Arnold Arboretum Program Catalog - Winter 2024 - 2025

PROGRAMS & EVENTS PROGRAM CATALOG WINTER 2024–2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS Adult Programs Membership Guided Tours Exhibits Plan Your Visit Visiting with Kids

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is free and open every day.

Hunnewell Visitor Center 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130 Hours 10:00am–4:00pm daily

ADULT PROGRAMS The Arboretum offers over 100 adult programs every year, from workshops on pruning, cyanotype, and chainsaw use, to Tree Mobs, meditations, and wildlife walks. All public programs are free.

Register for programs online at arboretum.harvard.edu/events Programming subject to change, please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

DECEMBER

Barking Up The Right Tree What is there to see at the Arboretum after all of the leaves have fallen and before spring flowers start to bloom? Bark! Shaggy bark, mottled bark, striped bark: the Arboretum has it all. Join a horticulturist to see some beautiful bark highlights, learn how to identify some trees by their bark, and learn why that bark looks the way it does.

December 7, 12:00–1:00pm Rachel Lawlor, Horticulturist

This program begins at the end of the Dana Greenhouse driveway on Bussey Hill Road.

Virtual lecture on The Essential Tree Selection Guide by Henrik Sjöman We know that trees are a key ally in the fight against climate change and urban heat islands, but not every tree works in every situation. Selecting the right tree for your yard or landscape is critical both for the health of the tree and for the strength of the ecosystem services they provide. Botanist and researcher Henrik Sjöman’s new book, “The Essential Tree Selection Guide,” is a valuable new tool for making these tree selection decisions: an A to Z guide of over 550 trees, the book comes complete with explanations of each tree’s ecosystem benefits, its resilience to drought and storms, and key considerations for site placement.

Join us on December 8 for a virtual book talk on this invaluable new guide.

Author Henrik Sjöman is Senior Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Scientific Curator at Gothenburg Botanical Garden, and Honorary Research Associate at Kew Gardens.

December 8, 12:00–1:30pm

This program takes place virtually.

Embark on a birdwatching walk in the Arboretum’s landscape with birder and wildlife photographer Michael Bryant, AKA Nature Man Mike. This two-hour walk is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced birders. Binoculars will be available to borrow on a first-come-first-served basis, but you are encouraged to bring your own!

December 14, 8:00–10:00am Michael Bryant, Birder

This program begins at the Hunnewell Building

Owl Observations Dusk is a perfect time to look and listen for Great Horned Owls, often heard calling throughout the Arboretum’s collections. Hear about the owls’ breeding and nesting behavior, learn how to go owling ethically, and possibly hear and see a few owls as well.

Please note that we have the best chance of seeing owls if the group is calm and quiet, so get your chatting out before the walk starts!

December 15, 4:00–5:00pm Brendan Keegan, Horticulturist

This program begins at Bussey Street Gate

DECEMBER

Winter Birding with Nature Man Mike

JANUARY Plants for the Winter Garden When gardens go dormant for the winter months, there are still certain species and cultivars that draw the eye with their bright berries, interesting seed pods, and spectacular bark. Join Warren Leach for a book talk on his new book, Plants for the Winter Garden: Perennials, Grasses, Shrubs, and Trees to Add Interest in the Cold and Snow, and discover all that a winter garden has to offer. Warren Leach has years of gardening experience in the cold Northeast and will be sharing all of his winter garden tips, from plant selection and placement, to pruning techniques, to structural components that complement the plants themselves. And if you decide to buy a book after the program, make sure to look for some references to the Arnold Arboretum’s own winter landscape!

January 11, 12:00–1:30pm Warren Leach, Author

This program takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall

Winter Tea Foraging Join us for a winter foraging walk to learn what wild plants can be foraged and brewed into tea.

Visit some of the Arboretum’s tastiest winter plants, from sweet birch and juniper to sassafras and spicebush. You may even get to taste some of the teas yourself! Led by Manager of Adult Programming and Events Sarah Nechamen.

January 12, 12:00–1:30pm Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events This program begins in front of the Hunnewell Building

Owl Observations The January 12th session of this program is members-only. Not a member? Click here to join!

Dusk is a perfect time to look and listen for Great Horned Owls, often heard calling throughout the Arboretum’s collections. Join your guides to hear about the owls’ breeding and nesting behavior, learn how to go owling ethically, and possibly hear and see a few owls as well.

January 12, 4:15–5:15pm MEMBERS ONLY January 25, 4:30–5:30pm (Open to the general public) Brendan Keegan, Horticulturist Matt Kamm, Associate Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England This program begins at Bussey Street Gate

Barking Up The Right Tree What is there to see at the Arboretum after all of the leaves have fallen and before spring flowers start to bloom? Bark! Shaggy bark, mottled bark, striped bark: the Arboretum has it all. Join a Horticulturist to see some beautiful bark highlights, learn how to identify some trees by their bark, and learn why that bark looks the way it does.

January 18, 12:00–1:00pm Rachel Lawlor, Horticulturist

This program begins at end of the Dana Greenhouses driveway on Bussey Hill Road.

