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    • Colorful time lapse photograph of plankton trails

    Plankton Painting

    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.

    Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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      A black caterpillar with a bright orange head and yellow spots along its sides rests on a green leaf.

      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!

      in front of the Hunnewell Building
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        6 bats in a grid pattern

        The Buzz About Bats

        As the sun sets, the bats come out! Join Arboretum Horticulturist Brendan Keegan and Matt Kamm, Associate Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England, for a Bat Walk in the Conifer Collection, using specialized microphones to listen for and identify bat species in the landscape.

        Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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          Two kits hold a sweeping net and look at a bug box

          All-Ages Insect Safari

          Join us for an interactive look at all the tiny critters that crawl, fly, or slither through the Arboretum landscape. We will have sweep nets and bug boxes to catch bugs in Kent Field, digital microscopes to get a closer look, some fun bug crafts, and an entomologist to help us identify everything we find. This is an all-ages, interactive program: come prepared to move around and get up close with some bugs and insects!

          Bridge off of Hemlock Hill Road
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            • A caterpillar with yellow, blue and orange stripes

            Caterpillar Lab

            The Caterpillar Lab returns to the Arboretum for a full weekend packed with caterpillar displays, free-exploration programming, digital microscopes, and experienced educators on hand to give you insights into these amazing animals.

            Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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              A caterpillar with yellow, blue and orange stripes

              Caterpillar Lab

              The Caterpillar Lab returns to the Arboretum for a full weekend packed with caterpillar displays, free-exploration programming, digital microscopes, and experienced educators on hand to give you insights into these amazing animals.

              Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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                A white, blue, and grey bird perching on a branch

                Birding with Nature Man Mike

                Embark on a birdwatching walk in the Arboretum’s landscape with birder and wildlife photographer Michael Bryant, AKA Nature Man Mike. This two-hour walk is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced birders. Binoculars will be available to borrow on a first-come-first-serve basis, but you are encouraged to bring your own!

                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 small brown sparrow perches on a branch covered in pink berries, holding one berry in its beak. The background is softly blurred with green and pink tones.

                    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!

                    Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                      • A small brown sparrow perches on a branch covered in pink berries, holding one berry in its beak. The background is softly blurred with green and pink tones.

                      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 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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                          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.

                          Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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                            • A small brown sparrow perches on a branch covered in pink berries, holding one berry in its beak. The background is softly blurred with green and pink tones.

                            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
                            Subject Matter:
                            View Details
                              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.

                              Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
                              Subject Matter:
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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
                                Subject Matter:
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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 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)
                                  Subject Matter:
                                  View Details
                                    A grey and orange bird perches on an old branch

                                    Birding with Nature Man Mike

                                    Embark on a birdwatching walk in the Arboretum’s landscape with birder and wildlife photographer Michael Bryant, AKA Nature Man Mike. This two-hour walk is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced birders. Binoculars will be available to borrow on a first-come-first-serve basis, but you are encouraged to bring your own!

                                    in front of the Hunnewell Building
                                    Subject Matter:
                                    View Details

                                      • 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.

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

                                          Canceled 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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                                          • Canceled

                                          • An Eastern Kingbird is perched on a twig. The bird has a black head

                                          Canceled 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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                                          • Canceled
                                          A coyote in a snowy forest

                                          Keeping Up With the Coyotes

                                          With mating season just getting started, February is one of the best times to see signs of the Arboretum’s resident coyote population. Join Horticulturist and wildlife enthusiast Brendan Keegan to look for coyote tracks and scat, check our trail cameras, and find out why all these coyotes are in Boston in the first place.

                                          Washington Street 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
                                            Subject Matter:
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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:
                                              View Details
                                                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
                                                Subject Matter:
                                                View Details

                                                  • 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:
                                                  View Details
                                                    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
                                                    Subject Matter:
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                                                      A spectrogram, a yellow and black bird, and mics attached to a tree

                                                      Soundscapes of the Arboretum: A Drop-in Event

                                                      Stop by the Hunnewell lawn to experience the sounds of the Arboretum in a new way. Work with a birder to learn how to identify birds from their unique calls, listen to the sounds of a tree or soil amplified through specially designed microphones, participate in a “listening launchpad” activity to find sounds around the Arboretum landscape, engage in conversation prompts about the sounds of the landscape, and enjoy a guided soundscape meditation.

