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PROGRAMS & EVENTS PROGRAM CATALOG AUTUMN 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS Membership Adult Programs and Tours Horticulture & Botany Nature & Wildlife History & Culture Health & Wellness Exhibits Events Plan Your Visit Seasonal Highlights Visiting with Kids & Youth Programs The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is free and open every day. All programs are free. Programs listed as Members Only are exclusive opportunities for current members of the Arnold Arboretum. Join or renew your membership to register for member-only programs. Hunnewell Visitor Center 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130 Hours 10:00am–4:00pm daily

BECOME A MEMBER The Arnold Arboretum is funded by members like you. A public-private partnership between the City of Boston and Harvard University, the Arnold Arboretum maintains its own operating budget powered by past and present philanthropy. As Boston’s premier museum of trees and one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s finest landscapes, the Arboretum pursues its mission and welcomes nearly 1 million visitors each year funded by endowment income, memberships, and gifts. Become a member and partner in our work to collect, study, conserve, and share plants here and around the globe. View our membership levels and benefits and join today!

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT Discount on tickets to AFTERGLOW Imagine the Arnold Arboretum at sunset: illuminated trees, lively conversation, and an evening of discovery and celebration. On Thursday, September 24, the Arboretum debuts Afterglow at the Arnold, a special event in the Explorers Garden featuring cocktails, seasonal fare, and opportunities to connect with Arboretum experts while exploring remarkable plants from around the world. The evening concludes with music, dancing, and festivities under a tent. Presented with the Young Friends at the Arnold, Afterglow offers a unique way to experience one of Boston’s premier landscapes while supporting our mission of research, conservation, and public engagement. Members receive discounted admission to both the VIP experience and Afterparty. LEARN MORE

FEATURED MEMBERS-ONLY PROGRAM:

Living Connections Exhibit Opening Reception Members get a special sneak preview of the new exhibit in the Hunnewell Building, titled Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea. For more than a century, the Arnold Arboretum has been connected to Korea through plants, exploration, and scientific exchange. The exhibit brings together rare archival images, living collections, plant records, and contemporary partnerships to explore Korea’s botanical heritage and the evolving relationship between the Arboretum and Korean institutions. Join us for this special member preview event to view the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and mingle with staff experts. October 23, 3:00–7:00pm

HORTICULTURE & BOTANY Guided Tours Join us for a 90-minute tour through the Arboretum! View seasonal plant highlights and learn about Arboretum history from a trained docent. Arboretum Highlights Tours are daily at 10:30am. Check our Tours page for additional times and dates. No pre-registration required.

Explorers Garden Tour The Explorers Garden rests in a microclimate just below the summit of Bussey Hill. This nearly five-acre site provides ideal growing conditions for many species that have been challenging to grow in less protected areas of the Arboretum. As such, it has proven to be a perfect testing ground for plants collected in the expeditions of E. H. Wilson in the early 1900s to the NACPEC (North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium) expeditions of our own time. Join docent Marie Herbert for a guided tour to learn more about some of the plants showcased in this special collection and to hear stories of the plant exploration expeditions that brought them to the Arboretum. September 12, 1:00–2:30pm October 17, 1:00–2:30pm Marie Herbert, Docent

This program begins Centre Street Gate.

Solar Meadow Up Close In 2021, Arboretum staff started transforming a large swath of grass next to the Weld Hill Research Building into the thriving pollinator meadow that it is today. Join Horticulturist Brendan Keegan, the main caretaker for this space, for a deep dive into the meadow: how it was created, what kinds of plants and pollinators can be found here, and how the plants are integrated with the solar panel array that supplies energy for the Weld Hill Research Building. September 13, 2:00–3:30pm Members Only Brendan Keegan, Horticulturist

This program begins in front of the Weld Hill Building.

