"Spring is the fountain of love for thirsty winter." —Munia Khan
Dear Friends of the Arboretum,
There are beautiful sights to see, questions to wonder about the natural world, and opportunities to reflect at the Arboretum every day.
Spring is here, and our sneezing and itchy eyes tell us the oak and hickory trees are vigorously casting their pollen to the winds like it's their job—because it is. Pollen clouds now mean acorns and hickory nuts growing and ripening over the summer, satisfied squirrels this fall, and forests in years to come. Pollen clouds also mean it's time to get over to the Arboretum sooner rather than later, so you can enjoy the trillium, the bluebells, the wood poppies, and all the other blooms that will rest or even seem to disappear entirely once these overstory trees have finished pushing out their leaves.
Springtime is a great time to get outside and do a little wondering. Our education coordinator has been telling children on school field trips this spring, "If you can get curious about nature, you never have to be bored for the rest of your life!" Why are these leaf structures different? What bird is making that sound and why? How do those seeds fly through the air with just a little fluff umbrella, and how is that made? With a little practice and close observation, you will not run out of things to wonder about even on a single visit to the Arboretum. We have revamped our Explorer Backpack program with fresh materials for the youngest explorers, but now we offer bags with binoculars, field guides, and more for older kids and grown-ups, too. You can come in to the Frances Plecker Education Center anytime during the week to borrow these for free!
If you take five minutes to walk into the Upper Arboretum along the trail from the education center parking lot, you'll come to the newly renovated labyrinth nestled next to the new Native Shade Garden. Renovated in memory of William Christopher Kyle and made possible by generous donations from William's friends and family, the rejuvenated labyrinth is an even more beautiful space than before, perfect for reflection and quiet conversation. We hope you will come visit it this spring.
Whether you are appreciating nature's beauty, discovering new questions about the natural world, or letting your worries go this season, we hope you will do it at the Arboretum. Please consider supporting our maintenance and programming needs by joining our community of donors. We have a goal of expanding our membership role by having supporter, student, and patron membership levels this year. We also hope to see you at our Spring Celebration Plant Sale, open to Members on Thursday the 24th and to the general public beginning on Friday, April 25th!
With gratitude,
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Staff
We have introduced NEW supporter levels!
Becoming a member is one of the many ways you can support this woodland space. Make a donation of $50 or more per-year to become a Member of the Arboretum. As a token of our appreciation, if you become a member in 2025, you will receive a coupon to claim a FREE quart-sized perennial plant during our seasonal plant sale!
New Levels + Better Benefits:
- Supporter of the Arboretum ($15-49/year)
- Student Member of the Arboretum ($30/year)
- Friend of the Arboretum ($50-249/year)
- Patron of the Arboretum ($250-999/year)
- Lifetime Member of the Arboretum (one-time donation of $1,000)
Facility Update: Labyrinth Renovation
A labyrinth is more than just a path - it's a journey. Renovated in memory of William Christopher Kyle and made possible by generous donations from William's loved ones, this newly refurbished space was designed to invite quiet contemplation, healing, and connection with the natural world. It's beautiful stonework and new plantings throughout offer a lasting place for reflection and peace. We offer special thanks to the Kyle family and friends, the Frazier Quarry, and Woodstock Gardens for their donations, generosity, and excellent work on this project. We are waiting on a few final touches, but the labyrinth is open for visitors. We know you will love it as much as we do; please come visit soon.
Protecting Pollinators: How You Can Help This Spring
Hummingbirds and butterflies and bees, oh my! With spring in full bloom, it's time to welcome back all of our favorite pollinators. While they flit to and from each flower, there are ways that we can help ensure their success this season - all it takes is building a pollinator-friendly garden.
But why should we care about protecting our pollinators? A recent PNAS study found that out of about 1,600 species assessed, one in five pollinator species are going extinct. This is troubling news, as not only do pollinators play a crucial role in nourishing our ecosystems, but they also pollinate much of the food we eat, from apples and bananas to coffee and chocolate (USDA). If we don't work together to create a sustainable environment for our pollinator friends, our natural world could be at stake.
