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    • A woman looks up at the trees and smiles

    Terapia de Bosque en Español: Caminando con Gratitud

    La terapia de bosque, también conocida como baño de bosque o shinrin-yoku, es una práctica basada en evidencia que te invita a conectar con la naturaleza de una manera gentil, curiosa y consciente. Esta serie de tres sesiones ofrece a la comunidad hispanohablante la oportunidad de experimentar el bosque como un maestro vivo. Esta sesión, Caminando con Gratitud, utiliza caminatas lentas y conscientes, un círculo de palabra y una ofrenda simbólica para honrar la tierra y cultivar gratitud por los lugares que nos rodean.

    Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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    Portrait of Frederick Law Olmsted.

    Rescheduled 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.

    Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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    Arborist A.J. Tataronis consults ArbManager in the canopy

    Ask an Arborist

    Stop by Bussey Hill to chat with the Arboretum’s Head Arborist and learn how arborists take care of the trees here through climbing, pruning, and expert chainsaw wielding. Head Arborist AJ Tataronis will be there from 12:00 to 2:00pm answering questions: no registration is required, just stop by!

    Lilac Collection
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      A row of eight leaves arranged from left to right, gradually changing color from green to yellow to orange to red, displayed on a white background.

      Rescheduled The Science of Fall Leaf Color

      *Rescheduled from September 27 due to rain* The Arboretum becomes a riot of color in the fall with leaves turning deep red, fiery orange, and bright yellow. Have you ever wondered why this happens every autumn? Outdoor Educator Ana Maria Caballero will take us through the science of fall leaf color, including an exploration of pigments and abscission, a hands-on experiment to reveal the array of pigments present in every leaf, and a walk in the landscape to take a closer look at leaves in all phases of color change.

      Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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      An Eastern Kingbird is perched on a twig. The bird has a black head

      Birding at the Arboretum

      Have you ever wanted to learn more about the feathered friends you see and hear on a walk through the Arnold Arboretum? If so, please join birders and volunteers TJ and Allison for a leisurely 90-minute bird watching walk.

      in front of the Hunnewell Building
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      Tree with smooth bark and curved branches

      Rescheduled Beeches Up Close

      *Rescheduled from September 26 due to rain.* The stately beeches of the Arboretum used to tower over other trees–and some still do–but pests, diseases, and other pathogens have taken their toll in recent years. Join Arborist Delia Mahoney for a walk in the beech collection and learn about the challenges these trees have faced, what the Arboretum is doing in response, and what the collection looked like in years past.

      South Street Gate
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      A group of five people stand outdoors, listening to a person in a blue shirt and cap who is gesturing toward a tall tree. The scene is set on a sunny day with a blue sky and greenery in the background.

      Arboretum Highlights Tour: Flora Way Loop

      Explore part of the Arboretum’s 281 acre landscape, hear stories of the Arboretum’s history, get an introduction to some of the many woody plant collections, and enjoy what’s in bloom during this 90-minute, docent-led tour. This tour highlights areas near the Flora Way Gate including the Conifer Collection, Hemlock Hill, Rhododendron Dell and Valley Road.

      Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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        A red-winged blackbird in flight. The bird is black with red and yellow on its shoulders.

        Birding Walk

        Embark on a birdwatching tour in the Arboretum’s landscape with docent and birder Donna Sullivan. This two-hour tour is suitable for adult beginners as well as more experienced birders.

        in front of the Hunnewell Building
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          A large, lush tree with spreading branches and roots stands at the center of a circular frame filled with leafy greenery, symbolizing life, growth, and interconnectedness.

          The Cosmic Tree: A Universal Symbol of Life: Ginkgoes and Conifers

          Docent Katrina Scott will lead this interactive tour with stops for moments to reflect on specific trees and the stories associated with them. Were they revered or feared? A home for deities or tricksters? We will begin at the Walter Street Gate to visit the oldest ginkgoes at the Arboretum, then head up the Conifer Path and diverge to walk, rest, and reflect among various conifers, eventually ending by the yews near Bussey Brook and Hemlock Hill Road.

          Walter Street Gate
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            A dirt path winds through a lush, green park filled with tall trees and scattered bushes. A few people walk or jog along the trail in the distance, enjoying the peaceful, natural setting.

            Oak Collection Tour

            Oaks have been more closely associated with the development of human civilizations across the northern hemisphere than any other genus of tree. From the Royal Oak to the Charter Oak to the Emancipation Oak, from wine and whisky barrels to tall ships to the roof of Notre Dame, from King John to Shakespeare to Leonardo da Vinci, oaks have been inextricably entwined with the human experience. Join docent Paul Eldrenkamp as we learn more about the cultural history of oaks and explore what it is that makes them so useful, so distinct — and so essential.