The Explorers Garden is bursting with things to see in the winter. Join Keeper of the Living Collections Michael Dosmann for a walk around the Explorers Garden and Bussey Hill to see beautiful bark, interesting evergreens, and maybe even some winter-blooming flowers. From plum yews to wintersweet, the Explorers Garden has a lot to offer this time of year.

January 19, 12:00–1:30pm Michael Dosmann, Keeper of the Living Collections This program begins at Centre Street Gate

JANUARY

The Explorers Garden in the Winter

FEBRUARY MEMBERS ONLY Shrubs for the Winter Season This is a members-only program. Not a member? Click here to join!

The Arboretum landscape doesn’t go to sleep in the winter: in fact winter is the best time to see the bright stems of red twig and yellow twig dogwood, the bright red fruits of the winterberry, and the silver bark of raspberry. Join Director of Horticulture and Landscape Rodney Eason for a walk to explore the shrubs with winter interest in the landscape. Learn about a variety of shrubs in the Arboretum’s collections, how to maintain these shrubs in your own yard, and what to expect from them in various seasons throughout the year.

February 1, 12:00–1:30pm Rodney Eason, Director of Horticulture and Landscape This program begins in the Bradley Rosaceous Collection at the arch on Meadow Road

A Journey Through Time: The Geology of the Arboretum From puddingstone to drumlins, the Arboretum features an array of geological features that affect the landscape and the plants that grow here. Join us for a geology walk and learn about the rocky outcrops, boulders, and glacial features found across the Arboretum.

February 2, 12:00–1:30pm Andy Koenigsberg, Professional Geologist This program begins at Bussey Street Gate

Winter Tree ID Winter can feel like one of the hardest times to identify trees, with most of their characteristic leaves and flowers gone for the season. But with help from an experienced horticulturist and plant science teacher, you can start identifying common winter trees from the woods and streets of Massachusetts based only on their bark, buds, twigs, and persistent fruit. This class will begin indoors with a presentation in the lecture hall, and then move outside for some identification practice in the landscape.

February 8, 10:00am–12:30pm Nicole Forsyth, Plant Science Educator

This program begins in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall

Shrub Pruning How exactly are you supposed to prune that holly shrub in your backyard? Join us for this practical workshop to find out what kinds of cuts to make and where, so that you can make sure your shrubs are looking their best going into the next growing season.

Participants will see different types of pruning cuts and learn which cuts to use, but will not be making cuts themselves in this workshop.

February 9, 12:00–1:30pm Ryan Devlin, Horticulturist Maren Gunning, Horticulturist

This program begins at Centre Street Gate

Keeping Up with the Coyotes With mating season just getting started, February is one of the best times to see signs of the Arboretum’s resident coyote population. Join Brendan Keegan to look for coyote tracks and scat, check our trail cameras, and find out why all these coyotes are in Boston in the first place.

February 16, 2:00–3:00pm Brendan Keegan, Horticulturist and Wildlife Enthusiast

FEBRUARY

This program begins at Peters Hill Gate

FEBRUARY

Winter Tea Foraging Join us for a winter foraging walk to learn what wild plants can be foraged and brewed into tea. Visit some of the Arboretum’s tastiest winter plants, from sweet birch and juniper to sassafras and spicebush. You may even get to taste some of the teas yourself!

February 22 10:00–11:30am Sarah Nechamen, Manager of Adult Programming and Events This program begins at the Hunnewell Building

MEMBERS ONLY The Architecture of Trees This is a members-only program. Not a member? Click here to join!

In winter, when all the leaves have fallen, the stark and beautiful forms of the bare trees suddenly come into focus.

It becomes clear that not all tree forms are alike: some trees are cone-shaped, some round, some have steep branch angles, others have branches that stick straight out from the trunk. Join Director of Horticulture and Landscape Rodney Eason for a walk to explore tree architecture at the Arboretum and learn how to use tree form to help identify trees in the winter, and how the different forms help or harm the trees throughout their lives.

February 22, 12:00–1:30pm Rodney Eason, Director of Horticulture and Landscape This program begins at Centre Street Gate

Instant Ecosystems: The Miyawaki Method for Rapid Forest Growth Returning disturbed land to mature, stable forests is a decades-long process as the land works its way through multiple stages of succession.

But what if it wasn’t? The Miyawaki Method offers a way to fast-track the growth of new ecosystems, using high-density planting to quickly restore biodiversity and grow tall, mature forests. Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, a local organization with the goal of using ecological restoration to mitigate climate change, planted the first Miyawaki forest in the Northeast in 2021, right in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn about the Miyawaki method and their efforts to create Miyawaki forests in the Boston area.

February 23, 2:00–3:00pm Alexandra Ionescu, Associate Director of Regenerative Projects at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate

FEBRUARY

This program takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall

BECOME A MEMBER The Arnold Arboretum is funded by members just like you.

A public-private partnership between the City of Boston and Harvard University, the Arnold Arboretum maintains its own operating budget. As Boston’s premier museum of trees and one of Frederick Law Olmsted’s best preserved landscapes, the Arboretum stays vibrant thanks to memberships and gifts. Become a member and partner in our work to collect, study, and conserve plants here and around the world. View membership levels and benefits and join us today!

