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All the United States Massachusetts Sandwich The Bulb River
The Bulb River is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

The Bulb River

35,000 grape hyacinths flow like water down a garden hill.

Sandwich, Massachusetts

Added By
Aaron Netsky
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The Bulb River   Photo courtesy of Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, MA
Grape hyacinths form the river   Photo courtesy of Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, MA
The “eddies” to the side are yellow daffodils   Photo courtesy of Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, MA
The Bulb River winds down a hill and around trees and shrubs   Photo courtesy of Heritage Museums & Gardens, Sandwich, MA
July blooms   ionajay / Atlas Obscura User
In July the hydrangeas bloom. Thousands of bushes.   ionajay / Atlas Obscura User
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The wind blowing through 35,000 bright purplish-blue grape hyacinths creates the illusion of a true river on the grounds of Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts. 

Like any river, the Bulb River is bordered by "eddies," in this case made up of 1,500 bright yellow daffodils to compliment the lovely purple-blue flow. They are arranged at intervals on both sides of the river, which flows down a gentle hill and winds around the trees and bushes that populate the grounds.

The Bulb River was the brainchild of Les Lutz, Director of Horticulture and Facilities Management at Heritage. The bulbs typically reach full bloom in early May, around Mother’s Day (on which day, mothers get in free). In addition to being stunning to look at, the river of grape hyacinths also smells wonderful. Nothing says spring is here like fragrant, blooming flowers imitating a flowing stream.

Aside from the brilliant floral river, the most impressive collection on the 100 acres of gardens is probably the Dexter rhododendrons. Thousands of rhododendrons, cultivated by the land’s former owner and well-known rhododendron hybridizer Charles Owen Dexter, dot the land. They typically bloom in late-May/early-June. 

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Gardens Rivers Natural Wonders Flowers Nature Plants

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According to staff, the river is only in bloom for about a week.

Community Contributors

Added By

AaronNetsky

Edited By

AF, ionajay

  • AF
  • ionajay

Published

April 13, 2017

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Sources
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/67+Grove+St,+Sandwich,+MA+02563/@41.7495808,-70.5078145,136m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e4cbc702f65cc7:0x8b7ca166b87dfed8!8m2!3d41.7494461!4d-70.5075672
  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagemuseums/sets/72157665726988926
  • https://www.facebook.com/pg/HeritageMuseumsandGardens/photos/
  • https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org
  • http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/bulb-river-ma/
  • http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20150508/BLOGS/150506311
  • https://saraletourneauwriter.com/2015/05/21/field-trip-heritage-museum-and-gardens/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Museums_and_Gardens
  • http://www.innatsandwich.com/WhatsInnOurSandwich.html
  • https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/featured-speaker-2/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_(fluid_dynamics)
The Bulb River
67 Grove Street
Sandwich, Massachusetts
United States
41.749446, -70.507567
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Nearby Places

Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich, Massachusetts

miles away

Sandwich Boardwalk

Sandwich, Massachusetts

miles away

Tremont Nail Company

Wareham, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sandwich

Sandwich

Massachusetts

Places 3

Nearby Places

Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich, Massachusetts

miles away

Sandwich Boardwalk

Sandwich, Massachusetts

miles away

Tremont Nail Company

Wareham, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sandwich

Sandwich

Massachusetts

Places 3

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