Community Engagement

After wandering the Arboretum for years, starting when my children were young, I had the honor of writing about this international treasure for the British garden quarterly HORTUS -- each of four installments focused on a woody plant that shines in that season and tells the Arboretum's story. A wonderful opportunity to delve into the past, present and future of this incomparable public and scholarly resource with Ned, Michael and all the brilliant staff.

In 2020 I began walking almost daily in the Arboretum and found myself exploring paths I had never walked on before. One of my favorites is the Hickory Path, accessed from the Conifer Path, because one passes through some unmanicured woods before emerging again in a more cultivated area. Eventually I discovered the Osage orange tree there, a tree I remembered from childhood, but one I had not seen in the northeast. Over weeks, I watched the tree fruit, saw the fruit mature (it is so weird), noticed when it fell from the tree, covering the ground with beautiful green balls, saw squirrels attacking the fruit and carrying it whole in their mouths, then demolishing the fruit until the ground was littered with pieces of it. Happiness, for the squirrels and for me.

I got to marry the man of my dreams surrounded by nature without breaking the bank. I look forward to visiting that spot and walking thr grounds every year to mark the passing of time and to look back on that special moment we got to share in a place that is so public yet so intimate.

I used to live on Fairview, close to the Mendum street gates and have walked the arboretum for the past 25 plus years. During the pandemic when I went remote, I got up every morning, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and walked for at least an hour. I never walked in the Arb(I'm a Rozzident of 16 years lol) in the Winter/cold weather nor did I do a sunrise walk, because I was always commuting to Harvard Sq. I love the nature, sounds, trees, birds, little animals that come and go through the seasons. The Arb gave me peace when the world was literally crazy, politically, environmentally and health-wise. I see all the early morning regulars and we greet each other and have a little chat. I loved seeing the ponds getting cleaned and hearing the frogs and turtles squawking again. I'd love to take an official tour sometime, just to hear the history and the plans for the years ahead.