Introduced diseases are sweeping across New England Forests, from the deadly beech leaf disease to the new laurel wilt threatening sassafras and spicebush shrubs. Join UMass Extension Plant Pathologist Nicholas J. Brazee for a talk on these diseases, how they are impacting New England forests, and what researchers and management teams are doing about it. September 15, 2:00–3:15pm Nicholas Brazee, Plant Pathologist

This program takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

BOTANY & HORTICULTURE

Tree Disease and the New England Forest

HORTICULTURE & BOTANY Sustainability Spotlight: Irrigation As climate change leads to increased temperatures and extreme weather patterns, drought is becoming more and more of a concern at the Arboretum. Staff have been working hard to install irrigation systems around the landscape since the record-breaking drought of 2016, working to increase the resiliency of our collections to periods of drought and dry weather, and this fall represents one of the biggest irrigation projects yet. Learn how the Arboretum keeps trees watered in areas without irrigation, plans for new irrigation installations, and how all of these systems actually work. September 16, 12:30–1:30pm Members Only Danny Schissler, Head of Operations and Project Management Jed Romanowiz, Head Operator This program takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

Mushroom Hunt Hundreds of mushrooms hide beneath the Arboretum’s canopies, silently blossoming into unique forms then withering away again just as quickly. Join a local mushroom enthusiast to search for these fascinating organisms on the Arboretum grounds, both edible and poisonous alike. Along the way you will learn what mushrooms to look for in different habitats and seasons, how they move through ecosystems, and how the Arboretum’s unique collections affect what mushrooms you might find here. September 19, 2:00–4:00pm October 17, 2:00–4:00pm November 15, 12:00–2:00pm Maria Pinto, Mushroom Enthusiast This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

Bizarre Botany: Seed Dispersal Join us for a deep dive into the strangest parts of the plant world. This month’s theme is seed dispersal: from seeds that explode out from their seed pods to pine cones that require wildfire to open, explore all of the weird and wonderful ways plants have found to get their seeds out into the world. September 20, 2:00–3:30pm Members Only Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

Beeches Up-Close The stately beeches of the Arboretum used to tower over other trees–and some still do–but pests, diseases, and other pathogens have taken their toll in recent years. Enjoy a walk in the beech collection and learn about the challenges these trees have faced, what the Arboretum is doing in response, and what the collection looked like in years past. September 26, 2:00–3:30pm Delia Mahoney, Arborist

This program begins at South Street Gate.

The Science of Fall Leaf Color The Arboretum becomes a riot of color in the fall with leaves turning deep red, fiery orange, and bright yellow. Have you ever wondered why this happens every autumn? Explore the science of fall leaf color, including an exploration of pigments and abscission, a hands-on experiment to reveal the array of pigments present in every leaf, and a walk in the landscape to take a closer look at leaves in all phases of color change. September 27, 10:00am–12:30pm Ana Maria Caballero, Outdoor Educator

This program begins in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

Family Tree: An Introduction to Plant Families at the Arboretum

September 27, 3:00–5:00pm Members Only Mo Katz-Christy, Educator and Herbalist

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building.

BOTANY & HORTICULTURE

What is the difference between a plant in the beech family and the birch family? What does a raspberry plant and a rose plant have in common? Meander through the landscape and learn about the common plant families here, how to identify common characteristics in each family, and what we can learn about plants based on their close relatives.

HORTICULTURE & BOTANY Magnolias Up Close The Arboretum’s magnolia collection is best known for its showy blossoms in the early spring, but these trees have something special to share in the fall too: strange, conelike seed pods bursting with striking red and orange seeds. Join us for a tour of the magnolias in all their fall splendor. October 3, 2:00–3:3opm Members Only Rodney Eason, Director of Horticulture Sylvia Maina, Arboretum Gardener

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building

Seed Propagation at the Arboretum Many of us assume that growing plants from seed is as simple as opening a seed packet and sticking them in the dirt, but many of the trees and shrubs in the Arboretum’s collections require a complicated process of stratification, maceration, and dormancy breaking before they will sprout. The class will begin with a presentation on the biology of seed dormancy and germination, and then we will move into the hands-on portion where participants get experience preparing and sowing some seeds to take home. October 10, 10:00am–12:00pm Members Only Sarah Shank, Propagator

This program takes place in the Dana Greenhouses.