            Centre Street Gate
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              Woman rides a bike on a forested path

              Bike Tour of the Arboretum

              With a park as large as the Arboretum, a bike ride is one of the best ways to see the entire landscape in one trip. Join Director of Horticulture and Landscape (and personal bike enthusiast) Rodney Eason for a bike tour of the Arboretum: we will begin in front of the Hunnewell Building and ride all the way to Peters Hill, stopping to learn about various collections along the way. Rodney will share his expertise on the maples, hickories, mountain laurels, ginkgoes, paw paws, and more, before getting back on our bikes and pedaling to the next stop!

              in front of the Hunnewell Building
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                A wooden bowl with a natural, uneven edge featuring dark, rough bark. The smooth, light-colored wood contrasts with the jagged, textured rim. The bowl rests on a neutral gray background.

                The Art of the Woodturner

                Woodturning is the art or process of fashioning wood into various forms and shapes by means of a lathe. Returning to the Arnold Arboretum for the 11th year, The Art of the Woodturner will again offer visitors the chance to see an amazing variety of woodturned pieces: large and small, functional and sculptural.

                Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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                  A white gilled mushroom growing out of a tree trunk

                  Mushroom Hunt

                  Hundreds of mushrooms hide beneath the Arboretum’s canopies, silently blossoming into unique forms then withering away again just as quickly. Join local mushroom enthusiast Maria Pinto to search for these fascinating organisms on the Arboretum grounds, both edible and poisonous alike. Along the way you will learn what mushrooms to look for in different habitats and seasons, how they move through ecosystems, and what the Arboretum’s unique collections affect what mushrooms you might find here.

                  Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                  Chinese Path, Explorers Garden

                  Explorers Garden Tour

                  The Explorers Garden rests in a microclimate just below the summit of Bussey Hill. This nearly five-acre site provides ideal growing conditions for many species that have been challenging to grow in less protected areas of the Arboretum. As such, it has proven to be a perfect testing ground for plants collected in the expeditions of E. H. Wilson in the early 1900s to the NACPEC  (North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium) expeditions of our own time. Join docent Marie Herbert for a guided tour to learn more about some of the plants showcased in this special collection and to hear stories of the plant exploration expeditions that brought them to the Arboretum.

                  Centre Street Gate
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                    A wooden bowl with a natural, uneven edge featuring dark, rough bark. The smooth, light-colored wood contrasts with the jagged, textured rim. The bowl rests on a neutral gray background.

                    The Art of the Woodturner

                    Woodturning is the art or process of fashioning wood into various forms and shapes by means of a lathe. Returning to the Arnold Arboretum for the 11th year, The Art of the Woodturner will again offer visitors the chance to see an amazing variety of woodturned pieces: large and small, functional and sculptural.

                    Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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                      A group of people sit in a circle on chairs and logs in a forest, listening to a person standing and speaking among tall trees, with sunlight filtering through the branches.

                      Rescheduled Forest Bathing

                      *Rescheduled from September 26* Slow down and awaken your senses on a guided sensory experience in the Arnold Arboretum. Forest Bathing, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, is a restorative sensory exploration that supports health and healing for all beings. From increased cerebral blood flow to stronger immune defenses, come discover for yourself what happens when we unplug, slow down and open our senses to notice more of our natural surroundings. All the prompts, invitations, sharing and ways of participating are optional and open to interpretation.

                      Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                      Black and white picture of trees with a man in white dress standing in the foreground, and the words "Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea" overlaid

                      Exhibit Opening for Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea

                      For more than a century, the Arnold Arboretum has been connected to Korea through plants, photographs, exploration, and scientific exchange. The new Living Connections exhibit brings together rare archival images, living collections, plant records, and contemporary partnerships to explore Korea’s botanical heritage and the evolving relationship between the Arboretum and Korean institutions. Living Connections traces a story from early plant exploration to modern collaboration, showing how historic collections continue to support research, conservation, and cultural understanding today.

                      Hunnewell Visitor Center
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                        Meadow Road and Visitors in autumn

                        Autumn in the Arboretum

                        Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year at the Arboretum, with leaves changing color and all sorts of unique seeds and fruits appearing on the branches. Join docent Vicki Amalfitano for a tour to learn about all the changes that happen in the Arboretum’s collections in the fall.

