Botanical Sketching: A Drop-In Program

Get in touch with your artistic side in this botanical sketching program on the Hunnewell Lawn. We’ll supply paper, pencils, and some blankets to sit on, while artist Erica Beade walks around offering artistic tips and tricks to participants. You are encouraged to bring any additional art supplies you would like to work with. This is a walk-up program so no registration is required: just show up any time between 12 and 2pm. Erica Beade is an illustrator and educator focusing on observational drawing and specializing in science, health, and nature topics. Accessibility: This program takes place on a flat, mowed lawn. Chairs will not be provided but you are welcome to take your work inside the Visitor Center if you don’t want to sit on the ground. Audience: This program is appropriate for all ages. Inclement weather policy: If this program is rescheduled due to bad weather, we will update the program description at least one day before the program. If you are unsure if the program is still running or not, please check this page or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209. <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:89f33565-8b4d-3194-9ed1-f7bdfe1f7536">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a>

Arnold Arboretum

Family Workshop: Nature Foam Printmaking

Join us for this engaging family workshop where we will use materials found in the landscape to create unique pieces of art. We will meet inside the Hunnewell Lecture Hall before venturing outside in search of natural materials to use in our prints, all while enjoying the seasonal highlights of the Arboretum’s landscape. In this family workshop we will explore foam printmaking where each participant will draw an image inspired by the landscape and the natural items collected. They will then create prints of their image using paint and brayers. Participants will be able to take home their creations. &nbsp;&nbsp; Family workshops are intended to be enjoyed by children accompanied by an adult. It’s an opportunity to explore the Arboretum and learn new skills together. Audience:&nbsp;This workshop is best suited for families with children ages 8-12. Please allow a maximum ratio of 1 adult per 3 children.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/family-workshop-nature-foam-printmaking/?occurrence=2025-02-21">Register here!</a> Accessibility:&nbsp;The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible. When out in the landscape we might walk on paved paths, grass, or snow. Location:&nbsp;This program will meet in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall and then venture out into the landscape as a group. Inclement Weather:&nbsp;This program will run rain or shine and will be modified as needed. In the event of severe weather, participants will be notified via email at least one day in advance if the program needs to be cancelled and will be notified by phone if it must be cancelled with less than one day’s notice. For Questions about the program please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu">childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>.

Family Workshop: Nature Monoprints with Gel Plates

Join us for this engaging family workshop where we will use materials found in the landscape to create unique pieces of art. We will meet inside the Hunnewell Lecture Hall before venturing outside in search of natural materials to use in our prints, all while enjoying the seasonal highlights of the Arboretum’s landscape. In this family workshop we will learn how to create monoprints using gel plates, brayers, paint, and paper. We will provide guidance on layering prints and color, and how to play around with laying out natural materials so that participants can create their own one-of-a-kind prints. Participants will be able to take home their creations.   Family workshops are intended to be enjoyed by children accompanied by an adult. It’s an opportunity to explore the Arboretum and learn new skills together. Audience: This workshop is best suited for families with children ages 8-12. Please allow a maximum ratio of 1 adult per 3 children.   <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/family-workshop-nature-monoprints-with-gel-plates/">Register here!</a> Accessibility: The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible. When out in the landscape we might walk on paved paths, grass, or snow. Location: This program will meet in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall and then venture out into the landscape as a group. Inclement Weather: This program will run rain or shine and will be modified as needed. In the event of severe weather, participants will be notified via email at least one day in advance if the program needs to be cancelled and will be notified by phone if it must be cancelled with less than one day’s notice. For Questions about the program please email <a href="mailto:childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu">childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>.

Family Workshop: Cyanotype and Airdry Clay Nature Prints

Join us for this engaging family workshop where we will use materials found in the landscape to create unique pieces of art. We will meet inside the Hunnewell Lecture Hall before venturing outside in search of natural materials to use in our prints, all while enjoying the seasonal highlights of the Arboretum’s landscape. In this family workshop we will learn what cyanotypes are and how to make them (weather permitting) and create fun texture-filled airdry clay prints! Participants will be able to take home their creations.&nbsp;&nbsp; Family workshops are intended to be enjoyed by children accompanied by an adult. It’s an opportunity to explore the Arboretum and learn new skills together. Audience:&nbsp;This workshop is best suited for families with children ages 5-7. Please allow a maximum ratio of 1 adult per 2 children.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/family-workshop-cyanotype-and-airdry-clay-nature-prints/">Register here!</a> Accessibility:&nbsp;The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible. When out in the landscape we might walk on paved paths, grass, or snow. Location:&nbsp;This program will meet in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall and then venture out into the landscape as a group. Inclement Weather:&nbsp;This program will run rain or shine and will be modified as needed. In the event of severe weather, participants will be notified via email at least one day in advance if the program needs to be cancelled and will be notified by phone if it must be cancelled with less than one day’s notice. For Questions about the program please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu">childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>.

