Visit

The Botanic Garden of Smith College is free and open to the public year round. We want everyone to be able to visit, spend time connecting to the plant world, learning from our collections, and being part of our community. Come explore our 127-acre arboretum, the 6 acres of managed outdoor gardens, and our 12,000 square foot conservatory.

For maps and directions, see Visiting Smith.

Admission & Hours

We are free and open to the public year round thanks to the support of our members of the Friends of the Botanic Garden.

Lyman Plant House & Conservatory
Daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Closed on 11/27 and 11/28 for the Thanksgiving holiday, and during the Smith College winter break. Please note, hours change during our annual flower show.

Campus Arboretum and Gardens
Open daily to the public year-round

Annual Flower Shows

Our flower shows have been a treasured Smith tradition for over 100 years. The Spring Bulb Show and Fall Chrysanthemum Show began in the early 1900s as showcases of student learning. Today, the shows draw visitors from near and far to take in the display of horticultural skill.

Spring Bulb Show Fall Chrysanthemum Show

Group Visits & Guided Tours

We offer guided and unguided group tours during the week. Guided tours are led by trained community volunteers and last approximately one hour. Conservatory tours include highlights of the plant collection and can be tailored to a group’s interests or areas of study. Tours of the arboretum or outside gardens are available upon request.

Please schedule guided tours at least four weeks in advance and unguided tours two weeks in advance. Be sure to schedule groups of 10 or more people.
Groups are limited to 40 people at one time in Lyman Plant House and are divided into groups of 10 to 12 people per guide. Chaperones are required for groups of 10 or more children, allotting one adult for every 10 children.
For-profit tour groups, commercial bus tours and any group where individuals pay to participate are charged a fee. Other groups are asked to make a donation.

We are unable to accommodate guided tours during the Spring Bulb Show or Reunion weekend. If you do plan to visit as a group of 10 or more during our annual flower shows, we ask that you let us know through our online scheduler.

Please note that we do not offer guided tours to the general public during July and August due to the summer conditions in the greenhouses. Faculty in the Precollege Programs should email garden@smith.edu to schedule class visits and discuss tour options.

What to Expect on Your Visit

Watch our social story, created by Kris Cheaye '26, that will give you an idea of what to expect when you visit Lyman Plant House. Learn where the accessible entrances are, where the bathrooms are located, and take a look inside some of the houses of Lyman Conservatory.

Exhibits

The botanic garden showcases exhibits regularly. Throughout Lyman Plant House you’ll find both temporary and permanent exhibits.

The primary function of our temporary exhibits is to serve as an educational opportunity through art that features a variety of botanical and horticultural themes, as well as on social and environmental issues.

Visit our Church Gallery, located in the front of the building downstairs from the reception area, to view our current temporary exhibit.

Parking

There are two visitor parking spaces and one handicapped space in front of Lyman Plant House. There is on-street parking on Elm Street near central campus. Visitor spots are in the Smith College parking garage on West Street, metered parking is on Green Street and a long-term municipal lot is behind the Forbes Library on West Street. The Smith College parking map outlines options.

On weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays, permit-only campus lots open up for general parking.

Accessibility at Lyman Plant House & Conservatory

There are two accessible entrances, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and a lift in the front of the building that goes between the lower-level Church Gallery and the reception area. Maps of accessible routes through Lyman Conservatory are available at the front desk.

Photography Policy

Commercial photography/videography is not allowed in Lyman Plant House. To inquire about space on campus for professional photo or video sessions, please contact the Events Management Office. Members of the press must contact College Relations.

All other photography is permitted so long as it does not interfere with the visitor experience. Please note: tripods, monopods, or equipment that impedes other visitors are not allowed during regular Bulb Show hours. However, members of the Friends of the Botanic Garden are permitted to photograph with tripods during members-only hours, 9:00–10:00 am each day.