Guide

Go seePlants

Azaleas, rhododendrons and mountain laurel in bloom at Maudslay

May to June

Maudslay State Park holds one of the largest wild stands of mountain laurel in eastern Massachusetts, on banks above the Merrimack River where laurel has grown for centuries. Leashed dogs are welcome, and from May into late June the park's azaleas, rhododendrons, and laurel bloom in a set order: dogwood and early azaleas in May, mountain laurel around the third week of June, and rosebay rhododendron after it.

Why this time of year

The park's own bloom brochure gives approximate peaks: dogwood and early azaleas in the first weeks of May, flame azalea in the fourth week of May, swamp azalea in the second week of June, mountain laurel in the third week of June, and rosebay rhododendron in the fourth week of June.

How to notice it

  1. Walk the trails along the river banks in the third week of June, give or take, and look for big shrubs covered in flower clusters. That is the mountain laurel the park is known for.
  2. Come back in May for the azaleas and rhododendrons along the estate drives, and compare which colors are out each week.
  3. Keep your dog on its leash the whole walk; the park requires it. Hunting is not allowed here.
  4. Look, sniff, and photograph, but do not pick: the park asks visitors not to pick flowers or other plants.

Try this with kids: Find a mountain laurel in bloom and count the flower clusters on one branch. Look without picking.

Sources

  • web.archive.orgPRIMARY, DCR Maudslay State Park page (Wayback snapshot 2026-10-24, read 2026-11-10). 'Dogs Allowed'. 'one of the largest naturally-occurring stands of mountain laurel in Massachusetts.' 'During late spring the bloom cycle begins with flowering trees, then progresses into the mid and late blooming varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas.' Restrictions: 'Dogs must remain on-leash'; 'No hunting'.
  • web.archive.orgPRIMARY, DCR 'Maudslay in Bloom' self-guided brochure (Wayback snapshot 2025-09-01, read 2026-11-10). 'one of the largest naturally-occurring stands of mountain laurel in eastern Massachusetts.' Laurels 'have covered the banks of the Merrimack River for centuries' and attract 'countless visitors during the June bloom.' Bloom (approx.): 'Dogwood (DW) May-1st week', 'Flame Azalea (FA) May-4th week', 'Swamp Azalea (SA) June-2nd week', 'Mountain Laurel (ML) June-3rd week', 'Rosebay Rhododendron (RR) June-4th week'. 'Keep your dogs on a leash'; 'Do not pick flowers or other vegetation'.

Checked against these sources on November 10, 2026.

In the guide for May, June

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