Senior Center.
In 1993, the Scituate Garden Club undertook the task of re-digging the Cudworth Herb Garden and planting herbs consistent with ones used in the late 18th century. Families from that period grew food and medicines they needed. A kitchen herb garden was a necessity for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
The Scituate Garden Club sought out the expertise of local herbalist, gardener, and historian, Darlene Beauvais. Based on her experience with other historically accurate gardens and extensive research, an herb garden plant list and plot plan were created for the Cudworth House.
The implementation of the original garden plan was truly a town effort. The Scituate Garden Club donated the time, herbs, and labor, and the Scituate Historical Society donated the funds needed for the garden. Town workers, helped by delivering compost. In 2000-2003 the garden was renovated after the garden had been neglected after extensive renovations to the Cudworth House.
Bringing us to the present day. In 2024, the garden has again been completely restored after several years of neglect due to the Covid epidemic and renovations to the Cudworth House. The Herb committee along with help from club members has again restored the garden following the plant suggestions of Darlene Beauvais and consultation with the Gardeners at Colonial Williamsburg. This restoration was funded by a generous National Garden Club Plant America Grant.