Little Explorers - Winter

Join us this winter 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 begin by reading a nature inspired story followed by a walk, activity, or craft to continue exploring the theme. The weekly themes are inspired by what is happening seasonally at the Arboretum. This program is led by the Manager of Youth Education Katie Fox and Outdoor Educator Ana Maria Caballero. Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00am on the following dates:<ul><li>January 29, 2025</li><li>February 5, 2025</li><li>February 12, 2025</li><li>February 19, 2025</li></ul>Audience: Geared towards children ages three to five accompanied by an adult. Location: This program will meet in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall. It will often venture outside into the landscape. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Accessibility: The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. Inclement Weather: This program runs rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, those that have registered will be notified via email about the cancellation. Uncertain about the weather and if we are running the program? Email us at <a href="mailto:childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu">childrensed@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>.

Author Event: The Essential Tree Selection Guide by Henrik Sjöman

This is a virtual talk held over Zoom. We know that trees are a key ally in the fight against climate change and urban heat islands, but not every tree works in every situation. Selecting the right tree for your yard or landscape is critical both for the health of the tree and for the strength of the ecosystem services they provide. Botanist and researcher Henrik Sjöman’s new book, “The Essential Tree Selection Guide,” is a valuable new tool for making these tree selection decisions: an A to Z guide of over 550 trees, the book comes complete with explanations of each tree’s ecosystem benefits, its resilience to drought and storms, and key considerations for site placement. Join us on December 8 for a virtual book talk on this invaluable new guide. Author Henrik Sjöman is Senior Researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Scientific Curator at Gothenburg Botanical Garden, and Honorary Research Associate at Kew Gardens. Accessibility: This program is held virtually. Audience: This program is geared towards adults.

Online

Gardening for Pollinators

As we enter the cold winter months, it’s time to start thinking about next year’s garden! Join Pollinator Expert Nicole Bell for a class on gardening for pollinators and learn how to make your garden as welcoming as possible for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The class will cover best pollen and nectar plants for bees, nesting habitat, best management practices, and how to ensure that your garden has pollinator-friendly flowers available all season long. This class is held indoors in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall. Nicole Bell is an educator with Massachusetts Extension, focusing on pollinator outreach and education. Accessibility: The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible. Audience: This program is geared towards adults. Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a> If you have questions about the status of a program, please email <a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a> or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

Art Reception: Ramble by Esther Garcia Eder

Join us for an art reception celebrating the new exhibit in the Hunnewell Visitor Center, titled&nbsp;Ramble.&nbsp;Ramble&nbsp;is a painted representation of tree and nature scenes from around the world: San Diego, France, Maine, and the Arnold Arboretum itself. The show embodies the awe and excitement that each encounter with nature inspired in the artist, and in countless other visitors to those same spots. Ramble&nbsp;will be available for viewing in the Hunnewell Visitor Center through early February, 2025. Accessibility: The Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible. Audience: This program is geared towards adults.

Art Reception: Intimate Vistas by Marc Goldring

Join us for an art reception celebrating the opening of Intimate Vistas: Images of Tree Bark. Photographer Marc Goldring’s work has always centered on finding the mysterious in the commonplace and bringing attention to objects and features which we otherwise might not have noticed at all. In this show, Marc attends to the bark of trees. He brings the camera in close to look at the details of the extraordinary variety of textures, colors and shapes of the bark of trees. Familiar or relatively exotic, the tree’s bark tells a story about the life of the tree, both of the species and of the particular individual. In this way we can better connect to, and understand on a visceral level, these common yet alien beings. Intimate Vistas&nbsp;will be available for viewing in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall through late February 2025. Accessibility: The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible.

