Massachusetts

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA

In 1929, an abandoned trolley bridge was decorated with hundreds of flowers. Now the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA is blooming better than ever.

By Chris Burnett

Jun 23 2022

Bridge of Flowers – Bridge IB Side View (CropFeatured) FINAL
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
In 1907, the tiny village of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, was experiencing growing pains. The village’s iron truss bridge, which spanned the Deerfield River and played a vital role in the region’s economy, was too weak to handle the weight of all the goods produced by nearby mills and farms. Keeping up with the times and the ever-increasing need to move freight across the river was paramount, so a solution was quickly devised: the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway Company would spend $20,000 to build a stronger, more efficient bridge — a 400-foot, five-arched, solid concrete trolley bridge, to be exact.
Bridge of Flowers
The Bridge of Flowers (right) stands just upriver of Shelburne Falls’ original Iron Bridge, built in 1890.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Only one year later, the new bridge was opened. Materials, produce, and even people were moved across the river by the trolley, which would sometimes travel back and forth up to fourteen times a day. For nearly two decades, the trolley served the village and the region, until 1927, when times began to change again: the company that had built and maintained the bridge ran into severe financial hardship and was forced to shut the trolley service down. With no one to look after it, the bridge quickly grew unsightly and overgrown with weeds — it got so bad that the town even considered just tearing the whole thing down. But, luckily for the bridge, its sturdy construction made demolition costs prohibitive, and it was instead sold off to the Shelburne Falls Fire District. Not long thereafter, two locals came up with an idea to save the bridge and turn the eyesore into something eye-catching: a bridge not of weeds, but of flowers.
Bridge of Flowers
The pavilion that leads to the Bridge of Flowers is landscaped beautifully with flowers, a fountain, benches, and more.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
The Bridge of Flowers, as it was appropriately named, was the brainchild of Antoinette and Walter Burnham. The two, with the support of the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club and local volunteers, began renovations in 1929, and after some heavy weeding and many cartloads of fresh soil, the Bridge of Flowers was well on its way to becoming a rejuvenated thing of beauty.
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Looking towards the center of the Bridge of Flowers.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Facing the Buckland side of the river.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
People from all over donated plants to the Bridge of Flowers during its early years, helping to give it the great diversity of flowers and foliage it shows today. My grandmother, who was only a young child at the time, remembers bringing a few perennials down to the bridge from her family’s home in southern Vermont. She also recalls a later visit that culminated in a march across the bridge with her high school band, instruments blaring!
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The garden beds along the path were overflowing with flowers during my visit.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
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A couple admires the flowers.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The Bridge of Flowers is definitely a photographer’s delight!
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
In the early 1980s, after more than 70 years of use, the Bridge of Flowers finally began to show its age and was temporarily closed for some rather substantial repairs. In the end, the renovations cost more than half a million dollars, but thanks to generous community members and local businesses, who donated money and cared for the homeless plants during reconstruction, the Bridge of Flowers was soon reopened in better shape than ever.
Bridge of Flowers
Sometimes, with everyone stopping to literally smell the roses, it can get pretty crowded on the bridge!
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
The Bridge of Flowers is currently home to several hundred types of flowers, shrubs, and trees — from the tiny purple violets at your feet to the towering, twisting wisteria overhead. No matter where you look, your eyes will be caught by the flowers, which can be found in all colors of the rainbow. On the bridge, honeybees, bumblebees, and the occasional hummingbird zoom by, while butterflies flutter serenely from bush to bush — all hard at work in their little slice of heaven. At the center of the bridge stand a granite bench and a flagpole, both overlooking a small memorial dedicated to the veterans of World Wars I and II who lived in Buckland and Shelburne. The Bridge of Flowers owes much of its beauty to a team of volunteer gardeners, who ensure that something is always in bloom from spring to fall. The gardeners spend hours cleaning, weeding, and caring for the plants each week, making sure the bridge is constantly looking its best.
Bridge of Flowers
On the north side of the bridge, a view of the Deerfield River.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
I made two visits to the Bridge of Flowers, one in mid-June and the other in mid-July, and I was surprised to find that the selection of flowers had changed completely in that short span of time. The bleeding hearts and blue irises were no more, but the globe thistle and purple coneflowers were out in force. The bee balm was also at its peak, while the bug bane, coppertips, and tiger lilies were only just starting to emerge. Without a doubt, you could visit the bridge once a month for the whole summer and encounter a completely unique show of flowers each time.

PHOTOS FROM THE BRIDGE OF FLOWERS

Bridge of Flowers
Bees scour a cluster of globe thistles (Echinops ritro) for nectar.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Hard at work!
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) stand tall above surrounding plants.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Bee balm (Monarda sp.) is a native favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The magnificent coppertips (Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’) was just starting to bloom.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Bug bane (Cimicifuga sp.) produces long, delicate stalks that give off a strong fragrance.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Only a few tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium) had emerged from their slender buds.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The buds of the tiger lily look almost exactly like chili peppers!
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
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The flowers of the clematis vine can be found in a variety of different colors. Here, in lilac purple.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Blue cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Pale yellow lilies (Lilium sp.) accompanied by daisies (Leucanthemum sp.).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A butterfly comes in for a landing on a wild bergamot (bee balm).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A butterfly drinks nectar from the flowers of a long-leaf speedwell (Veronica longifolia).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The bridge is home to a wide variety of unique foliage as well.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A close-up view of a fern’s intricate fronds.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Variegated leaves add depth and color to an otherwise green scene.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The twisting vines of decades-old wisteria culminate in huge canopies overhead. When in bloom, wisteria produce magnificent purple flowers that hang down like icicles.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) may not look like much from afar, but up-close, they have wonderful flowers.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The tiny flowers of a gooseneck loosestrife blossom.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A bee hovers next to a long-leaf speedwell.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A vermilion-colored coneflower.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Bright red hibiscus flowers are always an eye-catcher.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
A fly rests on the magenta flowers of a yarrow plant (Achillea sp.).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The blooms of this white hydrangea were almost bigger than my camera!
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The decadent flowers of a gayfeather (Liatris spicata).
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
Despite its tiny flowers, Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ often attracts hummingbirds.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
Bridge of Flowers
The tall stems and bright flowers of phlox make for a colorful backdrop.
Photo Credit : Chris Burnett
With something in bloom from spring to fall, the Bridge of Flowers is the perfect day trip destination. Views from the bridge of the nearby mountains and the Deerfield River are stunning (especially in the fall), and the quaint restaurants and shops that line the streets of Shelburne Falls make it easy to spend hours in the area. The Bridge of Flowers is free of charge (donations are welcomed) and open daily — rain or shine — from April to October. Have you ever been? The Bridge of Flowers. Shelburne Falls, MA. bridgeofflowersmass.orgThis post was first published in 2016 and has been updated. 

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