Oak Collection Tour Oaks have been more closely associated with the development of human civilizations across the northern hemisphere than any other genus of tree. From the Royal Oak to the Charter Oak to the Emancipation Oak, from wine and whisky barrels to tall ships to the roof of Notre Dame, from King John to Shakespeare to Leonardo da Vinci, oaks have been inextricably entwined with the human experience. Join docent Paul Eldrenkamp as we learn more about the cultural history of oaks and explore what it is that makes them so useful, so distinct — and so essential. October 17, 10:00–11:30am Paul Eldrenkamp, Docent

This program begins at Centre Street Gate.

Centre Street Beds Up Close The Centre Street Beds hold everything from winter hazel and silverbell to hickories and osage orange, and October is a great time to see this lesser-known part of the landscape in all its fall glory. You will learn about the plants that grow here, the history of this part of the Arboretum, and how the Horticulture team manages these diverse plantings. October 18, 10:00am–11:30am Members Only Ryan Devlin, Horticulturist This program begins at Centre Street Gate.

Autumn in the Arboretum Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year at the Arboretum, with leaves changing color and all sorts of unique seeds and fruits appearing on the branches. Join a docent for a tour to learn about all the changes that happen in the Arboretum’s collections in the fall. October 24, 11:00am–12:3opm November 7, 11:00am–12:3opm Vicki Amalfitano, Docent

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building

Most of us can point out an oak or a maple by their unique leaf shapes, but what about telling a black oak from a red oak, or a Norway maple from a sugar maple? In this class you will learn to identify oak and maple species using leaf shape, bark, form, and other key identification features. The class will focus on species common to Massachusetts streets and forests, so that you will be prepared to identify the trees around you on your next walk in the woods or around town. October 25, 10:00am–12:00pm Members Only Alex Klein, Herbalist This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building.

BOTANY & HORTICULTURE

Identifying Oaks & Maples

HORTICULTURE & BOTANY Peters Hill Tour Learn about some of the amazing trees on Peters Hill during this ninety-minute tour. You’ll get a chance to explore a few of the interesting collections in the landscape, learn about the history of this part of the Arboretum, and get a view of the Boston skyline from the second highest point in the city. October 31, 2:00–3:30pm Paul Eldrenkamp, Docent

This program begins at Poplar Gate.

Tree Mobs Tree Mobs are short, spontaneous learning opportunities inspired by ephemeral plant phenomena in the landscape, unique nature encounters, and plant science. Did the magnolias just start blooming? Are the witch-hazels dispersing their seeds? How do plants survive extreme weather? Take a deep dive with Arboretum experts. We communicate about upcoming tree mobs by posting them as an event on our website’s events page and emailing the Tree Mobs mailing list. Join the list to be notified about upcoming Tree Mobs! Note: Tree Mobs are offered as a hybrid program. In-person spots are reserved for Members Only and the virtual stream is open to all. Autumn Tree Mob: Sourwood

NATURE & WILDLIFE Birding Walk Embark on a birdwatching tour in the Arboretum’s landscape with docent and birder Donna Sullivan. This two-hour tour is suitable for adult beginners as well as more experienced birders. September 12, 8:00–10:00am October 11, 8:00–10:00am November 7, 8:00–10:00am Donna Sullivan, Docent and Birder

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building.

Owl Prowl Dusk is a perfect time to look and listen for Great Horned Owls, often heard calling throughout the Arboretum’s collections. Come and hear about the owls’ breeding and nesting behavior, learn how to go owling ethically, and possibly hear and see a few owls as well. November 21, 4:00–5:00pm Brendan Keegan, Horticulturist Matt Kamm, Associate Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England This program begins at Flora Way Gate

HISTORY & CULTURE Living Trees, Living Traditions: Cultural Perspectives on Plant Use Trees have long played an important role in cultures around the world. On this tour, we delve into the ethnobotany of trees - how people of different cultures and regions made use of woody plants for food, medicine, everyday wooden objects, dyes, fibers, oils, resins, gums, soaps, waxes, tannins. We will explore how groups from many regions and traditions have historically used bark, roots, and leaves from native and exotic trees we have growing at the Arnold Arboretum for a variety of uses. The focus is on cultural knowledge, meaning, and relationship—not on medical instruction or other advice. September 5, 11:00am–12:30pm Vicki Amalfitano, Docent

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building..

