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
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.
December 8, 12:00–1:30pm This program takes place virtually.
Winter Birding with Nature Man Mike
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
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.
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
JANUARY
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
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
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 in the Winter
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
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
Winter Tree ID
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 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
This program begins at Peters Hill Gate
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
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!
Member Enews
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.
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.
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.
Katsura Tree cultivar (Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Morioka Weeping’)
Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
Paperbark maple (Acer griseum)
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
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!
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.
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
Outdoor Educator Recommended Books
