Hidden in the midst of the bustling town of Shrewsbury, MA is an secret garden that will delight children. Don’t blink, or you will miss the path. This man’s pet project proves how the generosity of one person can bring joy to so many.
Chief Joseph not only used his creativity and artistic ability to create a secret garden behind his house, he now welcomes people to come and visit.
How to find the secret garden in Shrewsbury, MA
After passing the Hebert Candy Mansion on Route 20, we turned into Hills Farm Estates. Just where Stoney Hill Road meets Nightingale Drive, you will see a pond on your left. There is free street parking.
A beautiful shady trail leads you along Hills Pond with benches placed every so often to offer up a place to sit and reflect. The kids loved discovering the statues and displays along the way. There was even a free library.
The path along the pond connects two neighborhoods and is not very long. We walked the length of it and thought we had seen it all, but on our way back the kids noticed a path leading down into a secret garden.
The trails are covered with shimmering crushed glass. There is whimsical artwork and statues hidden around every corner. Wind chimes make their music with the breeze.
There is actually a geocache there as well, which was placed simply as a means to let people in on this town’s little secret.
My kids quickly set off to work choosing their “homes” and visiting each other in their new digs. They loved the little waterfall with birds fluttering about. Of course my favorite part was the bear, my spirit animal.
Each time we thought we had seen everything, we would discover another little trail that would set us off on another adventure. What I thought would be a quick visit turned into two hours of them happily playing.
At one point I was nervous that we were trespassing, because you reach the owner’s home. But there are signs assuring you that you are very much welcome.
It was a fun visit and we appreciate the time and energy that was put into making this place so magical. Finding the secret garden in Shrewsbury, MA is an adventure your kids won’t soon forget!
Click here for a full list of Shrewsbury walking trails.
Pin for later-
