Of the thousands of flowering plants in Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a daylong celebration.
The Arboretum invites flower lovers of all ages to absorb the sights and scents of spring at the 104th Lilac Sunday on May 13th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The annual event showcases Boston’s unique learning landscape in bloom and offers fun, outdoor explorations for the entire family. There will be ongoing tours of the Arboretum’s lilacs and other living plant collections, live music, children’s and Mother’s Day activities, and food vendors (picnicking allowed on this special day only). Parking is limited. Use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.
The tradition of Lilac Sunday began more than a century ago as a celebration of the Arboretum’s beloved lilacs on Bussey Hill, a one of a kind collection of nearly 375 plants representing 180 different kinds of lilacs.
This year the Arboretum will also host special guided tours of its diverse collections including—the Explorers Garden, the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden, the Bradley Rosaceous Collection and more.
