Winter 2026 Newsletter Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Dear Friends of the Arboretum,

I have taken some time this winter to page through a portion of the archives here at the Arboretum. One thing from the beginning of this more than 35-year history is very clear: the Arboretum has always been a university-community partnership.  Thousands of people have given their expertise and advice, time, financial support, or lent their enthusiasm and inspiration to us. Some people only crossed paths with the Arboretum for a season; others have participated consistently for decades. It's a beautiful representation of what happens when people make whatever positive difference they can. So many have literally and figuratively planned, planted, weeded, and watered for the Arboretum to nurture its growth to this current moment.     When people say the Arboretum is a community and campus treasure, it's certainly in part because its grounds are a beautiful sanctuary for biodiversity, a place to learn, a place to research, and a place to relax and watch wildlife. However, the Arboretum is more than only a really nice place to visit ­— it’s much more! People, programs, and opportunities to participate are key elements that make it truly special.    Whether you are able to participate by learning about the natural world at a free program, finding your place among our volunteers, or supporting our urban forest financially, you are appreciated. You're continuing the partnership that has produced this treasure. Your efforts, care, and involvement are central to what the Arboretum is today. We appreciate you.   

Sincerely,

Katie Rankin, Director

Remembering 2025 — Thank You, Members!

As we reflect on 2025, we are inspired by the generosity of our members. Your dedication propels us forward into 2026 as we strive to preserve and promote native species, provide opportunities for research, and disseminate knowledge of the botanical and natural world. We also continue to fulfill our critical role as a space open to all, 365 days every year, free of charge.

Here are several (but certainly not all!) highlights of 2025 we want to share with you:

• From July 2024 to June 2025, the Arboretum served 4,173 students and 1,008 adults from 50 school across Virginia for self-guided field trips or watershed education. Additionally, 3,708 adults attended other programs and events.

• More than 1,000 JMU students had research experiences at the Arboretum in 2025 through their Foundations of Biology 140 class.

• The Labyrinth was renovated in 2025 thanks to the Kyle Family and many friends.

• Nature Journaling, spearheaded by Arboretum Education Coordinator Kelli Hertzler, resumed in 2025. Look for additional dates to participate again this year.

• More than 500 volunteers contributed more than 3,000 hours of service to the Arboretum from July 2024-June 2025.

• The recently reconstituted Arboretum Advisory Board held its first meeting at the Frances Plecker Education Center on November 15, 2025.

• A new shed was installed behind the Frances Plecker Education Center on December 17, 2025, to store landscape equipment used by the Forest Stewards and other volunteers who are committed to the Arboretum's maintenance and preservation.

Thank you! As we finish up closing the books on 2025, we look forward to further reporting to you about your ongoing impact.

Interested in Becoming a Member and Making an Impact?

• 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)

The 20th Annual Frances Litten Botanical Lecture and Member Reception

Keynote Speaker: JMU Assistant Professor and Monarch Butterfly Expert Dr. Lee Brown.

20th Annual Litten Lecture

You're Invited! Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Festival Center Ballroom, James Madison University. The Litten Lecture is a free event. Registration for the lecture is appreciated, but not required. Register here. (Please note: registration for the Member Reception is required. You must be a member or become a member by Feb. 17 to attend the reception.)

Member Reception

Member Reception: 5:30-6:45 p.m. Join us and fellow members for lively conversation and an activity for you to provide feedback on the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum's plans for the future. Space is limited to 80 people. Registration is required -- register here.

"Monarch Butterfly Research: Taking for Granted What We Don't Know -- Lessons From A Few Years of Monarch Butterfly Research"

Lee Brown is an Assistant Professor of Biology at James Madison University. Her conservation-focused research has centered around movement and demography of bird and butterfly populations in human-dominated and natural landscapes. Insights from her most recent work on monarch butterflies and the use of lightweight radio telemetry tags for tracking their long-distance movements has been highlighted in several media outlets including the New York Times, WHRO public media in Virginia, and Milenio in Mexico City. She received her Ph.D. at Stony Brook University and held positions at Harvard Forest, the University of Georgia, the University of Connecticut and Tufts University before landing in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she resides with her daughter, two conservation detection dog wannabes, and a mischievous kitty.

