Events

Sections

All events at the Arboretum are free.

Ongoing

Exhibits

photo of tree branches in a vase

Guided Tours

Plan Your Visit

Monthly Weekly Daily List

July 2025

Little Explorers Sale has ended

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.

16 Jul
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Hunnewell Lecture Hall

8V4H+WM Boston, Massachusetts

View Detail

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?

19 Jul
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Centre Street Gate

8V2F+WQJ Boston, Massachusetts

REGISTER

Closeup of a bee on a flower

Bees and Beyond: Pollinators at the Arboretum Sold Out

Join pollinator expert Nicole Bell for a walk through the Arboretum’s meadows to find bees and other pollinators in their natural habitat. Nicole 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.

19 Jul
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Bussey Street Gate

7VWC+HQ7 Boston, Massachusetts

View Detail

Charles Sprague Sargent standing outdoors at the Arnold Arboretum.

Charles Sprague Sargent and the American Forest

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 the deep influence he had over how Americans have come to think about forests, forestry, and wilderness. Docent Paul Eldrenkamp will lead a tour that explores the history of the idea of the forest in America- and how Sargent helped shape that idea.

19 Jul
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Bussey Street Gate

7VWC+HQ7 Boston, Massachusetts

REGISTER

A man uses a crystal singing bowl in the woods

Meditation in the Collections Last Few Tickets

Unwind with a nature meditation and sound bath under the shade of the oak collection. Facilitator Bob Linscott will guide the group through one hour of mindfulness and meditative soundscapes designed to help you de-stress and connect with the natural world.

20 Jul
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Centre Street Gate

8V2F+WQJ Boston, Massachusetts

REGISTER

Silhouette of a woman against a dark background

Tai Chi at the Arboretum Sold Out

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.

26 Jul
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden

8V3G+MF4 Boston, Massachusetts

View Detail

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.

29 Jul
9:00 am – 10:30 am
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

REGISTER

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.

30 Jul
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Hunnewell Lecture Hall

8V4H+WM Boston, Massachusetts

REGISTER

August 2025

Cluster of grapes on a woody vine

Grapevines of the Leventritt Sold Out

The Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden contains over a dozen grapevines, many of which have rich histories in plant breeding and winemaking. Join winemaker and author J. Stephen Casscles for a walk through Leventritt and explore these diverse grape species, their long histories in grape breeding, and their contributions to sustainable agriculture. The group will gather in front of the Hunnewell Building and then walk the 10 minutes to the Leventritt Garden.

02 Aug
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

View Detail

A brown and tan bird perches on a twig and eats pink berries

Birding at the Arboretum Sold Out

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!

03 Aug
8:00 am – 9:30 am
in front of the Hunnewell Building

125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA

View Detail

No event found!