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    • Charles Sprague Sargent standing outdoors at the Arnold Arboretum.

    Canceled Charles Sprague Sargent and the American Landscape

    Many are aware of Charles Sprague Sargent’s role as first director of the Arnold Arboretum, establishing it as the world-renowned institution it is today. Far fewer are familiar with how his close relationships and prolific correspondence with figures of national and international prominence in the developing fields of botany, horticulture, forestry, and wilderness preservation or his leadership of seminal public sector projects such as his path-breaking survey of United States forests for the 1880 US Census shaped the American landscape far beyond the Arboretum’s walls. Docent Paul Eldrenkamp will lead a tour that explores the far-reaching influence — then and now– of the Arboretum’s first director.

    Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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    • Canceled

    • 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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    • Rescheduled
    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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      • Rescheduled
      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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      • Rescheduled
      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 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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              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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                • Rescheduled

                • 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
                Subject Matter:
                Join Waitlist
                • Waitlist
                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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                Get Tickets 25 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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                  Join Waitlist
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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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