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    • A man uses a scientific instrument next to a picture of tree roots

    Research Spotlight: Climate Change and Root Exudates

    Climate change is impacting every part of the plants at the Arboretum, from the buds down to the roots. Join researcher Nikhil Chari to learn how elevated temperatures and carbon dioxide are impacting tree roots, and the carbon they send back out into the soil. Nikhil will demonstrate how he takes root samples and soil cores, discuss his research on carbon cycling, and compare the root morphology of different plants in the landscape.

    in front of the Hunnewell Building
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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.

      Bussey Street Gate
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      A white woman with short grey hair and a closeup for a series of plant cells

      Built to Withstand: How Plants Resist Wind and Weight

      How do trees, bamboo, marsh grass stems and cattail leaves stand so tall? Join Materials Science Professor Lorna Gibson for a fascinating talk exploring how the internal structure of plants gives them remarkable strength and stability—allowing them to withstand howling winds and even support their own massive weight.

      Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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        Brown owl with yellow eyes and prominent ears

        Owl Observations

        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.

        Bussey Street Gate
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        Little Explorers

        Little Explorers

        Join us at the Arboretum as we read and discover new things about the natural world. During this one-hour program for our youngest guests and their grownups, we will read a nature inspired story, do a craft, and go for a nature walk to continue exploring the theme. The weekly themes are inspired by what is happening seasonally at the Arboretum.

        Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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          A view of the Arnold Arboretum Conifer Collection from Bussey Brook.

          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.

          Bussey Street Gate
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          Get Tickets 30 tickets left
            A forest full of thin trees

            Reading the Forested Landscape

            The forest is a constantly changing landscape where tree species dominate and then fade away, to be replaced by other species in the ongoing process of succession. Join Horticulturist Brendan Keegan to see these dynamics at play on Hemlock Hill: learn about forest species structures, succession dynamics, and how the topography of the earth itself affects the species living there.

            Bussey Street Gate
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            • A photograph of a Chinese man with glasses and a mustache next to a botanical print of a dawn redwood

            The Founder of Modern Botany in China: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Hu Hsen-Hsu (aka H.H. Hu, Hu Xiansu)

            Join us to celebrate the life, groundbreaking scientific work, and legacy of Hu Xiansu (Hu Hsen-Hsu) on the 100th anniversary of his doctoral degree from Harvard. This online event will feature Arnold Arboretum Director William (Ned) Friedman, Chief Scientist at the China National Botanical Garden (North Garden) Jinshuang Ma, Professor of Sociology at Beijing Normal University Hu Xiaojiang (granddaughter of Hu Xiansu), and other speakers discussing Hu’s life and influence.

            Virtual
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              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. We will cover a variety of habitats and focus on the changes that seasonal migration brings to our resident birds, so come back often to keep up with the seasons!

              in front of the Hunnewell Building
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                A honeybee next to a picture of a white man with grey hair

                Flower Visitors at the Arboretum: Can Honeybees and Native Pollinators Co-Exist?

                Most of us know honeybees for the delicious honey they create (and the occasional sting!). But for scientists, the non-native honeybee represents a potential threat to our native bumblebees and butterflies. Biology professor Dr. Richard Primack has been studying these insects at the Arboretum, observing flower visitors at over 600 plant species to determine if honeybees and native pollinators can co-exist. Just us for a research talk and discover the results of this years-long investigation.

                Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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                Get Tickets 74 tickets left