Writing in the Company of Trees

Name: Writing in the Company of Trees
Start: 2025-11-01T14:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-11-01T16:00:00-04:00
Location: in front of the Hunnewell Building

This is a members-only program. Not a member? Click here to join!

In our perilous times, trees offer examples of resilience and precariousness, growth and generosity. How do we invite them into our writing? Join Matthew Battles, editor of Arnoldia, the Arboretum’s quarterly magazine, for an immersive workshop to practice writing under, about, and in collaboration with trees.

Participants will engage trees in the Arboretum’s collection while writing, reflecting, and sharing their discoveries. About half of the program will be outdoors in the landscape and half indoors in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall.

Please bring a notebook or other writing materials that are manageable in the field.

Accessibility: This program involves walking along wooded paths, climbing some moderate slopes, and navigating uneven terrain.

Audience: This members-only program is geared towards adults.

Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least one day in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less one day’s notice. Click here to view our full inclement weather policy. 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.

November 1 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Art, Workshop

in front of the Hunnewell Building

+ Google Map

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 gate, bear right at the pond, and continue to the Hunnewell Building, which will be on your left.

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 Building is just inside the gate on your right.

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.

Writing in the Company of Trees

Register

Date & Time

Subject Matter:

Location

in front of the Hunnewell Building

Directions

By subway

By bus

By car

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Free and open every day.

Funded by our community.

Register

Date & Time

Subject Matter:

Location

in front of the Hunnewell Building

Directions

By subway

By bus

By car

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