Green-thumbed staffers at Harlequin Rare Tree Nursery crunch across mulch as they monitor a herd of more than 50 varieties of dwarf conifers and 70 varieties of Japanese maples, the nursery's specialty. Some of the stocked maples, which decorate yards every season of the year with their vivid colors, are 50 years old, giving prospective owners a glimpse at the robust shape of a mature tree while setting a good example for young saplings.

A brick path through the nursery wanders through the meticulously attended woodland, allowing visitors up-close views of lush leaves, needles, and flowers. Potted plants line the walk, including specimens displayed in the Boston Flower & Garden Show. If, as they wander the paths, visitors are inspired to transform their backyards into more verdant spaces, they can book a horticultural consultation, enlist landscape-design services, or transport their homes to the nursery via helicopter.