Exploring a Century of Connection with Korea |
On October 24, the Arnold Arboretum opens Living Connections: The Arnold Arboretum and Korea in the Hunnewell Building Visitor Center. This free exhibition explores a century of connections between the Arnold Arboretum and its collections, Korea’s flora and landscapes, and the people whose knowledge and work have shaped botanical history. At its center are archival photographs and records from Ernest Henry Wilson’s 1917–1919 expedition to the Korean Peninsula, offering rare views of plants, architecture, landscapes, and daily life during a period of profound political and social change. Paired with plants that still grow at the Arboretum, these materials reveal how botanical exploration influenced our collections in Boston and continue to support research, conservation, and international partnerships. Living Connections also examines colonialism, the division of Korea, and bias in historic names and records, while highlighting contemporary efforts to recognize Korean scientists, restore identities, and build more reciprocal collaborations for the preservation of global biodiversity. |
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Summer Interns Cultivate the Future |
As summer draws to a close, the Arnold Arboretum celebrates its 2026 horticulture and research interns. This summer, ten Isabella Welles Hunnewell interns gained hands-on experience in public horticulture, collections stewardship, arboriculture, plant production, and curation. Through field and classroom instruction, mentoring, and visits to botanical institutions, interns explored skills and career paths sustaining public gardens and urban landscapes. Meanwhile, seven DaRin Butz Foundation research interns spent ten weeks alongside scientists in our laboratories. Their projects ranged from plant evolution and climate change to air pollution and invasive species, allowing them to experience research from start to finish and present their findings. Together, these programs demonstrate the Arboretum’s continuing role in training the next generation of horticulture and plant science professionals—preparing them to care for collections, advance discovery, and address the environmental challenges ahead. Watch the short videos linked below to meet our interns and learn more about what they did at the Arboretum this summer. |
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Protecting New England’s Forests |
Our forests in the Northeast are facing a growing wave of introduced diseases, from beech leaf disease—which threatens one of the region’s most distinctive and ecologically important trees—to laurel wilt, a newly emerging disease affecting sassafras and spicebush shrubs. What do these and other diseases mean for the future of our forests, and how are scientists and land managers responding? On Tuesday, September 15 at 2:00pm, join Nicholas J. Brazee, UMass Extension plant pathologist, for an informative presentation in the Hunnewell Building lecture hall. Brazee will introduce some of the most serious diseases affecting New England trees and shrubs, explain how they spread and alter forest ecosystems, and share the latest research into their causes, impacts, and potential management strategies. The talk will also explore how researchers, extension specialists, and land managers are working together to monitor emerging threats and protect forest health. All programs at the Arnold Arboretum are free to attend. |
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Rethinking Our Relationship with Trees |
In a new episode of the Growing Greener podcast, Arboretum Director William (Ned) Friedman joins host Tom Christopher for a wide-ranging conversation about trees, conservation, and the future of forests. Friedman discusses the Arboretum’s efforts to preserve the genetic diversity of tree species and populations threatened by climate change, as well as the research and care needed to help trees flourish under increasingly difficult conditions. He also reflects on what makes trees so remarkable and why protecting them requires both scientific action and personal connection. His message is straightforward: trees are living partners, not simply scenery or resources, and we can deepen our commitment to their future by paying close attention to individual trees in our own lives. Listen to this thoughtful interview for a lively introduction to the Arboretum’s conservation work and an invitation to see the trees around you with greater curiosity, respect, and affection. |
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An Arboretum Evening Under the Stars |
Don't miss Afterglow at the Arnold, a celebratory evening of discovery at the Arnold Arboretum on Wednesday, September 24. Enjoy drinks, passed hors d’oeuvres, music, and dancing and explore the Arboretum's work in global conservation, research, and education in the beautiful Explorers Garden. |
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