Art of the Woodturner

Woodturning is the art of fashioning wood into various forms and shapes by means of a lathe. Returning to the Arnold Arboretum for the ninth year, The Art of the Woodturner will again offer visitors the chance to see an amazing variety of woodturned pieces: large and small, functional and sculptural. Work from three New England clubs will be on view: the Association of Revolutionary Turners, Central New England Woodturners, and Massachusetts South Shore Woodturners. Each craftsperson brings their own personal artistic vision to the objects they create, and the pieces in maple, cherry, and other wood offer a unique look at the personality within the wood itself. Be sure to look for pieces turned from Arboretum wood as well. Experience in-depth demonstrations on the lathe in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm on Saturday 10/26 and Sunday 10/27, and throughout both days on the Hunnewell lawn. Registration is not required for this event but helps us to plan. Accessibility: The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible. Audience: This program is appropriate for all ages. Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.&nbsp;<a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a>&nbsp;If you have questions about the status of a program, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>&nbsp;or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

The Arnold Arboretum

Young Friends of the Arnold Arboretum

Hosted by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, this inaugural event for the Young Friends of the Arnold Arboretum features an enchanting evening of food, drinks, and activities in the landscape after dark—a time when the Arboretum is usually closed to the visiting public.  Designed to appeal to those 21-40 or who are young at heart, this event is a premier opportunity to immerse yourself in the plants, purpose, and peacefulness of the Arnold Arboretum with other metropolitan nature enthusiasts.   Thursday, October 10, 2024, 6:30–9:30 p.m. Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden at the Arnold Arboretum (1050 Centre Street, Boston MA 02130)  Please note that this is a 21 and older event.   Purchase tickets for $110, which covers individual admittance to the event, passed food, and an open wine and beer bar. Members of the Arnold Arboretum are eligible to purchase tickets for $75/person. Patron level tickets are available for $250/person and include an Arnold Arboretum plant and a wood bowl hand-turned from a felled Arboretum tree.  <a href="https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/51701876?appealcode=Z24YF">Purchase Tickets</a> Parking around the Arboretum perimeter is limited. We highly recommend using a rideshare service (reference address listed above as your destination) or taking public transportation. We will offer a shuttle for attendees to the Forest Hills MBTA station at the close of the event.  If you have any questions, please reach out to us at <a href="mailto:development@arnarb.harvard.edu">development@arnarb.harvard.edu</a> or 617.384.5766.

Hemlock Hill Up Close

Hemlock Hill Up Close Hemlock Hill is one of the Arboretum’s handful of minimally managed, natural areas, and there are dozens of plants and animals that make their home there. The hemlocks cast heavy shade and acidify the soil, creating a unique ecosystem for the resident flora and fauna. Join Horticulturist Brendan Keegan for this walk around Hemlock Hill and take a deep dive into the site’s ecology, management, and history. Accessibility: This program involves climbing moderately steep hills. The terrain includes gravel, dirt paths, rock, and pavement. Audience: This program is geared towards adults. Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.&nbsp;<a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a>&nbsp;If you have questions about the status of a program, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>&nbsp;or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

Arnold Arboretum - Hemlock Hill

Caterpillar Lab

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. This exhibit takes place in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall, where Caterpillar Lab staff brings in hundreds of caterpillars, cocoons, and lots of leafy greenery for the caterpillars to explore. This is a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the huge diversity of native caterpillars close up, with the help of special magnifying equipment that blow some of the caterpillars up on the big screen, and knowledgeable experts full of surprising caterpillar factoids. The lab will be open on Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00am to 4:00pm each day. Registration is not required but helps us with planning. Accessibility: The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible. Audience: This program is appropriate for all ages. Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. <a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a> If you have questions about the status of a program, please email <a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a> or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

Art Reception and Talk: Ghost Trees

Please join us for a reception celebrating the opening of Ghost Trees, a digital art show presented in augmented reality which celebrates the lives of five iconic Arboretum trees. Artist Sonia Ralston has skillfully recreated these beloved trees as 3-D digital models: visitors can scan a QR code and see these trees superimposed on the landscape behind them, experiencing them as they once stood. Timeline for the reception:<ul><li>1:00–2:00pm: Refreshments and rendering viewings in the lecture hall.</li><li>2:00–2:20pm: Artist talk</li><li>2:30–3:00pm: Half mile walk in landscape to view two Ghost Trees in their original settings.</li></ul>Accessibility: The Hunnewell Lecture Hall is wheelchair accessible. The outdoor portion will be on paved, level roads. Audience: This program is appropriate for all audiences. Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.&nbsp;<a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/" target="_blank">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a>&nbsp;If you have questions about the status of a program, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu" target="_blank">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>&nbsp;or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.