So how can you help out this spring? Here's a few tips to get you started.
Take a Wildlife Assessment
Focus on intentional landscaping by evaluating your garden and scouting out areas for improvement. The Xerces Society has some great resources, such as their assessment guide for parks and gardens. Wildlife assessments are useful tools to guide you in figuring out what to consider when building a pollinator-friendly garden.
Grow Native Plants
Growing native plants is a surefire way to make your pollinator-friendly garden flourish, as both the plants and local pollinators are already acclimated to their natural habitat. The Virginia Department of Wildlife makes useful suggestions, mentioning some of their favorite Virginia-native plants. Do your research and be mindful about what you put into your garden!
Hold Back on the Pesticides
Pesticides are detrimental to pollinators, playing a major role in their decrease in population. Instead of turning to substances to ward off pests, focus on growing native plants, which naturally draw in the local critters you do want to invite into your garden.
Delay the Spring Cleanup
Last fall we told you to "leave the leaves," and that goes for this spring as well! Before reaching for your rake and jumping into spring cleaning, make ample time for pollinators to emerge from their winter homes - those often being brush and piles of fallen leaves. Bee City USA raises good questions to ask for deciding when the time is right to do your spring cleaning. It is suggested to wait until the temperature is consistently around 50 degrees and above before getting started.
Pollinators are vital to ensuring that our ecosystem thrives. Take the time to give back this spring and support your local pollinators!
Want to learn more ways you can help pollinators this season? Explore this article from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for some more tips!
April Art Exhibition
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Presents
Karen Brown Arnold
Karen Brown Arnold is a self-taught digital photographer. Living in the Shenadoah Valley with her family since 2002, she realized early on that the Valley is a photographer's paradise. Every season brings different colors, moods and images to capture.
She hopes you will enjoy her photography. For those who recognize a particular scene and can appreciate her photos, she feels a special connection.
Weekends will find her taking a ride in the countryside in search of unique photo shots. She adds, "The people encountered in the Valley are friendly and warm. They, too, know what an honor it is to live in such a beautiful place."
Karen's art exhibit can be found in the Frances Plecker Education Center through April.
Open Monday through Friday from 8 am - 4pm
ADULT EVENTS
Click here to jump down to Kids & Family Events
Martial Arts with Grayson Pritchard
Select Saturdays, Tuesdays & Thursdays | April - July | $15 per session
Meet on the Lawn (during the plant sale)
Join Grayson Pritchard of Blue Heron Healing Arts as he guides you through the flowing motions and breath work of tai chi and baquazhang. Grayson Pritchard, a certified instructor of Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Qigong, is the owner of Blue Heron Healing Arts— a school of martial arts for children and adults, and energetic arts for health and healing. Visit his website at www.blueheronha.com
Wildflower Walks
Wednesday, April 30 | 12-1 PM| FREE
Meet at the Pond Bridge
Join us for an educational stroll with Keala Timko during this exciting and beautiful time of year. On this talk you will learn about various spring ephemerals and where to locate them in the Arboretum! Woodland Phlox, Trillium, Wild Ginger, Dwarf Larkspur, oh my!
Evening with Bats
1st & 3rd Fridays through September | 15 minutes before sunset| FREE
Next bat watch: May 2 | 7:45-8:45 PM
Meet at the Pond
Members of our local chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists, in partnership with Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia, will be hosting Evenings with Bats by the Pond in the JMU Arboretum on the first and third Fridays of the month, beginning on April 18 and concluding on September 19.
Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before sunset to hear a brief presentation about bat conservation and behavior, followed by the opportunity to watch bats of the Arboretum emerge for their evening hunt. Master Naturalists and BCRV volunteers will also be hosting a bat call monitoring station as part of the evening, and visitors can watch and learn more about acoustic monitoring, and what it's telling us about the bats who live in the Arboretum.