"There is still so much we don't know about monarch butterflies, even though they are arguably one of the most well-studied insects on the planet," says Dr. Brown. "We need to always keep this in mind and be open to thinking about monarchs and conservation of pollinators in general in new ways and with fresh perspectives. With my research, this has meant being careful about jumping to conclusions and mindful of not overlooking important considerations in our rush to save a beloved species. A lot of knowledge is probably buried out there in casual observations that no one realizes are valuable and, thus, this information remains unshared."

Save the Date: Spring 2026 Plant & Tree Sale

We're already thinking about warmer weather and anticipating spring leaf emergence and budburst in the Arboretum. The Spring 2026 Plant & Tree Sale also is top of mind. As we plan out all the details for the forthcoming sale, we want to share a few key dates with you. We also will share details about viewing the spring inventory and placing online orders when that information becomes available. As always, members qualify for a 10% discount on plant sale purchases. For more information about becoming a member, follow this link.

• Members Day for the Plant & Tree Sale: Thursday, April 23
• Plant & Tree Public Sale: Friday, April 24-Saturday, May 2 (closed on Sundays)

Counting the Trees

Counting, Cataloguing, and Monitoring Trees in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum and on the JMU Campus

Follow along via the video above as JMU Stormwater Coordinator Ali Sloop '10 explains how trees are being measured and catalogued at the Arboretum and on the JMU campus. This important work is helping us develop a better understanding of our tree inventory while also helping us monitor the health of the trees. You can check out the trees that have been identified so far on the Tree Inventory map. Watch the video. According to JMU's Tree Campus website, "the project is an ongoing effort, supported by volunteers like Virginia Master Naturalists and students, to digitally map and assess all campus trees for better urban forest management, sustainability, and educational use; collecting data on species, health, size (DBH, height); and location using apps like ArcGIS Field Maps to achieve goals for Tree Campus USA and stormwater management." The university received its Tree Campus USA status by the Arbor Day Foundation in 2017. Participating colleges and universities are required to meet five core standards of tree care and community engagement each year. JMU continues to meet the program's standards each year. Learn more on the Tree Campus portion of the JMU website. Those interested in volunteering to help with tree inventory efforts in the Arboretum, should email ejcarboretum@jmu.edu.

Why Prune in the Winter?

From the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, by Jesse Brody

Winter is here, the leaves have fallen, and you may have heard that it’s a good time to prune your woody plants. But what are the benefits of pruning in the winter? With search engine results on pruning surpassed only, perhaps, by the number of trees felled to print books on the subject, it’s easy for an aspiring pruner to feel lost in the woods, so to speak.

The first real advantage to pruning in the winter is the fact that most woody plants in NYC’s plant hardiness zone (7b) enter a period of dormancy. Not unlike bears that hibernate in the winter, our deciduous trees take a break from eating, growing, and trying to reproduce. Let’s say, for example, you want to eliminate some crossing and rubbing branches on a crape-myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.). In spring or summer, cutting could unnecessarily stress the plant while it’s funneling energy into primary growth or flowering. It’s also important to consider that pruning cuts can stimulate new sprouts, which may not have time to harden off for the following winter if started too late in the season.

My favorite reason to prune deciduous trees in winter? They have dropped their leaves, and you can see what’s going on! With the plant’s architectural framework laid bare, there is joy in studying the wandering branches and sorting out where the wood has been headed over time. The route of a branch through the air tells the story of its pursuit of light, competition from its surroundings, and pruning done in the past. As Richard Powers writes in The Overstory, “There are more ways to branch than any cedar pencil will ever find.”

Another good reason to tackle this task in the chilly months: What else are you going to do in the garden? I’m half-joking, but home gardeners can take advantage of the lull in other tasks to focus on pruning.

Before you get started, it can be helpful to understand why we prune, period. The health of the plant, and the safety of people and property, are prime motivations. The “Four D’s” of pruning—dead, diseased, damaged, dangerous—are fairly self-explanatory reasons for a gardener to pick up a saw or secateurs. However, certain pruning techniques can also help prevent some of the “D’s” in your home garden. One approach, known as structural pruning, is employed to gradually guide a tree or shrub into a healthy, stable form. For example, depending on the species, you may prune to open up the center of the plant, improving light access and air circulation.

No matter the goal, it is important to remember that you are not dealing with an inanimate lump of clay that can be sculpted on your own timeline. A tree is a growing organism, reacting to biology and environment, as well as you and your blades.

