Fabric and flowers in a yellow dye pot

Many of the plants grown at the Arboretum have been used as natural dyes for centuries: goldenrod for yellow, stinging nettle for green, madder or bloodroot for pink. Join fiber artist Maggie Ruth Haaland on the Hunnewell Lawn to learn about some of these natural dyeing methods and get a chance to try some of your own.

This is a drop-in event: stop by any time between 12 and 3pm. The last fabrics will enter the dye baths at 2:30 to allow time for steeping.

Fabric and dye baths will be provided.

Accessibility: The Hunnewell Lawn is a flat, grassy area.

Audience: This program is appropriate for all ages.

Inclement weather policy: This web page will be updated at least one day in advance if this event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu (inbox monitored on weekdays) or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

Date & Time

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Location

Hunnewell Lawn

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Directions

By subway

Take the MBTA Orange Line to its southern end—Forest Hills. Exit through the door marked “Arnold Arboretum,” cross Washington Street, and walk up Arborway to the Arboretum’s Forest Hills Gate on your left. To reach the Arboretum’s Arborway Gate and the Hunnewell Building, continue along the sidewalk on the Arborway to the Arborway Gate (about 12 minutes), or go through the Forest Hills Gate, bear right at the pond, and continue down Meadow Road to the Hunnewell Lawn. The Hunnewell Lawn is located outside of the Hunnewell Building.

By bus

Take the #39 bus to the South Street @ Bardwell Street stop in Jamaica Plain. Walk down South Street away from Bardwell Street, take a right on Custer Street, and walk down Custer Street until it ends. Turn right and walk about 300 feet down Arborway to the Arboretum’s Arborway Gate, which will be across the street. The Hunnewell Lawn will be just inside the gate on your right, outside of the Hunnewell Building.

By car

There is public street parking on Arborway, including six designated accessible spots on either side of the gate. Parking on Arborway can sometimes fill up and you may need to walk a little ways from your parking spot to the gate. Please allow for extra time to account for this, especially during the spring and for large programs like lectures and performances.

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