This award-winning wildflower garden, conceived and designed by Dr. Shirley Gale Cross in 1979 after the Thornton Burgess Society acquired the property, is a highlight of the Green Briar experience. Situated in front of the 1780 homestead, the one-third acre garden was designed for teaching, has over 300 plants and is maintained by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

Dr. Cross, considered the guiding spirit of the garden, received her Bachelor of Science degree from Massachusetts State (now University of Massachusetts) and her Ph.D. in Systematic Botany at Radcliffe College (now Harvard University).
For many years before her passing in 2008, Shirley “worked in humble anonymity planting and weeding” and held lectures and garden walks for the many visitors stopping by.

Be on the lookout for the annual spring plant sale featuring an extensive selection of herbs, perennials, everlastings, annuals, and wildflowers. There are also a limited number of true wildflowers, native and naturalized, dug from the nature center’s garden. The Mercantile offers a wide selection of gardening books and materials with all proceeds benefiting our educational programs.

Visitors are welcome to drop by and enjoy this botanical treasure and relaxing atmosphere.

We are currently accepting applications for additional garden volunteers (no experience needed). Especially in need of docents for our Wednesday Morning Garden tours.

Please contact Janice Donovan at janice@thorntonburgess.org