Women on bridge Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Women on bridge Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries.
Red flowers with bee

Gardens & Gardening

Gardens are much more than just beautiful outdoor spaces—they are living, complex, biodiverse ecosystems that support everything from microscopic organisms to amphibians to birds to mammals. 

Mass Audubon strives to educate people of all ages about the many ways they can make their own gardens, backyards, farms, and fields safer and more welcoming to wildlife. By using organic, nature-friendly gardening practices, even the smallest patch of dirt can become an oasis for thousands of species.  

Visit a Demonstration or Community Garden

Many of our wildlife sanctuaries have specially managed gardens designed to support wildlife, help manage stormwater runoff, or provide community gardening space.

Learn About Sustainable Gardening

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird on plant
    Ruby-throated Hummingbird © Jason Gilbody

    Landscaping for Birds

    Learn how to manage your land for bird health.

  • Butterfly on flower

    The Power of Pollinators

    Pollinators are small but mighty! These essential birds and insects make plant life possible. 

  • swamp milkweed with bee
    Spotted Joe-pye Weed

    Native & Beneficial Plants

    Learn to foster pollinator-friendly landscapes using native and beneficial plants.

  • gardener in field

    How to Create a Mosquito Repelling Garden

    Find out which scented plants to incorporate into your garden for their mosquito-repelling properties.

  • Looking out to Habitat's garden from a patio covered by vines
    © Jody Brenner

    Habitat's Demonstration Garden

    As part of Mass Audubon's “Nature by the Yard” initiative, stemming from our goal to reduce the loss of biodiversity, the 1,500 square foot grassy courtyard has undergone a blossoming transformation.

  • Caterpillar crawling on milkweed plant
    Milkweed at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary

    Don't Weed the Milkweed

    Milkweed is an incredibly beneficial plant that should be encouraged to grow. 

  • Beekeeper holding apiary section with bees

    Beekeeping

    Discover the art of beekeeping to support these essential pollinators. 

Latest News

See More
Garden volunteers posed for a group photo in front of a flowering tree
News March 18, 2025

All That Blooms: The Joy of Gardening at Ipswich River

Keep Reading
Garden space with a path down the center and budding green plants in the dirt
News January 29, 2025

Transform Your Yard: Lessons from Habitat’s Native Plant Garden

Keep Reading
gardener in field
News June 13, 2023

How to Create a Mosquito Repelling Garden

Keep Reading