If you’re preparing to tackle a winter pruning project, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• It can be easy to get carried away, so stick to the “one-third” rule—cutting no more than about one-third of a shrub or small tree—as a guideline to prevent over-stressing the plant.
• Avoid pruning in wet conditions, as this provides an opening for disease and makes it more difficult to get clean cuts.
• Pick the right tool for the job. Rough rules of thumb: Bypass-type hand pruners for cuts up to ½″ diameter, larger loppers up to about 1-½″, and a manual tree saw beyond that.
• Always consider the age and species of the plant you are working with, as these factors often dictate strategy and technique. For example, most newly planted trees need several growing seasons to become established before they're ready for regular pruning.
• Read more! You’ll learn new terms and concepts like the “three-cut method,” a recommended procedure for pruning tree limbs, or “apical dominance,” the principle in which a shoot tip suppresses lateral bud growth. It may sound like a lot, but familiarizing yourself with the science of plant growth will help you master the art of pruning.

And be sure to stay on top of these basic safety practices:

• Don’t poke your eye out! Eye protection is always recommended.
• Finish with as many fingers as you started with. Work slowly and deliberately with clean, sharp tools (dirty tools spread plant disease, and dull blades are dangerous).
• Avoid cutting overhead or on ladders until you master the basics. Larger trees and work at significant heights require an ISA Certified Arborist.

For more in-depth resources, check out the Garden’s previous articles on why and when to prune, pruning for particular purposes, and pruning vines and climbing plants, as well as our Tree Care Primer. Stay warm, and happy pruning!

Jesse Brody is the Brook gardener at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The Inscrutable Blue Jay

by Mac Hart

The blue jay is one of the most visually stunning and ecologically valuable birds in all of North America. Yet, he is widely maligned.

Known for ransacking neighboring nests and terrorizing songbirds, he has earned a bad reputation.

Probably due, in some measure, to Robert Havell’s popular engraving of three blue jays attacking a Baltimore Oriole’s nest and devouring the eggs (plate #102) in John Audubon’s Birds of America, the blue jay is regarded as a “bully” and predator.

I am an unabashed fan of the blue jay. His complex character and secret life intrigue me.

Ever since moving into our Rockingham County, Virginia, home two years ago, I have been catering to the jays at our edge-of-the-woods bird feeding station behind the house. I give them peanuts and other special treats. People are puzzled when I speak of my fondness for jays. Understandably.

Web Extra! Read the rest of Mac Hart's essay on the Arboretum's website.

Fourth Graders Participate in MWEE at the Arboretum

This past fall, fourth graders from each of Harrisonburg's public schools come to the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU for a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience (MWEE) where they engaged in hands-on fun activities to learn how development, erosion, and pollution affect our waterways, as well as solutions for those issues. Please contact Arboretum Education Coordinator Kelli Hertzler at 540.568.3194 or GDXC5J@jmu.edu to inquire about volunteer opportunities for students the Arboretum will host in 2026.

Arboretum Winter 2026 Events and Programs

Winter 2026 programming includes events and programs for adults, children, and families. Please refer to this list of happenings below. For a more detailed listing and to register, follow this link. FPEC = Frances Plecker Education Center For questions about events, email ejcarboretum@jmu.edu.

January 2026

Master Gardeners Talk Series: Teas from the Gardens -- Saturday, Jan. 17; 10:30-11:30 a.m., Location: FPEC (Free Event). Register here. Tea Time! If gardening is your cup of tea, learn how to identify edibles – wild and landscaped – and turn them into your daily brew.

Nature Journaling -- Tuesday, Jan. 27; 2:00-3:30 p.m., Location: FPEC (Free Event). Registeration required -- register here. The January 2026 focus for Nature Journaling will be lichen and moss. Let's explore tiny ecosystems on rock and bits of bark. All ages are welcome. Observation skills are required, but art skills are not. You may wish to bring your own journal and art supplies. Basic materials are provided. Contact Kelli Hertzler, Education Coordinator, with questions at 540-568-3194 or GDXC5J@jmu.edu.