Olmsted and The Arboretum Frederick Law Olmsted, considered the father of landscape architecture, designed some 500 public spaces in North America. The Arnold Arboretum is the only arboretum he designed, a National Historic Landmark, and a model for others around the world. Your docent will identify the elements of the Arboretum that best reflect Olmsted’s philosophy and approach to landscape design. October 3, 11:00am–12:00pm Bill Beizer, Docent

This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

Sketching Trees with Erica Beade Explore the amazing variety and beauty of trees at the Arnold Arboretum with pencil and paper. Taught by artist and educator Erica Beade, this walking program will focus on capturing the shapes and volume of trunks and branches as well as techniques for drawing foliage. All skill levels are welcome. September 19, 11:00am–12:30pm Erica Beade, Illustrator

This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building.

Arnoldia Spotlight: Stories Among the Trees with Oreades Press Join Arnoldia Editor Matthew Battles and Oreades Press for a unique literary program: participants will bind together their own booklets in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall and then head into the landscape to hear live readings of excerpts from Arnoldia and An Anthology of Earth from local writers, standing under the same trees highlighted in the readings. After each excerpt, participants will have a chance to reflect and respond in their booklets, ending with an in-depth writing exercise on the themes of trees and nature. September 20, 10:00–11:30pm Members Only Matthew Battles, Arnoldia Editor Rachel TonThat and Irene Lyla Lee, Oreades Press This program begins in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall

Many are aware of Charles Sprague Sargent’s role as first director of the Arnold Arboretum, establishing it as the world-renowned institution it is today. Far fewer are familiar with how his close relationships and prolific correspondence with figures of national and international prominence in the developing fields of botany, horticulture, forestry, and wilderness preservation or his leadership of seminal public sector projects such as his path-breaking survey of United States forests for the 1880 US Census shaped the American landscape far beyond the Arboretum’s walls. September 26, 11:00–12:30am Paul Eldrenkamp, Docent

This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Charles Sprague Sargent and the American Landscape

HISTORY & CULTURE The Cosmic Tree: A Universal Symbol of Life: Ginkgoes and Conifers Cosmologies are ways of understanding the nature of the universe, of experiencing the world in all its variations including the visible and the invisible. Over millennia trees have served as the mythological archetype of the world’s axis (axis mundi), the pole through the earth’s center which connects the worlds above and below. This interactive tour has stops for moments to reflect on specific trees and the stories associated with them. Were they revered or feared? A home for deities or tricksters? We will begin at the Walter Street Gate to visit the oldest ginkgoes at the Arboretum, then head up the Conifer Path and diverge to walk, rest, and reflect among various conifers, eventually ending by the yews near Bussey Brook and Hemlock Hill Road. September 20, 10:00–11:30am October 11, 10:00–11:30am November 8, 10:00–11:30am Katrina Scott, Docent

This program begins at Walter Street Gate.

Bike Tour of the Arboretum With a park as large as the Arboretum, a bike ride is one of the best ways to see the entire landscape in one trip. Take our bike tour and ride all the way to Peters Hill, stopping to learn about various collections along the way. Your guide will share his expertise on the maples, hickories, mountain laurels, ginkgoes, paw paws, and more, before getting back on our bikes and pedaling to the next stop! October 17, 10:00–11:30am Rodney Eason, Director of Horticulture and Landscape (and personal bike enthusiast) This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building.

Living Connections Exhibit Members Reception Special member preview event to experience the new Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and mingle with staff experts. October 23, 3:00–7:00pm Members Only

This program takes place in the Hunnewell Visitor Center

Rhythms in the Garden with the Iris Percussion Quartet Join Iris Percussion Quartet, based out of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, for a performance focused on fallen leaves and the Arboretum’s Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden. Working with small percussive instruments and found objects, Iris will bring together a unique program that celebrates the Leventritt in the peak of fall–including some brand new pieces composed specifically for this concert. November 1, 12:00–1:00pm

This program takes place in the Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden.

