Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury

Beautifully curated and meticulously managed property donated by the late Polly Hill. The facility starts with a suggested $5 donation which helps pay for the grounds upkeep and visitor programs. The guides are often those who have been partnering with the arboretum for years and are most all naturally nature lovers themselves. After entering though the gift shop, you are then welcomed by the tale of how the grounds came to be (I’ll save you from those details to learn in person). In true arboretum fashion, the detailed name plates hang on each plant and are additionally staked into the ground detailing the scientific information and common name for each variety. Polly herself has some amazing varieties of rare plants shared from her international friends overseas (see monkey puzzle tree, redwood, and magnolias for reference) as well as some absolutely stunning rhododendrons that can be as large as a house in some cases! The grounds themselves additionally boast a nursery and hosts yearly plant sales starting in May. Keep an eye out for their programs as they range from painting, nature identification, and propagation to name a few. As you enter the grounds maps are printed as well as printed and posted throughout the grounds in prime locations. Signage brings you across many parts of the property including fields that are being used to test natural pest management strategies and success rates, as well as remanence of old buildings that were once the residence of Polly Hill. Grass and lightly compacted flat dirt trails make for an easy walk for family members of all ages (including city strollers for kids). Bonus: their website hosts a wealth of information but specifically has some amazing resources for native planting in Martha’s Vineyard and New England. Their plant sale offers many plugs (small single pieces of plants made to grow over time) Overall this is a beautiful property to come to and walk along or just find a spot to sit, rest, and take in the peaceful view.

Great trails and super friendly staff! Absolutely beautiful grounds to walk around and learn all the different types of trees. The Monkey Puzzle tree was by far the coolest thing I've ever seen. I would absolutely come back!