Wildflower Walk Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum

In 1834, William Rotch Jr. completed his Greek Revival mansion up the hill and away from the busy port noise of Buzzards Bay. The house, designed by Richard Upjohn, was set back from sidewalks in order to allow for greater space for gardens on the south and east of the property. In 1981, it was purchased by the Waterfront Historic Area League and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Garden Club of Buzzards Bay began its relationship with the RJD House by rebuilding a greenhouse and a portion of the coachman’s house.

Then in 1985, the Founders Fund Award was given to recreate a perimeter wildflower walk representing four habitats: woodland, bog, open woodland and fern cobble. The wildflower walk is used as a base for a botany program for New Bedford area fourth grade students. Each May, when the wildflowers are in bloom, hundreds of students and their teachers take part in classes and walks guided by the Garden Club of Buzzard’s Bay members.

The wildflower walk has flourished and grown into a significant visitor experience over the years. Now handicapped accessible, several stopping off areas have been added for guides to point out areas of interest. Renamed the Woodland Garden, plantings were also added to give the walk year round appeal. The relationship between the RJD House & Gardens Museum and the GC of Buzzards Bay has continued with a collaboration to plant a small orchard reflecting a historical connection to the 1880 era of the landscape. This orchard reflects the club’s participation in the 2013 Centennial Tree Project.