Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook

08/18/2026

Last chance! Don't miss the final session of Neighborhood Nature: Canoeing at Bell Pond happening today from 4:00-7:00 pm. 🛶

No registration required. First come, first served. All participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

This free program is offered as part of DCR Summer Nights 2026. Thanks to everyone who has joined us this year!

https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/broad-meadow-brook/104100-neighborhood-nature-canoeing-at-bell-pond

08/13/2026

Whooo's ready to get to know nature a little better? 🦉

Now in its second year, A Nature Year takes a closer look at the natural world through monthly explorations of seasonal topics like hawks, owls, fungi, insects, vernal pools, and more.

Beginning September 12 at Broad Meadow Brook, each session combines an indoor introduction with time outdoors, giving you the chance to learn new skills and apply them in the field.

Whether you're a longtime nature enthusiast or just curious to learn more, A Nature Year is a fun and welcoming way to deepen your understanding of the world around you.

Register now and spend the year exploring nature, one season at a time.

Learn more: https://www.massaudubon.org/programs-events/adult-learning/a-nature-year

08/12/2026

As summer evenings begin to cool, there's no better time to experience nature at twilight.

Come along on a guided Evening Wildlife Walk at Broad Meadow Brook tomorrow, Wednesday, August 12, at 6:30 pm.

Venture out as the sun begins to dip lower in the sky and discover the sights and sounds of the sanctuary as it comes alive at dusk. Listen for frogs calling, cicadas buzzing, and birds settling in for the night as you explore the trails with your family.

Along the way, you'll learn which animals are winding down for the day and which are just beginning to stir. Sharing the wonder of the natural world at twilight is an experience you won't soon forget.

Reserve your spot today and experience the magic of Broad Meadow Brook after hours: https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/broad-meadow-brook/102772-evening-wildlife-walk

08/11/2026

Thank you to staff, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and exhibitors who helped make this year's 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival such a big success!

It was a wonderful day celebrating pollinators, nature, and community, and we were delighted to share it with all of you. From the caterpillars and educational exhibits to the family-friendly activities and local vendors and fantastic plant sale, your enthusiasm made the day truly special.

We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors Camosse Masonry Supply, Ballard Truck Centers, Perreault Nursery and Landscape Supply, Masterman's Safety and Industrial Supply, EcoTec, and Lamoureux Pagano Associates whose generous support helped make this event possible.

Thank you for being part of this beloved annual tradition. We look forward to seeing you again next year! 🦋

08/08/2026

Uhlman's Ice Cream Truck is serving up sweet treats today at the 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival!

Bring the family and join the fun today between 12:00-4:00 pm at Broad Meadow Brook.

Get the details: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/broad-meadow-brook/news/butterfly-festival-2026

08/07/2026

Celebrate all things butterflies at the 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival! 🦋

Join us tomorrow, August 8, from 12:00-4:00 pm at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary for an afternoon of family-friendly fun where butterflies fly free in their natural habitat. This beloved event is Broad Meadow Brook's largest annual fundraiser, helping support the sanctuary's conservation, education, and community programs throughout the year.

Enjoy:
🦋 Naturalist-led walks and workshops
🐛 Up-close encounters with live caterpillars
🎨 Butterfly-themed art and activities
🌼 Tours of our butterfly garden
🌱 Pollinator-friendly native plant sales
🌸 Local vendors and exhibitors
👧 Children's activities and games

Come discover the beauty and diversity of butterflies and help us celebrate the incredible pollinators that make our world bloom!

Learn more: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/broad-meadow-brook/news/butterfly-festival-2026

08/06/2026

Lady Fern Farm has lots of pollinator-friendly native plants ready for this Saturday!

See you at the 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival from 12:00-4:00 pm!

https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/broad-meadow-brook/news/butterfly-festival-2026

I am so excited by these plants! My first season growing them and they are so lovely!!!

Pluchea odorata var. succulenta ~ Sweetscent

BLOOM July- Sept.
EXPOSURE Full Sun- Part Shade
SOIL Med- Moist
HEIGHT 4’

Dense, flat-topped clusters of bright pinkish-purple flowers bloom from late summer into early fall, attracting native bees, butterflies, and wasps. It acts as a primary host plant for caterpillars like the common checkered skipper and the silvery checkerspot. Prefers moist to completely wet environments making it a fantastic choice for rain gardens or wet sunny areas.

Find these and so much more at the:
19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival
Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook
Saturday, August 8
414 Massasoit Rd Worcester

I will be there with a huge line up of plants for your habitat, many to support our native caterpillars and butterflies.

Celebrate these beautiful pollinators with a day of family-friendly fun. See butterflies in their natural habitat, shop the native plant sale, explore fascinating live caterpillar exhibit, join a guided walk, enjoy hands-on children's activities, and browse local vendors and exhibitors. Uhlman's Ice Cream truck will also be on hand with sweet treats.

Available Plants:
Agastache scrophulariifolia, Giant Purple Hyssop
Asclepias incarnata, Rose Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Milkweed
Aquilegia canadensis, Native Columbine
Carex plantaginea, Seersucker sedge
Eragrotis spectabilis, Purple Love Grass
Eupatorium perfoliatum, Boneset
Geranium maculatum, Spotted Crane’s Bill
Heuchera americana, Alum Root
Iris cristata, Crested Iris
Ionactis linariifolia, Stiff Aster
Liatris novae-angliae, New England Blazing Star
Lobelia cardinalis, Cardinal Flower
Lobelia siphilitica, Great Blue Lobelia
Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot
Monarda punctata, Spotted Beebalm
Pluchea odorata var. Succulenta, Sweet Scent
Polystichum acrostichoides, Christmas Fern
Prunella vulgaris, Self Heal
Pycanthemum tenuifolium, Narrow Leaf Mountain Mint
Rudbeckia hirta, Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia triloba, Three Lobed Coneflower
Ruellia humilis,Wild Petunia
Sporobolus heterolepis, Prairie Dropseed
Scutellaria incana, Downy Skullcap
Solidago nemoralis, Gray Goldenrod
Tiarella cordifolia, Foam flower
Verbena hastata, Blue Vervain
Viola sororia, Common violet
Zizia aurea, Golden Alexander

08/05/2026

Get your wings ready! The 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival takes flight this Saturday, August 8 from 12:00-4:00 pm at Broad Meadow Brook.

Enjoy an afternoon of pollinator-themed fun for all ages!

🦋 Up-close encounters with live caterpillars from The Caterpillar Lab
🎨 Butterfly-inspired arts and crafts
🐛 Children's activities
🌼 Tours of the butterfly garden
🌱 Pollinator-friendly native plants for sale
🛍️ Local vendors and exhibitors
🍦 Sweet treats from Uhlman's Ice Cream truck

Wear your best butterfly themed attire and win a prize!

Save time - register in advance: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/broad-meadow-brook/news/butterfly-festival-2026

08/04/2026

Get out on the water on this beautiful day! 🛶☀

Drop in for Neighborhood Nature: Canoeing on Bell Pond, today, August 4, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Bell Pond in Worcester.

Experience the nature of Worcester, watch for birds and wildlife along the shoreline, and explore Bell Pond by canoe. An adult must accompany all children ages 16 and under. No registration is required; canoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This free program is supported by DCR's Summer Nights and takes place on Tuesdays, weather permitting, through August 18.

More info: https://bit.ly/4eZpV6F