Date Visited: September 6, 2016
Location: 22 Water St, Shelburne Falls, MA (1 hour west of Springfield, MA, 1.5 hours east of Hartford, CT and about 2 hours west of Boston)
Hours: Open April 1 – October 30, 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
Parking: There is available off street parking (the 2 hour unmetered parking limit on Bridge St is strictly enforced) and a free parking area off Baker Ave with about 30 -40 free spots (take care not to park in the spots reserved for businesses and other tenants in the area) and additional off street parking. Parking is difficult during peak times.
Size: 400 feet long, 18 feet wide
Time To Allot For Visit: 30 minutes an hour.
Dog Friendly: No
Highlights: pretty flowers, scenic views, memorials, works of art, a master gardener is available on the bridge during peak weekends to ask questions about your own plants and gardens
Lowlights: bridge can get congested since it is narrow
Website: Bridge Of Flowers
Built in 1908 for a measley $20,000 (roughly $500,000 in current day’s money) by the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway, the Bridge of Flowers is now home to a wide variety of flowers, trees and even some works of art.
Originally, the bridge was used as the main mode of transportation for the community. However, once cars became more popular, the train was used less and the company went out of business. Since the bridge could not be destroyed because it carried a water main between the towns of Colrain and Shelburne Falls, it was decided to do something with the bridge. Then, in 1929, the Shelburne Women’s Club sponsored Antoinette Burnham’s idea to transform the bridge into a garden.
More than 35,000 people visit the bridge ever year. Yet, it is still something of an unknown attraction, even in New England.
Much to the consternation of my company, I can be very particular about my photos (although my guest on this day didn’t complain). I tried my best to take photographs of the bridge without any visitors on the bridge or with as few people as possible on it and wow did it take a while to get those shots which just goes to show how much foot traffic it can get. But, I did eventually get my shots of an empty or close to empty bridge.
This post is photo-heavy. As much as I tried, it was very hard to choose flowers to include and which ones to not include.
The hardest part of this photo shoot was selecting the best photos to post. The flowers are so pretty and the view nothing short of jaw dropping. The flowers are also beautifully arranged. I especially liked how the flowers complimented the landscape.
Birds and bees like the flowers, too.
Flowers and trees aren’t the only attractions at the Bridge Of Flowers. Memorials and art are scattered throughout the bridge.
One of the works of art at the Bridge of Flowers is a stained glass window designed by Nancy Katz and created by Mark Liebowitz at the Garden House. It is illuminated during the evening.
This water fountain is also at the area past the bridge.
I noticed this in one of the flower beds. What is it? A coded message? A plan for a secret rendezvous?
Also, and not least, there are war memorials on the bridge. This memorial honors the veterans of World War I and World War II of the Buckland and Shelburne areas. While it honors all of the veterans of these wars, the names of those made the supreme sacrifice from these areas are engraved on the plaque on the stone.
This memorial honors the veterans of Korean and Vietnam wars. The names of the peolpe from the community who lost their lives in these wars are engraved on the plaque on the stone.
Another great thing about the bridge is they plant flowers each month and it is “peak season” for different flowers at different times (their planting schedule is on their web site). So you’re sure to see something new and pretty any time you go. However, I would suggest going during the summer or, preferably, the fall.
Similar Places I Have Visited In New England:
Glacial Potholes And Salmon Falls (Shelburne Falls, MA)
Eindsor-Cornish Bridge (Windsor, VT and Cornish, NH)
New England Nomad 
September 18th, 2016 at 4:32 am
Interesting post Wayne and all the flowers are so beautiful 🙂
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September 18th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Thank you, Irene! Yes, it so beautiful there and it so well kept by the people who look after it.
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September 18th, 2016 at 6:02 am
What a unique and lovely find! This is the first time I’ve ever heard of it – but what a cool idea!! If and when I ever get back to New England this will be on my wanna-go-see list!
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September 18th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Yes, it should be a “must-see” on your itinerary! There are so many fun and beautiful things to see and do in that area. I have a few more places to visit in that area in my next post coming real soon! Thank you!
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September 18th, 2016 at 6:08 am
These are spectacular photos. So much visual eye candy, it’s hard to choose my favorite, though I do love the sunflower with the bridge in the background. Then again, I love them all! Beautifully captured.
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September 18th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Thank you! It’s almost impossible to not take good photos there because the canvas you have to work with is so pretty. I appreciate that you like the sunflower photo so much. I like to use the landscape and background to accentuate the beauty of the area. It gives a little extra flavor to the photos, I feel.
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September 18th, 2016 at 7:32 am
What a really original and very, very creative idea by Antoinette Burnham. I hope there is a plaque to honour her, not least for the revenue she must have generated over the years.
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September 18th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
I didn’t see a plaque for Antoinette at the bridge. But, I did find this plaque when I searched for her on Google http://www.commonweeder.com/the-bridge-of-flowers-on-national-public-gardens-day/ I am not sure if they took the plaque down or put it somewhere else. But, I checked everything out on the bridge and I didn’t see it. It is a fitting tribute to her, though. I am also sure the tourism industry in the otherwise quiet town owes her a great debt!
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September 18th, 2016 at 10:00 am
Beautiful!
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September 18th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
It is the prettiest place I have photographed, by far. Thank you!
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September 18th, 2016 at 11:18 am
I was there in the spring and it was beautiful but it’s clearly really spectacular now!
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September 18th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
I think they tend to put more colorful flowers out in the summer time to attract more visitors and they may not be able to put too many flowers out in the spring time since we still have some chilly nights and some plants might not survive those elements. It is great that they change it up every so often. You could go back every month and see different things. Thank you!
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September 18th, 2016 at 5:07 pm
What a fascinating spot.
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September 19th, 2016 at 2:18 am
Great in-depth post, Wayne! Funny that we are traveling in the same circles. 😉
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September 19th, 2016 at 2:24 am
Thank you! Yes, we both are on the same page for sure😊
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September 21st, 2016 at 8:33 pm
all those flowers and then just one lonely bird – great capture!
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September 21st, 2016 at 10:24 pm
He or she looked so lonely there, though! Thank you so much!
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