Events

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All events at the Arboretum are free.

Ongoing

Exhibits

photo of tree branches in a vase

Guided Tours

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August 2025

Tree with smooth bark and curved branches

Beeches Up Close

*Cancelled due to instructor conflict* 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.

09 Aug

Cancelled

10:00 am – 11:30 am
South Street Gate

7VXH+4R3 Boston, Massachusetts

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Tree with smooth bark and curved branches

Beeches Up Close

*Cancelled due to instructor conflict* 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.

09 Aug

Cancelled

10:00 am – 11:30 am
South Street Gate

7VXH+4R3 Boston, Massachusetts

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Silhouette of a woman against a dark background

Tai Chi at the Arboretum Last Few Tickets

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art known for its slow, intentional movements which act as a form of moving meditation for practitioners. Join International Tai Chi Gold Medalist and referee Hongsheng Jin for this one-hour tai chi class, appropriate for beginners and experienced students alike. The class will begin with breathwork and stretching, continue with a moving meditation and a walk practice, and conclude with a formal tai chi practice.

09 Aug
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden

8V3G+MF4 Boston, Massachusetts

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Full moon against a black background

Full Moon Walking Meditation Sold Out

Take in the sights and sounds of the arboretum under the light of a full moon. Facilitator Bob Linscott will lead the group through mindfulness in nature practices and a meditative sound bath as we meander along the paved road to our final nighttime viewing location on top of Bussey Hill.

09 Aug
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

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Colorful time lapse photograph of plankton trails

Plankton Painting Sold Out

In this experimental photography workshop led by local artist and scientist Jess Holz, participants create ‘paintings’ using microscopic plankton collected from the Arboretum’s ponds. Participants use a microscope in combination with software which creates video akin to timelapse photography- acting at the decisive moment, participants snap photos of the trails created by these microscopic creatures. Participants will learn basic identification of microscopic pond life while getting a fascinating glimpse into their dynamic behavior, such as the helical paths of flagellates and the water currents generated by rotifers as they feed.

10 Aug
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Hunnewell Lecture Hall

8V4H+WM Boston, Massachusetts

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3 women walk down a long forest path

Morning Fitness Walk

Join docent Lisa Gaquin for a brisk early morning walk along the inside perimeter of the Arboretum. This walk will be fast-paced, energetic, and will involve walking over hills and rough terrain. Note that this is not a traditional tour: you may hear some information about individual trees and history, but the main goal is to get outside and get some exercise! Bring good walking shoes, water, and walking poles if desired.

12 Aug
9:00 am – 10:30 am
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

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Conifer Collection Tour

The conifer collection at the Arnold Arboretum is a magical place to visit at any time of the year, as it is especially rich in history and diversity. Docent Cristina Squeff will lead participants through this collection explaining key identification features and sharing relevant stories about individual trees. 

14 Aug
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Bussey Street Gate

7VWC+HQ7 Boston, Massachusetts

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The Cosmic Tree: A Universal Symbol of Life: Flowering Trees

Cosmologies are ways of understanding the nature of the universe, of experiencing the world in all its variations including the visible and the invisible. Over millennia trees have served as the mythological archetype of the world’s axis (axis mundi), the pole through the earth’s center which connects the worlds above and below. Within a cosmic-magical model of the world  (imago mundi), trees also evolved in various cultures to possess innate spiritual powers or as conduits for communication with the holy or sacred.

During this tour we will discuss angiosperms, the largest and most diverse group in the plant kingdom. All flowering trees are angiosperms, but not all angiosperms reproduce in the same way, so you may not see blooms and flowers but plenty of leaves. 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?

16 Aug
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Centre Street Gate

8V2F+WQJ Boston, Massachusetts

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Research Spotlight: Native Caterpillars and Invasive Plants

Can native caterpillars help control our non-native, invasive plants? That’s what researcher Michael LaScaleia is trying to figure out through his research at the Arboretum. Join us for a Research Spotlight program to learn about Michael’s research and search for some of these caterpillars in the landscape. This walk will include some boggy areas, so waterproof shoes are recommended!

16 Aug
9:00 am – 10:00 am
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

REGISTER

Research Spotlight: Native Caterpillars and Invasive Plants

Can native caterpillars help control our non-native, invasive plants? That’s what researcher Michael LaScaleia is trying to figure out through his research at the Arboretum. Join us for a Research Spotlight program to learn about Michael’s research and search for some of these caterpillars in the landscape. This walk will include some boggy areas, so waterproof shoes are recommended!

16 Aug
9:00 am – 10:00 am
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

REGISTER

No event found!