Botanical Ink Printing: A Drop-In Program Drop by the Arboretum to make some beautiful ink prints using fallen leaves. This is a walk-up program so no registration is necessary, just stop by any time between 12pm and 2pm! November 7, 12:00–2:00pm Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events This program takes place on the Hunnewell Lawn.

Sustainability Spotlight: Geothermal Heating at Weld Hill Did you know that the Weld Hill Research Building at the Arboretum has the largest geothermal heating system at Harvard? There are 88 wells hidden under the namesake hill which help heat and cool the state-of-the-art research building. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at this fascinating system. November 17, 2:00–3:00pm Members Only Danny Schissler, Head of Operations and Project Management This program begins in front of the Weld Hill Building.

Join us for a story of a flower and the early 20th Century explorer who ventured to the other side of the world, away from family and modern convenience, to collect it. The regal lily (Lilium regale) was not just an object of desire but one of such value that it would underwrite one of the most significant collecting expeditions of the day. Yet, its beauty almost betrayed the collector, nearly taking both his reputation and his life. November 22, 2:00–3:15pm Michael Dosmann, Keeper of the Living Collections This program takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

HISTORY & CULTURE

The Regal Lily and the Redemption of E. H. Wilson

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Forest Bathing Slow down and awaken your senses on a guided sensory experience in the Arnold Arboretum. Forest Bathing, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, is a restorative sensory exploration that supports health and healing for all beings. September 26, 9:00am–11:00am Tam Willey, Forest Therapy Guide This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

Terapia de Bosque en Español La terapia de bosque, también conocida como baño de bosque o Shinrin-yoku, es una práctica basada en evidencia que te conecta con la naturaleza de manera amable, curiosa y consciente. En el ritmo acelerado del mundo de hoy, esta experiencia cuidadosamente diseñada te invita a tomar una pausa, despertar tus sentidos y disfrutar de lo que nos ofrece la naturaleza. October 3, 10:00am–12:00pm Andrea Jaramillo, Forest Therapy Guide This program begins at Flora Way Gate.

EXHIBITS

LIVING CONNECTIONS: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University announces Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea. This new exhibition featuring plants, photographs, archival materials, and contemporary collaborations, explores more than a century of connections between the Arboretum and the flora, landscapes, and people of Korea. Living Connections pairs the Arboretum’s living collections with one of the most extensive surviving visual records of early twentiethcentury Korea. It reveals how botanical exploration on the Korean Peninsula shaped the Arboretum’s collections and how those ties continue to support research, conservation, and international partnership today. Exhibition opens October 24, 2026, in the Hunnewell Building Visitor Center Members Preview Reception October 23

EVENTS Afterglow at the Arnold Join us at the Arnold Arboretum as we debut a captivating new event: Afterglow at the Arnold! This enchanting evening of discovery under the stars celebrates the Arboretum as a free public park in the City of Boston, a “museum of trees,” a conservation and research institution, and a community resource for education and well-being. Guests will engage with Arboretum experts while enjoying cocktails and passed food in the living collections, followed by music and dancing under a tent. September 24, 5:30–10:30pm

This event takes place in the Explorers Garden.

Art of the Woodturner Woodturning is the art or process of fashioning wood into various forms and shapes by means of a lathe. Returning to the Arnold Arboretum for the 11th year, The Art of the Woodturner will again offer visitors the chance to see an amazing variety of woodturned pieces: large and small, functional and sculptural. Experience in-depth demonstrations on the lathe in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, and throughout both days on the Hunnewell lawn. October 17 and 18, 10:00am–4:00pm This program takes place in and in front of (weather permitting) the Hunnewell Building.

LIVING CONNECTIONS: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea

Opening weekend and members’ preview The new Living Connections exhibit brings together rare archival images, living collections, plant records, and contemporary partnerships to explore Korea’s botanical heritage and the evolving relationship between the Arboretum and Korean institutions. Special member preview event to view the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and mingle with staff experts. Members preview reception October 23, 3:00–7:00pm Opening weekend October 24 and 25, 10:00am–4:00pm (then open daily through summer 2027) This exhibit will be on display in the Hunnewell Visitor Center and lecture hall This exhibition is sponsored in part by Leslie and Peter Ciampi.

