Fall 2025 Newsletter Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Dear Friends of the Arboretum,

How we respond to changes happening around us makes all the difference: Do we freeze in fear? Do we lash out in anger? Do we flee as fast as we can and leave any problems to someone else? Over the last several years, the challenges of the pandemic and raising multiple teenagers has forced me to look for ways to respond rather than react. It's not a perfect process, but it helps.

Here at the Arboretum, one element of change demanding a response is the explosive growth of Harrisonburg in the last decades in population, in economic development, and in building. We see the evidence of this in something as basic as what happens when it rains—more developed land means more stormwater runoff. The weather patterns aren’t what they used to be either. When it rains, it pours; and when it's dry, it's really dry. We see the evidence of this in the survival rates of water-loving plants through our riparian buffer areas. Do these changes have to mean more flash flooding and a degraded landscape? How the Arboretum has responded and is responding to these challenges is the subject of an article you can find below.

Another change that we’re responding to is our own growth. Thanks to many rich partnerships around the community, our roster of programs and events has grown significantly since pre-pandemic years. This change is positive, but comes with its challenges. Please bear with us as we experiment with the most effective ways to keep you informed, such as with a more streamlined listing of our upcoming programs in this newsletter.

In what follows below, you'll find our annual favorites such as our Fall Plant and Bulb Sale, Harvest Festival, Make & Take workshops, mindfulness walks, nature journaling classes, and opportunities to volunteer in educational programs and invasive species removal. If the listings make you react happily, we hope you'll take the next step to respond by marking your calendar and by joining our community of members.

Sincerely,

Katie Rankin, Director

Thank you, Members!

The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU thrives when members provide vital funding to inspire outdoor engagement in our woodland sanctuary. As we embark on this new fall season at the Arboretum, we are inspired by your enthusiasm and steadfast support of our mission and vision. Thank you!

Member Levels Include:

• 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)

Fall 2025 Plant and Bulb Sale

Join Us for the Arboretum's Largest Fall Sale Yet!

• Special Presentation via Zoom with Master Gardener Keala Timko, September 17, 7 p.m. EDT
• Members-only Online Plant Sale, September 18-25
• Members-only Sale Day at the Arboretum, in-person, September 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Fall Plant and Bulb Sale, September 26-October 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Fall 2025 Plant and Bulb Sale will be the largest fall sale in the Arboretum's history so you don't want to miss it. Shop from a variety of native perennials, shrubs, trees, and houseplants. This ongoing sale is in the Arboretum's Frances Plecker Education Center and on the Ernst Tree Terrace, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., September 26-October 4. Inventory can be viewed and orders can be placed online. Watch your inbox for a link to our inventory for the Fall Sale. (Please note: the Plant and Bulb Sale is closed on Sunday, September 28.)

Plant and Bulb Sale: Early Access for Members, September 18-25!

The Arboretum will offer members the earliest access ever to the Fall Plant and Bulb Sale. Beginning on the 18th, members can follow this link to view our inventory online and place orders. In addition, we will host Members-only Sale Day on Thursday, September 25 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Arboretum's Frances Plecker Education Center and on the Ernst Tree Terrace, where you can view plants and pick up your order. Lifetime, Patron, Friends, and Student members receive a 10% discount on purchases.

Not a member yet? Join now and help us fulfill our mission.

Prepare for the Sale With a Special Presentation, September 17

Plan your fall planting season with expert insights. We're thrilled to announce that Central Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Keala Timko will host a special workshop online on September 17 at 7 p.m. EDT. Join us here on Zoom. Keala will preview the Fall Plant and Bulb Sale and help you prepare for landscaping success.

Fall Backyard Tips

As temperatures begin to cool, now is the time to prepare your landscape, garden beds, and lawns for next spring. In the fall, plants focus on root development rather than above-ground growth. That makes fall the “prime time to prep your yard for the next growing season.” Wildlife, especially insects, depend on us to leave some of the “yard waste” for their benefit. Here’s a few tips to keep you on target for your backyard fall maintenance!

Leave the Leaves

One of the most valuable things you can do to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, that’s pretty easy; all you need to do is less yard work. Leaves, brush piles, fallen logs, plant stems, and flower heads might not be growing anymore, but they aren’t trash — they are natural homes for wildlife! A layer of leaves is vital insulation from the cold for the many animals that hide within (or in) the soil beneath, like quite a few butterflies. Others, like many native bees, nest within stems, flower heads, or pieces of wood. Throwing out all of your leaves and other plant material isn’t just taking away options for shelter; there’s a good chance you’re tossing out many animals that have already settled in!

Plant Some New Native Trees/Shrubs

Fall is an excellent time to plant native woody plants. The cool, moist soil conditions encourage strong root establishment before winter dormancy. Don’t forget to add a fresh layer of mulch, especially around young plants. Mulching insulates plant roots from extreme temperature fluctuations, helps the soil retain moisture, prevents soil erosion, and suppresses weed growth. But, be careful not to pile it against the stems or trunks.

Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn

Regular aeration each fall ensures a greener, healthier lawn come springtime. The autumn season comes with a mix of warm soil and cool air, perfect for planting grass seed and allowing time for new grass roots to develop before winter sets in.

Don't Forget Your Tools

As you wrap up your fall landscaping tasks, take time to clean and maintain your gardening tools before storing them for winter. Clean off dirt and debris, sharpen blades, and apply a light coat of oil to metal parts to prevent rust. Drain gas from power equipment or add a fuel stabilizer. Proper tool maintenance ensures they’ll be ready for action when spring arrives. Store tools in a dry, sheltered place to prevent weather-related damage and extend their lifespan.

Join Us for the Harvest Festival — Saturday, October 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bask in the wonder of fall during the 17th annual Harvest Festival at the Arboretum. This free, family-friendly event includes nature activities, games, crafts, citizen scientist opportunities, and more.

Are you interested in helping to make this year's Harvest Festival a memorable and enjoyable experience? We are looking for volunteers who love working on a team and have a passion for inspiring outdoor engagement.

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Arboretum Education Coordinator Kelli Hertzler��at 540.568.3194 or GDXC5J@jmu.edu.

Volunteers Needed for MWEE at the Arboretum

Each 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 engage in hands-on fun activities to learn how development, erosion, and pollution affect our waterways, as well as solutions for those issues.

This is a great way to help make exceptional experiences for these students. If you can commit to helping on one or more of the days, please refer to the contact information below! None of the jobs are difficult and we need many hands to make this program great.

Dates: October 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, and 16. Rain dates are October 22 and 31.

We need help from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. each day, but it is fine to be available for part of that time. Please contact Arboretum Education Coordinator Kelli Hertzler at 540.568.3194 or GDXC5J@jmu.edu to inquire about volunteering. Also, stay tuned for MWEE volunteer opportunities for cohorts of first- and seventh-grade students the Arboretum will host in spring 2026.

For additional reading about MWEE, please learn more about the experiences our seventh grade cohort had last fall.

September-October Art Exhibition

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Presents

Caitlin Garvey — Glory to Glory: Beauty in Every Bloom

Caitlin Garvey is a Virginia-based photographer whose work explores the themes of identity and relationship. Drawing inspiration from the Shenandoah Valley where she resides, her art often utilizes nature as a metaphor to explore the concepts of self and belonging, while in relationship with one’s community and environment.

Glory to Glory: Beauty in Every Bloom is a celebration of life’s unfolding — a series of intimate flower portraits capturing the grace, resilience, and luminous beauty found in every moment of growth. Learn more about Caitlin's exhibit here.

Arboretum Fall 2025 Events and Programs

Fall 2025 is packed with a wide variety of 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

General Events

Bonsai Club — Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2 at 6-8 p.m. FREE.

Both aspiring and committed hobbyists are welcome. Location: FPEC

Evenings with Bats — Sept. 5 at 7:15 pm; Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. FREE

Learn about bat conservation and behavior from Master Naturalists as they host an acoustic bat call monitoring station and observe the bats come out at night over the pond. What can monitoring tell us about our resident bats? Location: Pond

Tree ID Walk — Sept. 9 at 10-11:30 a.m. FREE

Join the Virginia Department of Forestry for a slow stroll to learn to identify common trees of our area. Location: Pavilion

Citizen Science: Bees! — Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. FREE

Master Naturalist Scott Jost will teach how to contribute to global scientific research from your own backyard with your smart phone and lead a guided bee survey to see what’s buzzing in the Arboretum! Location: FPEC

Plant Sale Preview Webinar — Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. FREE

Master Gardener Keala Timko walks us through the Fall Plant Sale list to help you prepare for landscaping success! Online via Zoom

Fall Plant and Bulb Sale — Members Only Online Sale: Sept. 18 – Sept. 25/Members Only In-Person Sale: Sept. 25/Public Sale Sept. 26-October 5, excluding Sunday Sept. 28. $$

We have thousands of lovingly raised plants for your home landscape, with an emphasis on native species and native cultivars. Our friendly staff is happy to advise and answer your plant questions. Location: Ernst Tree Terrace and FPEC

Invasive Plant ID Walk — Oct. 1 at 10-11:30 a.m. FREE

Learn to identify invasive plants in the fall on a short hike with some uneven surfaces. Location: FPEC

Invasive Plant Removal Workday — Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. FREE

Volunteer alongside Blue Ridge PRISM staff to identify and remove invasive plant species from the Arboretum. Location: FPEC

Master Gardener Talks — Nov. 8 at 10:30-11:30 a.m., Dec. 13 at 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE

Topics TBA. Check our website.

