Exhibits
Guided Tours
Plan Your Visit
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.
Join plant biologist and author Beronda Montgomery for a discussion of her new book, “When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy.” Montgomery explores the way that eight trees and shrubs testify to the experience of black Americans, from sycamores that acted as landmarks for those trying to escape slavery, to pecan propagation spearheaded by an enslaved African woman, to the traditional medicinal uses of willow bark in black communities. Montgomery takes us through black American history with trees and shrubs as our guides.
*Rescheduled from May 14 due to rain.* As the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden nears its 25th birthday, join the garden’s original architect and our own Keeper of the Living Collections to learn about the garden’s history, its design goals and principles, and how it has evolved in the past two decades. This program will begin with a short talk in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall, then move outdoors for a tour of the garden itself with Michael Dosmann and architect Gary Hilderbrand.
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.
Hidden among the beautiful flowers and innocent-looking shrubs of the Arboretum are some of the world’s most sinister poisons. White snakeroot, yew and even the beloved rhododendron are all filled to the brim with toxins that have both enticed and tormented people for generations. Join Manager of Adult Programming and Events Sarah Nechamen for a walk to learn about these poisonous plants, the chemicals they contain, and the strange histories they carry with them.
As the Arboretum’s Bonsai and Penjing Collection heads back out to the pavilion for the warm season, join Bonsai Specialist Jun Imabayashi for a special up-close look at these rare specimens. Jun is the caretaker of the Arboretum’s bonsai collection and has a wealth of knowledge on the history of the Arboretum’s bonsai trees, bonsai care and maintenance, and the cultural significance of the bonsai art form.
Stop by the rhododendron collection to chat with the Horticulturist who manages the Arboretum’s beautiful rhododendron shrubs. Horticulturist Brendan Keegan will be there from 2:00pm to 4:00pm answering questions about caring for rhododendrons, the Arboretum’s rhododendron collection, and what it’s like to be a horticulturist here. No registration is required, just stop by!