On Sunday, March 17, the Arboretum welcomed families from the program Smart from the Start to search for the signs of spring. Some signs were flamboyant, like the ‘Arnold Promise’ witch-hazel. Others were hidden away, like skunk cabbage and onion grass. We spotted robins seeking worms in the meadow, and we compared the silky pussy willows growing along Meadow Road—black or silver, with tiny flowers smaller than tip of the smallest child’s pinky finger. The most impressive moment came when children used pipecleaners (“bees’ legs”) to swab for pollen in the crocuses at the edge of the meadow. Nothing quite says spring like glowing orange pollen on a black fuzzy “bee”!
Please join us for the April Family Hike, Welcome Back Redwing Blackbird on Sunday, April 14, from 2:00-3:30pm. Search for birds with binoculars, go on a StoryWalk® about wild birds, identify bird calls, dress up as a redwing blackbird, and get a redwing blackbird tattoo!
From “free” to “friend”…
Established in 1911 as the Bulletin of Popular Information, Arnoldia has long been a definitive forum for conversations about temperate woody plants and their landscapes. In 2022, we rolled out a new vision for the magazine as a vigorous forum for tales of plant exploration, behind-the-scenes glimpses of botanical research, and deep dives into the history of gardens, landscapes, and science. The new Arnoldia includes poetry, visual art, and literary essays, following the human imagination wherever it entangles with trees.
It takes resources to gather and nurture these new voices, and we depend on the support of our member-subscribers to make it possible. But membership means more: by becoming a member of the Arnold Arboretum, you help to keep our collection vibrant and our research and educational mission active. Through the pages of Arnoldia, you can take part in the life of this free-to-all landscape whether you live next door or an ocean away.