Boston Common and Public Garden


The Public Garden takes a nap during winter and begins to bloom soon after spring arrives. Thousands walk through the garden on their way from the Downtown area to Back Bay. For the people who take the time during the garden's "off season", there are many things to see and enjoy.

Pathways are cleared and parents and grandparents alike find this a great spot to take young children for a stroll. Bundle up and take an enjoyable and brisk walk over the suspension bridge (the smallest in the world), around the fountains and down to the lagoon. Park benches provide a resting spot to reflect on a long day or just to enjoy the serenity of the Back Bay.

Enjoy the wildlife of the Public Garden too. You'll see geese, a variety of ducks and plenty of pigeons and smaller birds. Feeding feathered friends can attract quite a crowd and it's smart not to get too close. They pinch and can be quite aggressive.

The beautiful flower beds, covered by winter's gift, will soon be replanted and the brilliant colors of the warmer months will take root. Evergreens offer some of the only color but the huge willows and exotic tress are still impressive.

Take the MBTA Green Line to the Arlington Street stop and it's a short walk down Arlington to the Public Garden. You can also get off at Boylston or Park and walk through the Boston Common to the Public Garden.

From the Arlington Street entrance you will see ever-present influence of Boston's religious leaders. The statue of William Ellery Channing is at the corner of Arlington and Boylston. "He breathed into theology a humane spirit and proclaimed anew the divinity of man."

George Washington proudly sits on a trotting steed at the Arlington Street gate. Keep an eye out for park rangers who patrol with live horses. If you have any question about the Public Garden or almost any attraction in Boston, take a moment and ask a ranger. They are informative and friendly. You may even get to pet their horse or get a souvenir snapshot.