February 2026

Invasive Plant ID Walk, Blue Ridge PRISM -- Wednesday, February 4; 10-11:30 a.m., Location: Meet at FPEC (Free Event). Registration required -- register here. (Note: scroll below for the Invasive Plant Removal Workday below, on Feb. 27.) Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM, and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants in the spring. This session includes a short hike along trails, some with uneven surfaces. Space is limited to 20 participants. Bird Exploration -- Saturday, Feb. 7; 10:00-11:00 a.m.; Location: FPEC (Free Event). No registration. Multiple bird topics and activities to explore for families at their own pace at the Frances Plecker Education Center. Then stick around for Birding 101 with Mike Donaldson from the Rockingham Birding Club.

Birding 101 -- Saturday, Feb. 7; 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; Meet at the FPEC. Free event, no registration. With Mike Donaldson of Rockingham Birding Club. Adult instruction, all ages welcome.  Meet at the Frances Plecker Education Center. The program begins with a 30-minute slide show presentation featuring a brief overview of the birds of the local region. The slide show will conclude with quick tips about how to find birds and audience questions. Afterward, weather permitting, the group will venture outside to briefly listen and look for birds near the Education Center.

Native Plant Social with the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society -- Sunday, Feb. 8; 1:30-3:30 p.m., FPEC (Free Event; every second Sunday of the month) Join the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society for our Second Sundays Native Plant Social; a time of connecting and relationship-building in a community of local native plant enthusiasts. Expect light refreshments and conversation. Membership in VNPS is optional. Everyone is welcome! No registration.

Nature Journaling -- Tuesday, Feb. 10; 2:00-3:30 p.m., FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here. February's focus will be bird body structure. We will gain bird identification skills better by getting familiar with their external anatomy. Observation skills are required, but art skills are not. You may wish to bring your own journal and art supplies. Basic materials are provided. Contact Kelli Hertzler, Education Coordinator, with questions at 540-568-3194 or GDXC5J@jmu.edu.

Master Gardener Talk Series: Landscaping with Native Plants -- Saturday, Feb. 14; 10:30-11:30 a.m. Location: FPEC. (Free Event). Registration is required -- register here. Create a backyard bounty to provide food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Discover a diverse array of native plants providing year-round beauty for you and benefits for all critters.

Fern and Moss Terrarium Workshop with Bonfire Botany -- Sunday, Feb. 15; 1:00-2:00 p.m. Location: FPEC. $34.99 per person. Register here. Create a fern and moss terrarium while surrounded by the serene beauty of the Arboretum. This in-person event is perfect for plant lovers of all skill levels! All materials will be provided.

The 20th Annual Frances Litten Botanical Lecture -- Tuesday, Feb. 17; Festival Center Ballroom, James Madison University. Member Reception, 5:30-6:45 p.m.: Register here. Lecture with Monarch Butterfly Expert Lee Brown, 7:00-8:00 p.m.: Register here.

Mindfulness Walk -- Friday, Feb. 20; 1:30-4:30 p.m. Check-in at FPEC. A JMU Health 100 Passport event sponsored by the Counseling Center.

Mindfulness Walk -- Saturday, Feb. 21; Noon-3:00 p.m. Check-in at FPEC. A JMU Health 100 Passport event sponsored by the Counseling Center.

Invasive Removal Workday with Blue Ridge PRISM -- Friday, Feb. 27; 10:00-11:30 a.m., Location: Meet at FPEC (Free Event). Registration required -- register here. Join Blue Ridge PRISM as we tackle invasive plants at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum in Harrisonburg. Learn to identify and remove invasive plants that threaten the health and enjoyment of this beautiful natural area. Space is limited to 10 participants.

March 2026

Carnivorous Terrarium Workshop -- Sunday, March 1, 1-2 p.m. Location: FPEC. $34.99. Registration required -- register here. Join Bonfire Botany and dive into the art of creating a unique, self-sustaining terrarium featuring some of nature's most intriguing and exotic plant species. This workshop combines hands-on crafting with a deep dive into the captivating world of carnivorous flora. All materials provided.

Native Plant Social with the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society -- Sunday, March 8; 1:30-3:00 p.m. Join the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society for our Second Sundays Native Plant Social; a time of connecting and relationship-building in a community of local native plant enthusiasts. Expect light refreshments and conversation. Membership in VNPS is optional. Everyone is welcome! No registration.