Native Plant Butterfly Buffet
Sunday, May 4th | 1:00-2:00 PM | $40/adult & $10/kid
Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center
Join Connor Waters of Bonfire Botany for another hands on workshop! Transform your porch into a butterfly buffet by planting combination planter with a selection of native plants that provide food and habitat for these beautiful pollinators! All materials will be provided!
Bonsai Club
Tuesday, May 6th | 6:00-8:00 PM | FREE
Meets at Frances Plecker Education Center
Join us for an evening all about bonsai! Meet with the Shenandoah Valley Bonsai Club for a brief presentations and door prizes!
Master Gardeners Talk Series: Plants & Medicine
Monday, May 12th | 11:30-12:30 PM | FREE
Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center
Join us at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum for an informative talk on gardening with medicinal plants! Get helpful tips and resources on native plants from the Central Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners.
Sound Bathing
Tuesday, May 13 & June 10 | 5:30-7:00pm | $25 per session
Meet on the Ernst Tree Terrace
Using gongs, crystal and Tibetan bowls, voice, drums, shakers, and chimes, Connie Magee will take you on a sound journey that will relax and de-stress you and bring your whole being back into a state of harmony on all levels; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Connie Magee is a multi-modality massage therapist, medicine woman, Yoga Instructor, and meditation teacher.
Forest Bathing with Annette Naber
Friday, May 23 | 1-2:30 PM | FREE
Experience some of the mindful and multi-sensory exercises that make forest bathing an enjoyable and beneficial nature therapy. Join Annette Naber of Emerald Mountain Sanctuary and author of Seasons of a Wild Life on this guided walk through the Arboretum grounds. Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a form of preventative medicine with many scientific studies confirming its beneficial impacts on our sense of well-being and physical health.
Succulent & Cacti Terrarium Workshop
Sunday, June 1 | 1-2 PM |$40/adult + $10/kid
Meet on the Ernst Tree Terrace
Perfect for plant enthusiasts and budding novices, this workshop combines hands-on crafting with a deep dive into the captivating world of arid plants. You’ll be able to craft a terrarium from your choice of succulents and cacti. All materials are provided!
Family & Kids Programs
Storytime in the Understory
1st & 3rd Wednesdays | June-August | 10-10:30 AM | FREE
Storytime Spot in the At Home in the Woods Family Garden
For preschool explorers and their families: Join us in the Storytime Spot in the Family Garden for 30 minutes of nature-themed reading.
No registration required!
From Waste to Wonder: Waste & Recycling Workers Week Touch-A-Truck
Tuesday, June 17th | 12-12:45 PM | FREE
Storytime Spot in the At Home in the Woods Family Garden
Help us celebrate Waste and Recycling Workers Week with a behind-the-scenes look at the trucks that keep our community clean. Children will hear stories about the powerful machines we use to manage our trash and then have the opportunity to sit inside a real City of Harrisonburg trash truck.
Thank You, Giving Day Donors!
With the help of our generous donors, we were able to raise $9,775 during Giving Day on February 27! Thank you so much to everyone who gave a gift of any amount. Your generosity helps the Arboretum continue to care for this beautiful woodland sanctuary.
Save the Date
Nature Walks with Massanutten Regional Library
June 3, July 1, Aug 11 | 10-11 am | FREE
Join us for a series of educational nature walks at the Arboretum! Each walk will focus on wildflowers, watershed, and urban animals, respectively.
Walks will be on the Plecker Pond Loop trail. Walk level- easy. Registration required. Limit to 25 people.
Registration link coming soon!
Nature Reconnection: Deepen Your Bond with the Earth
4-part workshop series lead by author Annette Naber, Ph.D.
June-September | 10-11:30 AM
Embark on a transformative journey that will deepen your connection to the natural world. Through nature activities, reflective practices, and hands-on learning, you will reconnect with the wisdom of the land and your own intuitive self. You’ll gain a deeper sense of purpose, a renewed kinship with Nature, and a wealth of knowledge and practices to carry with you into your everyday life.
$80 for members / $100 for non-members
Save the Date
Invasive Plant ID Walk & Removal Workday
Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center
Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM, for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants through the season. This session includes a short hike along trails, some with uneven surfaces.