Franklin Park greenhouse readies for spring planting

Spring flowers are popping up around Boston, many of which are grown and planted by city workers. It's a Boston tradition dating back to the 1800s and the founding of the Boston Public Garden, the oldest botanical garden in the U.S.

The city’s historic, sprawling greenhouse is located in Franklin Park, made up of 16 ranges housing thousands of plants.

"By no means is this a modern greenhouse," said Superintendent of Horticulture Anthony Hennessy. "We do have heat obviously, and there is ventilation, but if you've been to a modern greenhouse, the floor would be all cement, the floor would be heated, there'd be a way to pump in carbon dioxide gas to enrich plant growth and stuff like that, the humidity could be controlled, and we're sort of not there."

Despite the antiquated facilities, Hennessy and his team are able to grow most of the city's plants there, something that makes Boston unique compared to other big cities. Hennessy said Boston is one of the only major cities that has its own greenhouse and focuses on homegrown landscaping.

"In an urban setting like we are in right now, the importance of being in an open green space — and just being outside in general — can uplift people."

For spring 2024, he said, they ordered more than 100,000 seeds and 10,000 seedlings to be grown, transplanted and potted.

"I'd like to think that we would have more greenhouse space to space things out," he said. "But we do the best with what we have."

In total, the gardeners are responsible for 85 different green spaces in the city, from iconic attractions like the Public Garden and Copley Square, to smaller perennial beds.

Planning for the spring starts in November of the previous year, with horticulturists thinking about which plants to feature in the larger parks first.

"In an urban setting like we are in right now, the importance of being in an open green space — and just being outside in general — can uplift people," Hennessy said. "And seeing a beautiful planting of flowers can make someone's day."