Trees That Speak Across Time and Place |
Fifteen years ago on Lilac Sunday, a chance encounter beneath a Carpathian birch revealed something remarkable about the Arnold Arboretum for Director Ned Friedman: plants can be powerful connectors. In the spring issue of our magazine Arnoldia, Ned reflects on how trees and shrubs from around the world act as living ambassadors, linking people to ancestral homelands, cultural memory, and shared human experience. From Romanian Americans gathering beneath a birch native to the Carpathians, to Japanese and Korean visitors finding echoes of home in cherries and ginkgoes, the Arboretum’s collections also serve as galleries of belonging. Friedman traces these associations across generations, continents, and centuries of plant exploration, showing how global collaboration in research and conservation fosters knowledge and understanding in an era shaped by division. Beyond their considerable value to science, the Arboretum’s trees tell stories—of migration, memory, and mutual stewardship—reminding us that plants, like people, thrive through connection. Become a member today to receive Arnoldia, the definitive forum for conversations about temperate woody plants and their landscapes. |
|
|
|
Cultivating Discovery in Our Collections |
We are pleased to announce the scientists selected to receive funding through Arnold Arboretum fellowships and awards in the coming year. Rosemary Glos, an evolutionary ecologist, has been awarded a Putnam Fellowship to study how plant traits shape mutualistic relationships between species. Her research focuses on a widespread but under-examined partnership in which mites protect plants from pests. Drawing on the Arboretum’s living collections, Rosemary will explore how plants evolve defenses, how introduced species interact with new environments, and how these relationships affect the health of cultivated landscapes.
Additionally, the Arboretum has granted research awards to fund investigations in 2026 by students, post-doctoral researchers, and professionals in the life sciences. Supporting projects across ecology, evolution, conservation, and horticulture, these awards reflect the breadth of scientific questions inspired by the Arboretum’s landscape and archives. Together, the Arboretum's fellowships and research awards highlight our commitment to innovative, collections-based plant science, made possible by the generosity of past and present Arboretum donors. |
|
|
|
Welcoming Wonder in All Seasons |
From engaging walks among spring blooms to family-friendly events and thought-provoking talks, public experience in our landscape is shaped by a dedicated team led by Jessica Pederson, Head of Public Programs. In a new story linked below, Jessica reflects on the creativity, care, and collaboration that go into welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds to the Arboretum’s landscape and collections. Jessica and her team design programs that invite curiosity and connection—whether through seasonal celebrations, lifelong learning opportunities, or moments of quiet discovery beneath our trees. Rooted in the belief that plants can spark wonder and meaning for everyone, their work ensures the Arboretum remains a place of learning, joy, and belonging. Learn more about some of the activities behind the scenes that transform your visits into opportunities to learn from trees and draw inspiration from nature. |
|
|
|
When Spring Flowers into Music |
As spring’s most extravagant blossoms reach their crescendo, music rises to meet them. On Saturday, April 11 at 3:00pm, join us on the Hunnewell Lawn for a free concert inspired by the pink and ivory blooms of our robust collection of magnolias. New England Conservatory graduate students Chloe DeSteno and Ariana Mascari have curated a program exploring the cultural and historical resonances of magnolias, plants, and place—including an original composition written especially for our collection. Chloe and Ariana will return on April 25 for Cherry Blossoms in Bloom in our cherry collection near the ponds, and on May 2 for Crabapple Blossoms in Bloom at the summit of Peters Hill. Bring a blanket, gather with friends, and let music and spring unfold together. |
|
|
|
|
|
