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. 

Top Places in Massachusetts

Springfield, Massachusetts

The Titanic Museum

Home to the Titanic Historical Society's collection.

42.1596, -72.5003

Added by KaliaK

Boston, Massachusetts

Mather Home

This ambitious father and son team reigned supreme over the North End, and witches, for many years.

42.3649, -71.0536

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Nantucket Whaling Museum

Artifacts of whaling, with both its perils and adventure, are housed in this museum in a former candle factory.

41.2856, -70.0989

Added by Allison

See more things to do in 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.