                        in front of the Hunnewell Building
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                        Three-leaved poison ivy, a large thorn, and a jagged leaf

                        Wicked Plants: A Botanical Halloween

                        On the afternoon of Halloween, stop by the Hunnewell Lawn to learn about the most sinister plants in the Arboretum’s collections. Armed with spiky thorns, sticky latex, and chemical warfare, these plant species defend themselves from hungry herbivores, other plants—and sometimes from humans who wander too close. Others try to poison their neighbors, practice explosive seed dispersal, or even glow under black light. Drop by for this family friendly event and experience Halloween, Arboretum-style.

                        Hunnewell Lawn
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                          Aerial view of Peters Hill, including the road that loops around it

                          Rescheduled Peters Hill Tour

                          Learn about some of the amazing trees on Peters Hill during this ninety-minute tour led by docent Paul Eldrenkamp. You’ll get a chance to explore a few of the interesting collections in the landscape, learn about the history of this part of the Arboretum, and get a view of the Boston skyline from the second highest point in the city.

                          Poplar Gate
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                          • Four people stand in a garden holding percussion instruments

                          Rhythms in the Garden with the Iris Percussion Quartet

                          Join the Iris Percussion Quartet, based out of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, for a performance focused on fallen leaves and the Arboretum’s Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden. Working with small percussive instruments and found objects, Iris will bring together a unique program that celebrates the Leventritt in the peak of fall–including some brand new pieces composed specifically for this concert.

                          Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden
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                            A red-winged blackbird in flight. The bird is black with red and yellow on its shoulders.

                            Birding Walk

                            Embark on a birdwatching tour in the Arboretum’s landscape with docent and birder Donna Sullivan. This two-hour tour is suitable for adult beginners as well as more experienced birders.

                            in front of the Hunnewell Building
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                            Get Tickets 24 tickets left
                              Meadow Road and Visitors in autumn

                              Autumn in the Arboretum

                              Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year at the Arboretum, with leaves changing color and all sorts of unique seeds and fruits appearing on the branches. Join docent Vicki Amalfitano for a tour to learn about all the changes that happen in the Arboretum’s collections in the fall.

                              in front of the Hunnewell Building
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                              Join Waitlist
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                              An Eastern Kingbird is perched on a twig. The bird has a black head

                              Birding at the Arboretum

                              Have you ever wanted to learn more about the feathered friends you see and hear on a walk through the Arnold Arboretum? If so, please join birders and volunteers TJ and Allison for a leisurely 90-minute bird watching walk.

                              in front of the Hunnewell Building
                              Subject Matter:
                              Get Tickets 20 tickets left
                                A large, lush tree with spreading branches and roots stands at the center of a circular frame filled with leafy greenery, symbolizing life, growth, and interconnectedness.

                                The Cosmic Tree: A Universal Symbol of Life: Ginkgoes and Conifers

                                Docent Katrina Scott will lead this interactive tour with stops for moments to reflect on specific trees and the stories associated with them. Were they revered or feared? A home for deities or tricksters? We will begin at the Walter Street Gate to visit the oldest ginkgoes at the Arboretum, then head up the Conifer Path and diverge to walk, rest, and reflect among various conifers, eventually ending by the yews near Bussey Brook and Hemlock Hill Road.

                                Walter Street Gate
                                Subject Matter:
                                Get Tickets 27 tickets left
                                  A white gilled mushroom growing out of a tree trunk

                                  Mushroom Hunt

                                  Hundreds of mushrooms hide beneath the Arboretum’s canopies, silently blossoming into unique forms then withering away again just as quickly. Join local mushroom enthusiast Maria Pinto to search for these fascinating organisms on the Arboretum grounds, both edible and poisonous alike. Along the way you will learn what mushrooms to look for in different habitats and seasons, how they move through ecosystems, and what the Arboretum’s unique collections affect what mushrooms you might find here.

                                  Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                                  A great horned owl with striking yellow eyes perches on a weathered tree stump, surrounded by blurred green foliage in the background.

                                  Owl Prowl

                                  Dusk is a perfect time to look and listen for Great Horned Owls, often heard calling throughout the Arboretum’s collections. Join Arboretum Horticulturist Brendan Keegan and Matt Kamm, Associate Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England, 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.

                                  Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                                  A man points to a white flower on a mountainside

                                  The Regal Lily and the Redemption of E.H. Wilson

                                  Join Keeper of the Living Collections for a story of a flower and the early 20th Century explorer who ventured to the other side of the world, away from family and modern convenience, to collect it. The regal lily (Lilium regale) was not just an object of desire but one of such value that it would underwrite one of the most significant collecting expeditions of the day. Yet, its beauty almost betrayed the collector, nearly taking both his reputation and his life.

                                  Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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