Community Engagement

I have been visiting and the Arnold Arboretum since I arrived in Boston/Cambridge in 1958 to attend college. It has been a place of refuge and learning. I have especially cherished the plant sales and giveaways, and many of the favorite items in my garden come from Arboretum seedlings. As a long-time bonsai enthusiast I have always been drawn to the amazing Larz Anderson Bonsai collection at the Arboretum. I noticed that over the years the collection had languished and become somewhat static, so back in 2015 I made a dramatic contribution of ten of the finest bonsai from my own private collection along with some heirloom pots and a sizable collection of bonsai books and publications plus substantial donations ($5000 per tree) for the curation and maintenance of the collection. Some of these trees had been exhibited in the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, the Topsfield Fair and other venues. One had been featured on the cover of the Journal of the American Bonsai Society. I hope that in the future the collections will help the Arboretum to become a center of bonsai learning and appreciation.

Mom and Dad took us there when we were kids. Years later my Morris Dance Team performed at Mothers day celebrations. I dont get there very often but am thrilled to see on instagram and Email letters from Ned.

I wanted to plant a tree in my front yard. Given limited space, I could really only plant one and wanted to select something appropriate that would thrive, look nice and last a long time. I began going to the Arboretum to look at trees over the seasons and in the process I realized how little I knew about trees and how poor I was at identification. Now I'm the resident tree expert in my friend and family group and can't help point out each tree we come across of note. At this point I am leaning towards planting a self-pollinating cultivar of American Persimmon so as to have a shade tree that is also an edible native fruit tree.

The Arboretum was a perfect place to commune with nature during COVID. Watching the sun rise in the early mornings during the winter months brought hope that things would improve. We felt like we became compatriots with the hawks, cardinals and robins, even the coyotes on Peter's Hill. Watching the almost daily changes in the landscape during spring was truly amazing albeit a little sad to see one beauty fade as the next one was revealed to us. The Arboretum has been a true sanctuary for us during the pandemic.