Touring the Massachusetts wildflower paradise Garden in the Woods

Volunteer Al Levin shows off the wildflowers and other native plants at Garden in the Woods.

In this video, Al Levin ’56, M.D. ’60, shows off his passion for “doll’s eyes,” “Indian soap,” and other botanical treasures of New England. Levin, a semiretired cardiologist, is featured in an article in the current issue of Harvard Magazine on alumni who volunteer as a kind of second career. For this Web Extra, he agreed to give readers a tour of Garden in the Woods, in Framingham, Massachusetts, where he volunteers as a guide, happily providing colloquial and Latin plant names, information on species native and invasive, and more.

Related topics

You might also like

How AI Is Reshaping Supply Chains

Harvard Kennedy School lecturer on using AI to strengthen supply chains

This Astronomer is Sounding a Warning on ‘Space Junk’

As debris accumulates in low Earth orbit, the danger of destructive collisions continues to rise.

Understanding AI Vulnerabilities

As artificial intelligence capabilities evolve, so too will the tactics used to exploit them. 

Most popular

Trump Administration Will Investigate Alleged Visa Fraud at Harvard

The announcement comes two days after a federal appeals court heard arguments about an international students ban.

Harvard Alumni Win Two 2026 Nobel Prizes

Karl Deisseroth revolutionized neuroscience. Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has adjudicated cases in international courts concerning genocide.

A Play for the Ages Propels Crimson Football to Victory

Dick Friedman on Harvard’s 20-17 win over Colgate

Explore More From Current Issue

Three young women posed side by side against red background.

The 2026-2027 Ledecky and Summer Undergraduate Fellows

A football player in a white jersey evades a defender in a green uniform on the field.

Despite personnel losses, Crimson captain Xaviah Bascon is upbeat about the 2026 season.

A smiling elderly man in glasses sits comfortably in a striped armchair.

Plus, veteran higher education leader Thomas Ehrlich reflects on university curricula for his 70th reunion