Explore a mix of beautiful and functional private and public landscapes during the Fourth Annual Newton Pollinator Garden Tour taking place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm, with a rain date the following weekend, Saturday, September 26, same time. Focused on gardens showcasing mostly native plants across several Newton villages, this self-paced tour will demonstrate how native flora can beautifully sustain vital local pollinators. Organized by the Newton Community Pollinator Project in conjunction with Newton Conservators, the Newton Parks and Recreation Department, Green Newton, Friends of Cold Spring Park, Friends of Wellington Park, and Mothers Out Front Newton, the event is free, but preregistration is requested so that garden maps and info can be emailed to participants in advance. As of September 1st, we are still finalizing the garden list and the map of gardens. Watch for further details as the date gets closer.
Registration for the tour can be found below. Please sign up. Registrants will receive detailed info and maps ahead of the tour to help plan your afternoon, and to alert you of a weather postponement.
The Newton Community Pollinator Project is always looking for new native plant-heavy gardens to add to the tour. Previous tours have focused on Newton Center, Newton Highlands, Newtonville, and West Newton but we are adding new areas and gardens this year. Ideally, we would like to have a few gardens in close proximity to each other. If you would like your garden to be considered in the tour this year or next year, contact Ann Dorfman at dorfmanann@comcast.net.
Supply your own garden with plants from the Native Plant Sale held during the Newton Farmers Market at Cold Spring Park on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
If you are interested in pollinating insects consider attending the Sixth Annual Newton Monarch Festival at Wellington Park in West Newton the morning of the Newton Pollinator Garden Tour. The Wellington Park Butterfly Garden is one of the gardens on the tour. There will be a tour of that garden during the festival as well as a “bug tour”.