Once a busy trolley bridge, the 1908 concrete bridge that crosses the Deerfield River in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts became a weed-infested eyesore when the trolley company went out of business.
One couple, whose home overlooked the abandoned trolley bridge, inspired the community to transform the neglected structure into a spectacular garden. Antoinette Burnham reportedly said to her husband, “If weeds can grow on that bridge, why not flowers?” Walter Burnham sent the idea to the local newspaper and asked for volunteers. The Shelburne Women’s Club provided a $1,000 grant and in April 1929, club members and community volunteers made the Burnham’s vision a reality. With a real sense of community purpose, the volunteers replaced weeds with many donated plants and flower seeds from their own gardens.
Today, the Bridge of Flowers is filled with a large variety of blooms. There are annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs and trees providing a diverse assortment of beautiful flowers. Two memorials to those who served in the Armed Forces during war periods are respectfully displayed among the flowers. Visitors are invited to walk along the bridge, weather permitting, 24 hours a day, April 1- October 31. This handicapped accessible Bridge of Flowers is open to the public to enjoy for free. Donations to support the maintenance of the gardens are welcomed.
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