Wicked Plants: A Botanical Halloween On the afternoon of Halloween, stop by the Hunnewell Lawn to learn about the most sinister plants in the Arboretum’s collections. Armed with spiky thorns, sticky latex, and chemical warfare, these plant species defend themselves from hungry herbivores, other plants— and sometimes from humans who wander too close. Others try to poison their neighbors, practice explosive seed dispersal, or even glow under black light. Drop by for this family friendly event and experience Halloween, Arboretum-style. No need to register, just stop by the Hunnewell Lawn between 12:00 and 3:00pm. Kids storytime at 1:00pm! October 31, 12:00–3:00pm Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events Ana Maria Caballero, Outdoor Educator This program takes place on the Hunnewell Lawn.

This program takes place in the Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden.

PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME TO THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM.

Our 281-acre landscape features more than 16,000 accessioned plants. We are open daily and free for all to explore. Whether you are coming for a stroll, on the lookout for wildlife, or interested in learning the stories and science behind our plants, we offer something for everyone. F Learn about our plants and collections F Print a map F Get directions F Take a guided tour

Accessibility The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University welcomes people of all abilities and is committed to facilitating a safe and engaging experience for all who visit. To learn more or for accessibility-related questions, please visit the accessibility page on our website or contact our Visitor Engagement team.

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS

From these fruits new Arnold Arboretum specimens grow. Viburnum betulifolium | Sichuan, China

Arboretum explorers conduct expeditions in the autumn when fruits of most temperate trees and shrubs are ripe. After harvesting, they spend time extracting and processing the seeds before they return to the Arboretum. Here is a sampling of fresh fruits collected in the wild.

Sorbus wilsoniana | Sichuan, China

Stewartia serrata | Honshu, Japan

Aesculus pavia | Arkansas, USA

Carya ovata | Indiana, USA

VISITING WITH KIDS The Arboretum is a big place - 281 acres! Here is an area we recommend visiting with kids plus some questions to kick off your nature study.

CENTRE STREET GATE

Suggested Family Walk OAK PATH BUSSEY HILL

There are over 1,000 oak trees in the Arboretum and you can get to know a few of them as you take a stroll down Oak Path. Enjoy the shade and fall foliage of the Oak Collection during this busy season. Dodge falling acorns and look for foraging squirrels! There are several interesting leaf shapes in this area - how many can you find? How many acorn types do you see?

Oaks

OA K VAL L

RO AD

Snag

EXPLORERS GARDEN

PA TH Hemlocks

Stand under a mature oak tree. Look up! How tall is your tree? How wide to the branches spread? Use your arms to mimic the branches.

Visit the Explorers Garden. Here you will find plants from around the world. Can you find... Q Dove tree

CH BEE

H PAT

Q Franklin tree Q Paperbark maple tree Q Chinese plum yew

Outdoor Educator Recommended Books

Beatrix and Her Friends by Anne Lambelet Leaflets Three, Let It Be!: The Story of Poison Ivy by Anita Sanchez and Robin Brickman Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest by Lynn Street and Anne Hunter

Wicked Plants: A Botanical Halloween On the afternoon of Halloween, stop by the Hunnewell Lawn to learn about the most sinister plants in the Arboretum’s collections. Armed with spiky thorns, sticky latex, and chemical warfare, these plant species defend themselves from hungry herbivores, other plants— and sometimes from humans who wander too close. Others try to poison their neighbors, practice explosive seed dispersal, or even glow under black light. Drop by for this family friendly event and experience Halloween, Arboretum-style. No need to register, just stop by the Hunnewell Lawn between 12:00 and 3:00pm. Kids story time at 1:00pm! October 31, 12:00–3:00pm Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events Ana Maria Caballero, Outdoor Educator This program takes place on the Hunnewell Lawn.

LOOKING AHEAD Winter 2026–2027

My Botanical Life with Hemlocks | December 5 Bizarre Botany: Why is it Growing Like That? | December 6 Barking Up the Right Tree | January 10 Owl Prowl | January 23

View the Full Programs Calendar: arboretum.harvard.edu/events

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 arboretum.harvard.edu