Master Gardener Talk Series, “Beneficial Insects” -- Saturday, March 14; 10:30-11:30 a.m., Location: FPEC, The Talk is Free. "How to Make a Cedar Bug House:" $15. Registration is required -- register here. STOP! Before you squish that bug, join us to find out how different insects are helpful to our gardens and flower beds. You will learn why it is important to encourage insects to visit your garden and how to attract them by knowing what they eat, where they sleep, and how to identify them in their various life stages.

Pollinators in Your Yard Event, Downtown Harrisonburg -- Saturday, March 21; 12:30-4:00 p.m., Location: Ice House Building in Downtown Harrisonburg (127 West Bruce Street Entrance), Pale Fire Brewing Company, and Drifters' Cafe. Join the Arboretum and other local organizations for the fourth annual Pollinators in Your Yard event, celebrating the ongoing efforts to support Harrisonburg as a pollinator-friendly city. Follow this link for more information.

April 2026

Wildflower Walk -- Wednesday, April 1; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free Event. Registration required -- register here.

Invasive Plant ID Walk with Blue Ridge PRISM -- Wednesday, April 1; 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; Meet at FPEC. Registration required -- register here. Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM, and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants in the spring. This session includes a short hike along trails, some with uneven surfaces. Space is limited to 20 participants.

Invasive Removal Workday with Blue Ridge PRISM -- Friday, April 17; 10:00-11:30 a.m.; Meet at FPEC. Registration required -- register here. Join Blue Ridge PRISM as we tackle invasive plants at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum in Harrisonburg. Learn to identify and remove invasive plants that threaten the health and enjoyment of this beautiful natural area. Space is limited to 10 participants.

Wildflower Walk -- Wednesday, April 8; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Mindfulness Walk -- Friday, April 10; 1:30-4:30 p.m. Check-in at FPEC. A JMU Health 100 Passport event sponsored by the Counseling Center. Check in at the Frances Plecker Education Center to get your materials for this self-guided experience.

Master Gardener Talk Series: Creative Containers -- Saturday, April 11, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Location: FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Spring Into Gratitude Walk at the Arboretum -- Sunday, April 12, 11:00 a.m.-noon. Meet at the Arboretum's Ernst Terrace, right next to the FPEC. Free event. Register here.

Spring is vibrant and beautiful season at the Arboretum. Let’s spring into gratitude and admire lovely wildflowers along the way! See what can grow and blossom within you as well with Positive Psychology exercises and guided prompts to connect deeper to yourself and in community! You can bring a journal/pen/pencil if you like! Enjoy a 30–60 minute gratitude walk, and enjoy an open and colorful conversation!

Wildflower Walk -- Sunday, April 12; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Native Plant Social with the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society -- Sunday, April 12; 1:30-3:00 p.m. Join the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society for our Second Sundays Native Plant Social; a time of connecting and relationship-building in a community of local native plant enthusiasts. Expect light refreshments and conversation. Membership in VNPS is optional. Everyone is welcome! No registration.

Wildflower Walk -- Sunday, April 19; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Wildflower Walk -- Wednesday, April 22; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Members Day, Spring Plant & Tree Sale -- Thursday, April 23; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. FPEC and Ernst Terrace.

Spring Plant & Tree Sale -- Friday, April 24-Saturday, May 2; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Open every day except Sunday. FPEC and Ernst Terrace. Wildflower Walk -- Wednesday, April 29; Noon-1 p.m. Location: Meet at the FPEC. Free event. Registration required -- register here.

Behind the Scenes

Wreath Making

Thank you to our volunteers who worked behind the scenes to create wreaths to decorate the Arboretum for the holidays!

Curious About Quercus -- New Educational Exhibit Coming Soon

"Curious About Quercus," a new educational exhibit designed to inspire people to get interested in identifying Oak trees, is currently in the works and will be on display soon in the Frances Plecker Education Center. Our plan is to provide samples of Oak leaves to provide information to aid in efforts to go out and explore and identify oaks in the Arboretum and beyond. Then, we want you to come back and talk to us or leave us a note to let us know what you discover!

JMU Giving Day 2026

JMU's 10th Annual Giving Day is coming up! Show your appreciation with a gift to the Arboretum on (or before) Thursday, March 26!  Be an early bird and follow this link to make your gift that counts for Giving Day now. Your gift helps us fulfill our mission and expand our impact as a public, urban arboretum with free admission that is open 365 days a year.