A Look Back, A Leap Forward: 2025 Annual Report |
Our 2025 Annual Report shares stories of people and plants growing together at the Arnold Arboretum. Its reflections frame a year shaped by gratitude—for the members, donors, and friends who sustain the Arboretum as both a museum of living trees and a welcoming public landscape. In 2025, that welcome took tangible form through the Entrance Improvement Project, which clarified gateways, centered plants, and reaffirmed the Arboretum as free and open to all. It is also a year that witnessed the Arboretum expanding its scientific and horticultural reach. Expeditions in China, Japan, and South Korea advanced the Campaign for the Living Collections, bringing rare and threatened species into care while strengthening global partnerships for conservation. At home, discovery flourished through research awards, visiting scholars, early-career opportunities, and free education programs for learners of every age. Amid extraordinary pressures on science, higher education, and biodiversity, the Arboretum has continued to make a difference with the help and support of members and donors. |
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See, Sketch, and Hear Nature Awaken |
As morning unfolds in our landscape, the Arboretum begins to speak—through wind in the leaves, birds in conversation, and the quiet hum of life beneath your feet. Step into a new way of listening to nature with Soundscapes of the Arboretum, a free drop in event on Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the Hunnewell Lawn. This interactive opportunity invites visitors of all ages to explore our landscape through sound—revealing an often-overlooked dimension of our environment. See birdsong and wind come alive through colorful spectrograms that translate sound into striking visuals. Join a “sound to sketch” activity to draw what you hear alongside a friend or family member. Work with a birder to learn how to identify species by their unique calls. You can even listen in on the hidden sounds of nature, as the subtle vibrations of trees and soil are amplified through specially designed microphones. Come linger, listen, and discover how alive the Arboretum truly sounds. No registration required. |
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Where Solar Power Meets Pollinator Power |
Beneath the solar arrays at the Arnold Arboretum’s Weld Hill Research Building, a vibrant experiment in sustainability buzzes with life—and a new research website brings that story into focus. The Solar Pollinator Meadow Biodiversity Study by Louise Miller, a Certified Field Naturalist with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, reveals how renewable energy infrastructure and biodiverse landscapes can thrive together and support native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while advancing climate-conscious design. Through field research, clear visuals, and accessible explanations, Miller explores how plant diversity, soil health, and seasonal change shape pollinator communities beneath our solar panels. Visitors to the website can learn how meadow species were selected, how pollinators are monitored over time, and why these hybrid landscapes matter for conservation and urban resilience. Discover how science, ecology, and clean energy intersect at the Arboretum—and how small landscapes with the right plants can have outsized impact. |
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Grow Something Meaningful for Arbor Day |
Each spring, the Arnold Arboretum invites members to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day by growing a plant chosen by our horticulturists at the Dana Greenhouses. Through the Arbor Day Seedling Program, members at the Arbor Day level ($150+) and above can receive an exclusive woody plant seedling to grow at home, strengthening the connection between the Arboretum and gardens across our region. In 2026, we’re delighted to offer the Sugar Shack® buttonbush, a compact selection of a native shrub prized for its unique spherical blooms that attract pollinators in midsummer. Arboretum membership connects you to plants, knowledge, and a community of nature enthusiasts. Join at the Arbor Day level online or at one of our seedling pick-up dates and receive a plant on the spot while quantities last. Celebrate Arbor Day or Earth Day by planting something extraordinary—and help the Arboretum to flourish all year round. |
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