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Brewster Gardens- Plymouth, Massachusetts I guess it’s not technically my backyard, well maybe an extension of it, since the location of Brewster Gardens, a public parcel of land in Plymouth, Massachusetts that once belonged to Mayflower passenger and Pilgrim William Brewster, is only two blocks north of my actual backyard. I figured that would make it a superb starting off point for the backyard theme.

Town Brook

Brewster Gardens is a lovely park with the Town Brook, the reason why the Pilgrims settled here in the first place (fresh water!), running through it. It’s a relatively small, and narrow strip of land since it begins at the Plimoth Grist Mill and winds its way alongside the brook to Pilgrim Memorial State Park and the waterfront.

Plimoth Grist Mill

Starting at the Plimoth Grist Mill (formerly known as the Jenney Grist Mill), notice a paved path adjacent to the mill. This begins this leg of the Brewster Gardens walk. The Plimoth Grist Mill is not an original, but a mid-20th-century recreation of what a traditional grist mill would look like. A mill operated by early settler John Jenney did exist at this site in the 1600s. This gristmill consists of parts that were taken from 19^thcentury Pennsylvanian gristmill. The mill is run by Plimoth Plantation and tours are available inside. The gift shop on site offers the visitor grist to buy as well as other items such as a beer making kit and Plymouth themed trinkets including ornaments and salt water taffy. The building is also the home to Lucioso’s Pub, no-frills wings and pizza joint with neighborhood sports bar décor, but also deck seating overlooking the waterwheel of the gristmill. Make sure to meander around the mill’s gardens before moving on, the vegetation is impressive. Keep on the lookout for Claws Monet, one of the many fiberglass lobsters you’ll see as you walk around Plymouth. Installed in 2016, these fun landmarks all have a clever name and are sponsored by a local area group. The tourism council works hard to promote its lobster crawl, showcasing each of the gigantic crustaceans scattered about the Plymouth harborside and environs.

Herring Run

Back on the trail, a small wooden bridge spans the Town Brook before the path dips underneath the first of two overpasses. Between the twin roads overhead are a series of springs that emerge out of the hillside, feeding into the stream. Although Plymouth may be famous (and deservedly so) for its Thanksgiving celebration since the first one was celebrated here in 1621, and it’s Fourth of July festivities full of bombast, the most popular time for Brewster Gardens is late April to early May. Late April, the trees are yet to bloom, but the springtime’s thaw has given slight inclinations to better weather ahead brings the running of the alewives or herring. Here the fish travel back through certain streams of freshwater to spawn. In this case, the herring’s tumultuous journey takes the fish upstream, against the current of the Town Brook, and up the fish ladder, eventually with its journey culminating at Billington Sea. It’s quite a site to see copious amounts of the anadromous fish partaking in their own odysseys (or should I say odyssea..), leaping over inclines and queued at the fish ladder, taking their turn to hop along its rungs. In the past few years, the town of Plymouth has eradicated most of the dams along the route of the fish with the exception of the gristmill in which the fish ladder is the catalyst of fish’s transportation. Along with sea life, its natural predators can be sporadically seen along the Brewster Gardens streambanks including otters and beavers. The only human predators allowed to fish for the herring are those of indigenous descent, others will be fined. Ironically, the brook, which flows with fresh water and fish, was the site of Plymouth’s industrial past in the late 18^th and 19^th century as mills dotted its banks. In addition to tourists wandering along the Pilgrim path, are photographers who often utilize this spot for special occasion photography. Located at the beginning of the park are a few statues commemorating Plymouth’s past and present including the Immigrant statue, which pays tribute the generations of immigrants who have called Plymouth home since 1700. Another impressive monument is the Pilgrim Maiden statue, erected in commemoration of the tercentennial celebration in 1920, this is dedicated to the first Pilgrim women who made the voyage to the New World. Brewster Gardens is a picturesque, hidden gem located in Plymouth’s downtown corridor. It provides a scenic alternative to sidewalk walking and abuts a piece of American history, but ultimately is simply a fine place to take a stroll.