At the time of its founding in 1872, the land on which the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is sighted was a patchwork of farmland and forest. As the Arboretum was planted, pathways were developed to lead people through the picturesque landscape. As the landscape developed, economies shifted, wars took place, and directors changed. Each of these factors subtly influenced shifts in the park’s path system. Join the Arnold Arboretum on Zoom with Jared Rubinstein as he reveals the layers of change in this beloved landscape.
Participate in the Arnold Arboretum’s 2021 Tournament of Trees! Get to know this year’s Sweet Sixteen contenders (March 3–9) and cast your votes in this fun bracket style tournament. Let the March Tree Madness games begin.
Bussey St. Gate, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Docent Robbie Apfel leads this winter walk in an exploration of the Arboretum's conifer collection. Beginning from the Bussey Street Gate, you will be introduced to the Arboretum's grand gymnosperms, learn the botany of conifers, and hear about Hemlock Hill's evolving ecosystem. This tour will also introduce you to native and non-native conifers in the winter landscape.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Great scenery and exercise, who could want more? Take a brisk walk this winter and stay healthy and connected to the Arboretum at a time when the landscape is pared down to its beautiful bones. This walk emphasizes fitness, with a healthy dose of information on seasonal highlights. Winter tours are geared to adults and led by trained Arboretum docents.
After your tour, stay on for a warm drink and more conversation with your guide and staff in the Visitor Center.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Families need nature at all times of the year! Meet inside the main gate at the Visitor Center. We’ll make paper chickadees and go on a StoryWalk to learn how a little bird can bring back the Sun! Free and open to all, most suitable for children ages four through ten.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Winter is the barest of times in the Arboretum; however, there is much to see and much happening in the landscape. Join a docent for a walk on the bare side—notice shapes, textures, even the personalities of plants that are often missed when the land is heavy with green. You will see buds already forming and the dried seeds that are more visible when leaves are gone.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit the Arboretum. Explore the less-traveled paths of the Arboretum on informative walks designed for enjoyment, health, and learning about this special landscape. Pause to hear about interesting plants and unique collections. Please dress appropriately and bring water.
Repeats every week every Monday until Mon Oct 28 2019 .
10:00am to 3:00pm
10:00am to 3:00pm
Location:
Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham
Explore the vast variety of native trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Learn which species grow well in shade, which support local wildlife, and how to stagger plantings for continuous bloom, fruit production, and fall color. The class discusses growth characteristics, cultural requirements, and best horticultural uses. It begins with lectures and walks at Garden in the Woods in Framingham and includes a field trip to the Arnold Arboretum in...
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Families need nature at all times of the year! Meet inside the main gate at the Visitor Center. We’ll sneak about and see what our furry friends are doing as winter draws closer. Get a tattoo, play with puppets, and read a StoryWalk®.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
This "Stroll" takes you for a simple and easy route through the Arboretum's collections. At pre-determined stops, pause and hear about some of very special plants with one of our wonderful docents. They will impart interesting stories about historic, horticultural, and cultural aspects of the plant's life. Maps with the Plant Stops will be provided. You can "stroll" at your own pace.
Dana Greenhouse, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
When our staff returns from seed collecting in the wild, there is little time for rest. Arboretum staff Andrew Gapinski, Sean Halloran, and Jared Rubinstein will travel for three weeks this September in Appalachia in search of seed from taxa targeted as part of the ...
Bradley Rosaceous Collection, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Join the Arnold Arboretum for tours, family activities, and festivities inviting you to discover the diversity of the rose family (Rosaceae) which includes more than four thousand species. Many of the rose family taxa are of great importance to humans and the agricultural economy, and are vulnerable to extreme weather that is becoming the new norm. Come learn more about the many fruits of the rose family, a welcome buffet for our local wildlife.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Invasive plants are a real concern in our parks, gardens, and other public places. Many were intentionally introduced because of their horticultural value. How do we define invasive, and how did these plants get into our landscape? Join Arboretum docent Marty Amdur to see examples in the Arboretum landscape and gain a better understanding of this issue.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
The Arnold Arboretum provides both extensively documented collections for research and the facilities for the researchers—labs, greenhouses, and growing chambers. From around the world, scientists come to use the trees and shrubs in the Arboretum landscape, studying climate change, plant evolution, natural selection, and species adaptation. Join docent Esther Miller to hear about the science of the Arboretum.
Take a guided tour of the Arnold Arboretum's state-of-the-art Weld Hill Research and Administration Building. Learn about some of the cutting-edge plant research and explore the “green” building design.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Families need nature at all times of the year! Join the Arboretum for a family hike where you will look for seeds that fly, seeds that float, seeds that get buried away, and seeds that travel through an animal’s stomach.
This event is free and open to all and most suitable for children ages four through ten.
Repeats every week every Saturday until Sat Oct 05 2019 .
8:00am to 9:30am
8:00am to 9:30am
8:00am to 9:30am
8:00am to 9:30am
Location:
Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
This autumn, experience the birds of the Arboretum with expert birder and Arboretum volunteer, Bob Mayer and/or staff birding aficionado, Brendan Keegan. Catch a glimpse of migrating birds as they fly south and get acquainted with the Arboretum's resident birds as well. Bring binoculars if you have them; some binoculars will be available to share. Beginners and seasoned birders are welcome!
Bob Mayer: September 14 (meet at Arborway Gate) September 28 (meet at Peters Hill Gate)
Centre Street Gate, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
What better place to look for the differences between angiosperms (plants that flower and have enclosed seeds), and gymnosperms (plants with "naked seeds," including conifers, ginkgos and others), than in the Arnold Arboretum landscape, where over 15,000 plants reside in a living museum. Join the Arboretum's guide, Florrie Wescoat, as she points out trees in both groups and describes the characteristics of each.
Bonsai and Penjing Pavillion, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Did you know that almost all of the plants in the Arboretum begin their lives in the Dana Greenhouses? Get a behind-the-scenes look of the greenhouse growing process, from seed to sprout to seedling to tree.
Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, Boston
Venture into the Arboretum landscape with caterpillar expert Sam Jaffe. Sam will wander the landscape highlighting host plants and the insects they support, focusing his attention on caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. Bring a camera to document your discoveries and a notebook to record identification tips and plant suggestions for expanding the array of butterflies your garden or park can support.
This event is suitable for adults and children ages 12 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.