Spring and summer don’t arrive quietly in Westerly. They unfold in layers. First with delicate woodland blooms, then flowering trees, then full gardens spilling over with color. By mid-season, even a simple walk can turn into the perfect photo-op if you know where to look.
From the thoughtfully designed grounds at our Westerly bed and breakfast to nearby botanical gardens in Rhode Island and coastal preserves, this area offers more ways to experience flowers than most people expect.
Here’s where to find the best blooms, whether you’re planning your visit around peak season or simply want to enjoy whatever is in flower during your stay.
Gardens in Westerly, RI
The Gardens at Margin Street Inn
You don’t have to go far to find some of the most beautiful blooms in town.
Our six-and-a-half-acre property was originally designed around 1890 by Warren H. Manning, a pioneering landscape architect who spent 12 years working under Frederick Law Olmsted before opening his own practice. He later became one of the founding members of the American Society of Landscape Architects and, notably, the same designer behind Wilcox Park.
Manning’s philosophy focused on working with the natural landscape rather than reshaping it, incorporating existing vegetation and adding specimen trees meant to mature over generations. Today, the property reflects that vision, with copper beech, weeping beech, tulip trees, yew cedar, and sycamore, many of them more than a century old, creating a layered, established landscape that’s both intentional and timeless.
In spring, the gardens shift into softer colors. Around both houses on the property, you’ll find purple geraniums, white and blush-pink peonies, and purple iris. Overhead, the copper beech trees leaf out in rich burgundy tones that gradually deepen into green as the season moves into summer.
Walk the riverside paths in the morning and under the specimen trees in the afternoon during your stay. Or, if you’re searching for one-of-a-kind Rhode Island wedding venues, use the historic Carriage House and gardens as the backdrop for your ceremony or bridal shower. The natural beauty is already here; you’re just adding your celebration to it.
Wilcox Park (Wilcox Park Arboretum)
Less than a mile from the inn, Wilcox Park is one of the most significant green spaces in Westerly, and one of the most unique.
Designated as a Level II Arboretum in 2025 (the highest level achieved in Rhode Island), the park is home to a diverse collection of New England plants, including native and exotic hardwoods and conifers. Highlights include a grove of dawn redwoods, the cherry allée, and rare specimen trees recognized as Champion Trees.
In April, the park comes alive with flowering trees, making it one of the best places to experience early spring color. By late spring and summer, the landscape shifts again, offering a different kind of beauty with mature greenery and shaded paths.
The winding trails, small bridges, and open lawns make it easy to explore any time of year. Bring coffee, a book, or a blanket, and let the day unfold. This is one of the best spots in Westerly for an impromptu picnic surrounded by seasonal blooms.
Seasonal Flower Experiences in Rhode Island
Wicked Tulips Flower Farm
If your trip falls in late April or early May, Wicked Tulips Flower Farm is one of the most popular spring flower experiences in Rhode Island. Fields of tulips bloom in vibrant rows, and visitors can walk through and pick their own bouquets. The season is short, but that’s part of what makes it special. Check their website for more information on ticket releases and opening dates.
Manfredi Farms
In late summer, Manfredi Farms offers a locally loved tradition with its u-pick sunflower fields. Typically blooming in August, the fields stretch across the property in bright yellow rows. Bring scissors, pick your own stems, and take home as many as you want.
Coastal Wildflowers & Natural Beauty
Napatree Point Conservation Area
Napatree Point in Watch Hill is a 1.5-mile barrier spit stretching into Block Island Sound, offering one of the most unique coastal landscapes in Rhode Island. While many visitors come for the wide sandy beach and sweeping ocean views, the real magic for nature lovers is in the dunes and protected habitats along the way.
As you walk the length of the point, you’ll pass through areas of beach grass, maritime shrubs, and delicate dune ecosystems that support seasonal coastal wildflowers. In late spring and summer, you may spot beach pea, ox-eye Daisy, and other salt-tolerant plants tucked into the dunes. The area is also an important habitat for shorebirds, including piping plovers and least terns, so certain sections may be roped off during nesting season.
Blue Pond
A bit farther inland, Blue Pond offers one of the most unique plant environments in the region. This area is known for its carnivorous spatulate-leaved sundews, along with yellow-eyed grass and sweet pepperbush blossoms in season. It’s a lesser-known spot, perfect for guests who enjoy discovering something unexpected beyond the typical flower destinations.
Thomas Miner Nature Preserve
Managed by the Stonington Land Trust, this preserve features quiet trails and a variety of seasonal wildflowers. Later in the season, goldenrod, gerardias, and New York ironweed bring warm tones to the landscape, making it a great option if you’re visiting beyond peak spring bloom.
Botanical Gardens & Garden Day Trips from Westerly
If you’re looking to expand your garden exploring beyond Westerly, a few of Rhode Island’s best botanical destinations are all within an easy drive.
Roger Williams Park Botanical Center (about 45 minutes)
One of the top botanical gardens in RI, the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center offers a year-round escape into lush greenery. Opened in 2007, it’s New England’s largest indoor garden, with 12,000 square feet of greenhouse space.
Inside, two main environments: the Conservatory and the Mediterranean Room, feature more than 150 plant species, including towering palms that reach up to 40 feet. Outside, you’ll find perennial gardens, a native plant meadow, and a rose maze that come into their own from late spring through summer.
It’s an especially good option on cooler or rainy days, when you still want that immersive garden experience without worrying about the weather.
Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum (about 1 hour–1 hour 15 minutes)
A standout among Rhode Island gardens, Blithewold Manor combines formal landscapes with coastal views along Narragansett Bay.
The 33-acre estate dates to the 1890s and includes a 45-room mansion surrounded by a series of thoughtfully designed garden displays. You’ll move from the structured Enclosed Garden with its perennial borders and fountain, to the Rock Garden near the water, to a lily pond with an arched stone bridge in the Water Garden.
Expansive lawns, specimen trees, and even a bamboo grove give the property a sense of scale, while seasonal plantings keep it changing throughout the year.
Green Animals Topiary Garden (about 1 hour–1 hour 10 minutes)
For something a little different, Green Animals Topiary Garden offers one of the most unique garden experiences in New England.
This 7-acre estate is the oldest topiary garden in the United States, with more than 80 sculpted shrubs shaped into animals and geometric forms, everything from elephants and giraffes to a unicorn.
From May until October, you’ll find formal flowerbeds, rose and grape arbors, and views out over Narragansett Bay. In late spring, thousands of daffodils and tulips add another layer of color, making it one of the most visually distinct gardens in the state.
Plan Your Garden Getaway in Westerly
From the historic paths of Wilcox Park to the thoughtfully designed grounds right here at the inn, spring and summer in Westerly are filled with color, texture, and some of the most beautiful New England plants you’ll find anywhere.
Whether you’re wandering through coastal preserves, planning a day trip to one of the region’s standout botanical gardens, or enjoying the blooms just outside your room, this is a destination that invites you to slow down and take it all in.
Book your stay at Margin Street Inn, and experience Westerly in bloom, with gardens, coastal beauty, and some of the region’s best scenery right outside your door.