The Gardens

A Meigs Point tradition for more than 25 years.

No visit to Hammonasset Beach State Park is complete without a garden tour. Started in the mid-1990s by the Madison Garden Club, the Meigs Point Gardens began with the Butterfly and Pond gardens. In the early 2000s, Friends of Hammonasset (FOH) began maintaining the gardens, but with limited volunteer support, the gardens became overgrown.

That all changed in 2015 when volunteers working with the UConn Master Gardener Program initiated restoration and expansion.

Gardens grown to enrich. Educate. Inspire.

Today, the Meigs Point Gardens consist of ten themed gardens whose purpose is to:

  • Enhance the beauty of the Park while also providing a nurturing environment for pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
  • Educate park patrons about the benefits of creating home gardens.
  • Highlight the importance of native plants.
  • Honor local Native American and Colonial farming history.
  • Provide a place for rest and reflection.

Why are native plants important?

Native plants are the best plants for our pollinators and other native wildlife, since they evolved together for thousands of years. Native plants promote biodiversity, thus contributing to a healthy ecosystem. In one study, native plants supported an average of 53 insect species while non-native plants supported only 8 insect species. Native plants thrive in the environment in which they evolved so they do not need added watering, or added fertilizer or pesticides that can leach into the water table. At the Gardens at Meigs Point Nature Center, we strive for at least 80% native plants.

To Volunteer

To learn more about becoming a garden volunteer or how you can support the gardens, please visit hammonasset.org or email gardens@hammonasset.org

Visit Ten Themed Gardens

The Gardens – Virtual Tour

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