FEATURED MEMBER BENEFIT Discount in the Visitor Center Our members enjoy a 15% discount on Arnold Arboretum merchandise for sale in the Hunnewell Visitor Center. Our ever-expanding selection of Arboretum branded clothing, water bottles, stickers, and other items make the perfect gifts for nature-loving family and friends–or enticing additions to your own collection.

Member Enews Did you know that Arnold Arboretum members receive a special edition of our newsletter designed to highlight exclusive membership benefits, events, and opportunities? Member perks include receiving this quarterly program guide in advance of its release to the general public.

TOURS Docent-Led Tours Join us for a 60-minute tour through the Arboretum! View seasonal plant highlights and learn about Arboretum history from a trained docent.

No pre-registration required. This tour begins at the Hunnewell Building.

Winter tours are weather dependent.

Visit the tour calendar for current tour availability.

Conifer Collection Tour The conifer collection at the Arnold Arboretum is a magical place to visit at any time of the year, as it is especially rich in history and diversity. Docent Cristina Squeff will lead participants through this collection explaining key identification features and sharing relevant stories about individual trees. This tour begins at Bussey Street Gate.

December 8, 11:00am–12:30pm

Olmsted and the Arnold 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. Docent Bill Beizer, will identify the elements of the Arboretum that best reflect Olmsted’s philosophy and approach to landscape design. This tour begins at Bussey Street Gate.

December 21, 11:00am–12:00pm February 15, 11:00am–12:00pm

Global Change at the Arboretum

A warming climate and increasing environmental pathogens pose an existential threat to the Arboretum’s collection of some 16,000 woody plants. This one-hour walk will highlight the impact of climate change and increasing pathogens on key species in the Arboretum’s collection, describe some of the research initiatives underway to mitigate the effects of global warming and new pathogens, and identify the challenges and opportunities we face in improving our urban canopy. This tour begins at the Hunnewell Building.

January 4, 11:00am–12:00pm February 2, 2:00–3:00pm

Witch Hazel Tours Did you know flowers can be found at the Arboretum even in the depths of winter? Witch hazels bloom in vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows across the landscape, giving a beautiful pop of color amidst the winter greys and whites. Join us on a tour of this collection and be ready to step off the path to admire the native witchhazels, as well as those from China and Japan.

APRIL TOURS

January & February Visit the tour calendar for schedule.

EXHIBITS Ramble

by Esther Garcia Eder Ramble is a painted representation of tree and nature scenes from around the world: San Diego, France, Maine, and the Arnold Arboretum itself. The show embodies the awe and excitement that each encounter with nature inspired in the artist, and in countless other visitors to those same spots.

This exhibition will be on view in the Hunnewell Visitor Center through early February 2025.

Intimate Vistas

by Marc Goldring Photographer Marc Goldring’s work has always centered on finding the mysterious in the commonplace and bringing attention to objects and features which we otherwise might not have noticed at all. In this show, Marc attends to the bark of trees. He brings the camera in close to look at the details of the extraordinary variety of textures, colors and shapes of the bark of trees.

This exhibition will be on view in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall through early February 2025.

PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME TO THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM. Our 281-acre landscape features nearly 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. If you’re visiting with kids, check out a variety of self-guided family activities. Not sure where to start?

Our Visitor Center staff is here to help.

F Learn about our plants and collections F Print a map F Get directions

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

Here is just a small sampling of what is happening this season in the Arnold Arboretum.

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

Katsura Tree cultivar (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Morioka Weeping’)

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)

Paperbark maple (Acer griseum)

Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)

VISITING WITH KIDS Wonder Spots Explore the landscape through seasonal investigations about the natural world. Learn about plants and animals in locations throughout the Arboretum.

Winter Scavenger Hunt Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up a copy or print one out at home. See how many of these seasonal treasures you can find this winter at the Arboretum!

NEW! Little Explorers Preschool-Age Program Join us this winter at the Arboretum as we read and discover new things about the natural world. During this one-hour program for our youngest guests and their grownups, we will begin by reading a nature inspired story followed by a walk, activity, or craft to continue exploring the theme. Each week’s theme is inspired by what is happening seasonally at the Arboretum. While this program begins indoors, it will often venture outside into the landscape. (Geared toward ages 3-5) January 15, 10-11am January 22, 10-11am January 29, 10-11am February 5, 10-11am February 12, 10-11am February 19, 10-11am Katie Fox, Manager of Youth Education Ana Maria Caballero, Outdoor Educator This program begins in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

Outdoor Educator Recommended Books

Hidden City: Poems of Urban Wildlife by Sarah Grace Tuttle and Amy Schimier-Safford Queen of Leaves by Stephen Briseño and Isabel Muñoz My Indigo World: A True Story of the Color Blue

by Rosa Chang Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

LOOKING AHEAD Spring 2025

Mushroom Hunt March 1 MEMBERS ONLY: The History of Lawns: From Pasture to Plastic March 9 Lilac Sunday May 11

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

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