What is Wing Haven's garden etiquette?

Wing Haven is made up of three distinct garden properties. Please review garden etiquette for each garden below:

  • As you plan your visit, please be advised and help us protect and maintain our gardens for all of our visitors by observing the following:

    Be mindful of slick or uneven pathways

    Stay on designated paths. Do not walk in mulched or planted garden beds

    Keep children by your side

    Leave flowers and plants for everyone to enjoy. Do not collect or remove seeds, flowers, fruits or plant labels

    Do not touch water features or sun dials

    Silence and limit mobile phone use

    Our gardens are smoke-free

    Service animals are welcome; no pets please.

  • This garden is historic and fragile.

    Please stay on paths

    Enjoy plants, water features and garden ornaments with your eyes only

  • SEED (Student Environmental Education & Discovery) Wildlife & Children’s Garden Etiquette & Stewardship

    All children must be accompanied by an adult while exploring the garden

    Adults are responsible for the safety and behavior of their children

    Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience

    Let nature’s sounds prevail by using indoor voices

    Use walking feet while exploring the garden

    Leave rocks, plants, insects and other natural materials in the garden

    Be respectful of the garden tools and activity centers by tidying up areas you have explored

    Please don’t remove or rearrange plant tags or stakes

    The streambed is intended as a water feature for wildlife.

    PLEASE DON’T…

    move rocks or alter the structure of the streambed

    dump dirt or mulch in the streambed as it clogs the pump

    place pebbles or rocks inside the farm pump

    sit or immerse your body in the streambed

    wear diapers in the streambed

    dig in the streambed. Please only dig in the “Worm Digging Area”

Tickets, Admission, and Prices

  • For contactless entry, Garden Admission tickets are available online or purchase your tickets at the door. 

  • All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable and may not be exchanged for another date and time.

  • Wing Haven is a proud participant of Museums for All:

    Present your SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card or WIC card/voucher to receive free admission to Wing Haven’s gardens.

  • Yes, current member cardholders to AHS gardens are welcome to enjoy Wing Haven for free. Please note, Wing Haven enforces the 90 mile exclusion, and members of gardens within that area cannot use the reciprocal benefits.

  • We do not have a military discount; however, all active duty military personnel and their families can visit Wing Haven for free between Armed Forces Day through Labor Day as part of National Endowments for the Arts’ Blue Star Museums program.  

  • Yes. Group tour information can be found on our Visit Page under Schedule Group Tours.

Weather

  • Visiting Wing Haven is a largely outdoor experience, and most of our events are rain or shine. We will make every effort to hold outdoor events as scheduled. Cancellation of an event is dependent on weather conditions at Wing Haven, and the decision to cancel an event will be made as close to the event time as possible.

Parking

  • Wing Haven’s parking lot is conveniently located at our Foundation Office, 260 Ridgewood Avenue. In consideration of our neighbors, we encourage visitors to park in the parking lot. If spots are not available, please park on the side of the street closest to Wing Haven. Handicap parking is available in front of the Foundation Office at 260 Ridgewood Avenue.

Safety

  • The following are prohibited in our gardens: Smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping, and any illegal substances; weapons of any kind, or items that look like weapons; holding wedding or religious ceremonies or receptions; pets; toys that cause damage to the plant collection and wildlife; balloons, glitter, confetti; blankets or chairs except when otherwise noted; items that are disruptive to guests or could pose a safety concern.

    Also please refrain from: sunbathing, feeding wildlife, running, walking without shoes on, disobeying posted signage or safety barricades, or straying from paths.

    Help us care for the gardens: Please do not climb on sculptures or trees; pick plants and flowers; or get in our fountains and ponds.

Accessibility

  • The majority of our brick pathways and our ADA-compliant pathways are easily accessible to guests with mobility or physical disabilities. The restrooms and drinking fountains available in the Children’s Garden are wheelchair accessible.

    Handicapped parking is located on the street directly in front of the Foundation Office at 260 Ridgewood Avenue.

  • Check in with our host in the Clarkson House at 248 Ridgewood Ave to obtain a complimentary ticket for your personal care attendant.

Visitor Conveniences

  • The restrooms available in the Children’s Garden are equipped with pull-down changing tables and are large enough to afford guests the privacy they need. 

  • Yes. Guests can connect to "WingHavenGuest" free of charge during their visit. Please note that some areas of the gardens do not have Wi-Fi coverage.

  • Pets are not permitted at Wing Haven. Please do not leave pets in your car in the parking lot during warm weather since shade is minimal. Properly identified service animals that provide assistance for guests with disabilities are permitted everywhere at Wing Haven.

Food and Drink

  • Visitors may bring outside food in sealed containers to enjoy at our picnic tables located in the Children’s Garden or under the pergola in the Main Garden of Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary. Food and drinks must be sealed and contained while inside all of the buildings at Wing Haven.

Photography and Video

  • All professional photography sessions must be scheduled in advance with our Development & Office Associate. Visit our Photography page to learn more.

    We encourage our guests to take casual photographs and videos of their visit for their own personal use and sharing on social media.

  • If your photography session is during our regular hours (10 am - 5pm) then the garden will be open to guests during your session. If you are paying the additional $35 fee for an after-hours photo session, then yes, the garden will be closed to visitors and it will just be you and your Wing Haven host in the garden.

  • Your session should be one photographer and up to four guests involved in the photography session. For larger photography groups, arrangements need to be made with Wing Haven staff and approval granted.

  • Yes, access to our Elizabeth "Pepper" Dowd Education Building is available upon request. Please let Wing Haven staff know if you will need access to the space ahead of time.

  • All commercial photography and videography, advertisements, promotional material and marketing activities are prohibited at Wing Haven unless scheduled in advance and approved by Wing Haven staff.

Weddings and Other Large Group Celebrations

  • Weddings ceremonies of any size or wedding receptions are not permitted.

  • Unfortunately, we are unable to host weddings of any size. Our venue size is more suited for smaller events such as luncheons, board meetings, or birthday parties in the children's garden.

  • Yes, once you have scheduled a photography session through the office. Please adhere to the guidelines and guest limits outlined in the photography section.

Private Events, Meetings, and Room Rentals

  • Wing Haven has three venue options to choose from. Learn more on our Venues page. Please note that we do not permit weddings of any size or wedding receptions.

  • - Wireless internet access

    - Two Samsung TVs available for screen casting (Compatible Apple products can AirPlay to both TVs simultaneously. Windows or other non-Apple PC products can only pair to one TV at a time.)

    - Stereo sound system