Now Open Tuesday through Sunday 10am-5pm

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

Friendship Pond Garden

A peaceful oasis featuring a pond and waterfall attracting a variety of wildlife.

Plants to try at home: New York Ironweed, Aster, Turk’s Cap Lily

Butterfly Garden

Plants that attract butterfies and other pollinators. Connecticut has 100+ species of butterflies.

Plants to try at home: Milkweed, Goldenrod, New England Aster

Rain Garden

Plants soak up water runoff and improve water quality. Soil acts as a natural filter and purifier.

Plants to try at home: Sweet Fern, Shadblow Serviceberry

Shade Garden

Discover leafy perennials and native ferns thatthrive in shaded areas.

Plants to try at home: Solomon’s Seal, Mayapple

Coastal Garden

New 2019 – Native plants replace lawn, adding biodiversity to our community.

Plants to try at home: Wild Senna, Bayberry, Mountain Mint

Three Sisters Garden

A Native American Garden where plants depend on each other like “three sisters.” Beans fix nitrogen in soil. Corn supports beans to grow. Squash leaves shade ground and limit weed growth.

Plants to try at home: Corn, Squash & Beans

Spiral Herb Garden

A classic design: allows plants needing full sun and drainage to feed and shade lower herbs.

Plants to try at home: Dill, Chives, Lavender

Pollinator Garden

Plants attract insects and birds, bloom all season long, and tolerate wind and dry conditions.

Plants to try at home: Coneflower, Yarrow, Tickseed

Purple Martin Meadow

A Haven for Purple Martins!

The Purple Martin is a song bird in the Swallow family that arrives in Connecticut from South America in April and is considered a species of “special concern” by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. They nest in the unusual multifamily dwellings. The Purple Martin Meadow provides space and shelter for the birds, while the flowers attract insects that the Martins feed on.

Plants to try at home: Switchgrass, Joe Pye Weed, False Blue Indigo

Mini Meadow

Grasses and native flowers that naturally reseed in coastal meadows.

Plants to try at home: Hyssop, Milkweed, Bee Balm

The Gardens – Virtual Tour

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