                                                      Hunnewell Lawn
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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:
                                                        View Details
                                                          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
                                                          Subject Matter:
                                                          View Details
                                                            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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                                                              A white woman with short grey hair next to a cover of Birds Up Close

                                                              Birds Up Close by Lorna Gibson

                                                              Have you ever wondered how a duck’s feathers repel water, or how the structure of a bird’s bones enables them to fly? Materials Science professor Lorna Gibson has spent years researching the physics and math of how birds work. Join her for a talk on her new book, Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores their Hidden Wonders and get a deep dive into the incredible world of birds.

                                                              Hunnewell Lecture Hall
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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
                                                                Subject Matter:
                                                                View Details
                                                                  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:
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                                                                    • A stone path winds through a lush, green forest at dusk, illuminated by glowing fireflies scattered among the trees and grass.

                                                                    Finding Fireflies

                                                                    When the sun sets and darkness settles on the Arboretum for the night, every now and then the dark is interrupted by the flash of a firefly. Join Professor Adam South of Tufts University for an evening Firefly Walk to learn about the lives of the fireflies that live here, the mechanics of how they light up, and how these unique insects are being impacted by pesticides and light pollution.

                                                                    Peters Hill 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
                                                                      Subject Matter:
                                                                      View Details
                                                                        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:
                                                                        View Details
                                                                          A stone path winds through a lush, green forest at dusk, illuminated by glowing fireflies scattered among the trees and grass.

                                                                          Rescheduled Finding Fireflies

                                                                          *Rescheduled from June 23* When the sun sets and darkness settles on the Arboretum for the night, every now and then the dark is interrupted by the flash of a firefly. Join Professor Adam South of Tufts University for an evening Firefly Walk to learn about the lives of the fireflies that live here, the mechanics of how they light up, and how these unique insects are being impacted by pesticides and light pollution.

                                                                          Peters Hill Gate
                                                                          Subject Matter:
                                                                          Get Tickets 1 ticket left
                                                                          • Rescheduled

                                                                          • Closeup of a bee on a flower

                                                                          Bees and Beyond: Pollinators at the Arboretum

                                                                          Join pollinator expert Nicole Bell for a walk through the Arboretum’s meadows to find bees and other pollinators in their natural habitat. Bell will use a sweep net to find and catch bees in the landscape so participants can see them up close, while we talk about the most common bees found in Massachusetts, where they live and what they eat, and the importance of places like the Arboretum for pollinator conservation.

                                                                          Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
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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:
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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
                                                                              Subject Matter:
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                                                                                Two kits hold a sweeping net and look at a bug box

                                                                                All-Ages Insect Safari

                                                                                Join us for an interactive look at all the tiny critters that crawl, fly, or slither through the Arboretum landscape. We will have sweep nets and bug boxes to catch bugs in Kent Field, digital microscopes to get a closer look, and entomologists to help us identify everything we find. This is an all-ages, interactive program: come prepared to move around and get up close with some bugs and insects!

                                                                                Conifer Collection
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                                                                                  6 bats in a grid pattern

                                                                                  Rescheduled All About Bats

                                                                                  *Rescheduled from August 14* As the sun sets, the bats come out! Join Arboretum Horticulturist Brendan Keegan and Matt Kamm, Associate Director of Field Conservation at Zoo New England, for a Bat Walk in the Conifer Collection, using specialized microphones to listen for and identify bat species in the landscape.

                                                                                  Flora Way Gate (Formerly Bussey St Gate)
                                                                                  Subject Matter:
                                                                                  Get Tickets 1 ticket left
                                                                                  • Rescheduled

                                                                                  • 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
                                                                                  Subject Matter:
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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:
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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:
                                                                                      View Details
                                                                                        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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