Make & Take Workshops

Biochar Make & Take — Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.. FREE

Biochar is an exciting Virginia-produced product great for amending the soil. Learn and get a sample to take home to your garden. Location: FPEC

Carnivorous Terrarium — Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. $$

More information to come. Location: FPEC

Sustainable Solutions for the Home: Greener Holidays — Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. FREE

Learn how to wrap gifts with reusable materials, craft eco-friendly decorations, and discover low-waste, budget-friendly ways to spread holiday cheer. Location: FPEC

Thanksgiving Succulent Centerpiece — Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. $$

More information to come. Location: Ernst Tree Terrace

Christmas Kokedama — Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. $$

More information to come. Location: Ernst Tree Terrace

Wellness, Heath, Mindfulness

Xingyi/Bagua — Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. $$

By special arrangement with Blue Heron Healing Arts. Xingyi/Bagua is an 18th century Chinese martial art inspired by a form of Taoist meditative circle walking. Location varies.

Qigong/Taiji — Saturdays at 7:45 a.m. $$

By special arrangement with Blue Heron Healing Arts. Qigong/Taiji is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise that can improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. Location varies.

Sound Bathing — Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9 at 5:30-7 p.m. $$

By special arrangement with Sacred Valley Healing Arts. Embark on a sound journey that will relax and de-stress you and bring your whole being back into a state of harmony. Location: Ernst Tree Terrace

Songtuary — Sept. 20 at 2 -3:30 p.m. Free

A community song circle that values nature connection and community singing! All voices are welcome to learn and enjoy songs in the oral tradition. Location: Pavilion

Nature Reconnection — Sept. 20 and Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. $$

Facilitated by Annette Naber, author of Seasons of a Wild Life. Through nature activities, reflective practices, and hands-on learning, reconnect with the wisdom of the land and your own intuitive self. Location: Ernst Terrace

Mindfulness Walk — Sept. 26 from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sept. 27 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m.; Nov. 14 from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Nov. 15 from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. FREE

JMU Counseling Center will provide reflection questions to promote mindfulness as you take a walk through the Arboretum on the route of your choice. A JMU Health Passport 100 event, check in at the Frances Plecker Education Center. Location: FPEC

Forest Bathing — Sept. 29 at 1-2:30 p.m. FREE

Experience enjoyable and beneficial multi-sensory exercises on this guided walk for a positive impact to your sense of well-being. Location: Pavilion

Gratitude Walk — Nov. 9 at 10-11 a.m. FREE

Develop an attitude of gratitude to share with friends and family through a fun hour of games, gratitude exercises, and a short walk. Location: FPEC

For Kids and Families

Find out more information and register on our youth events page: https://www.jmu.edu/arboretum/events/youth-programs.shtml

Nature Journaling — Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. FREE

Record your own intentional observations of the natural world through images, words, and measurements. Expect 30 minutes of instruction/inspiration, and then journal as long as you want! Children and adults are welcome. No registration for this event. Location: Pavilion

From Waste to Wonder: Munch, Crunch, Decomposers at Lunch! — Sept. 30 from 1–1:45 p.m. FREE

Kids will learn about wiggly worms, fantastic fungi, and busy beetles break down old food and plants to keep the earth healthy before exploring a vermicompost bin and enjoying a scavenger hunt for nature’s cleanup crew. Location: Pavilion

Harvest Festival — Oct. 18 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE

Celebrate the natural world (and JMU Homecoming) with a host of fun activities for the whole family. Location: Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. Parking at R5 lot or Ballard Parking Deck.

From Waste to Wonder: Reusing Materials to Make Amazing Gifts — Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. FREE

Children will enjoy fun holiday stories and make their own one-of-a-kind craft to give to someone special. Location: FPEC

Arboretum Updates

In Focus: Stormwater Management, Education, and Future Impact

Effective stormwater management is essential to mitigating damage that threatens trees, plants, and entire ecosystems. Fortunately, for the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University (JMU), a team of dedicated professionals anticipates, monitors, and continuously improves landscapes while providing educational opportunities that enhance our learning and care for these special grounds.

In 2015, these efforts at the Arboretum received a major boost with a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry to complete the "Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Stream Restoration Project." This includes a channel with a drainage area of 480 acres and 1,400 linear feet of stream length that sends storm water into the Arboretum's Plecker Pond. Now, 10 years later, the effects of storms, erosion, and visitor traffic have taken a toll on the Arboretum's stream.

"We have responded by continuing to plant, maintaining the riparian barriers by the stream and other stormwater areas at the Arboretum. These ongoing efforts help us control stormwater and erosion, and keep pollutants out of the pond," says Megan Bell, landscaping lead at the Arboretum. Bell explains that she and her staff have planted 3,300 perennials and 50 shrubs so far this year. They plan to add 1,200-1,500 more perennials this fall to a runoff area in the recently created meadowscape on the hillside near the Sinclair Garden using native shrubs, grasses, and herbaceous perennials. "Assessing the previous stream restoration is critical toward helping us move forward," Bell says. "We continue to learn from these plants and adjust according to what works well and what does not." Some of the plants recently added to mitigate stormwater runoff at the Arboretum include:

• Iris virginica, also known as Virginia blueflag or southern blueflag, is a perennial native to eastern and central North America that thrives in wetland conditions.
• Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'): A shrub with vibrant yellow stems that grows to a height of 5-to-6 feet.
• Itea virginica is also known as Virginia willow or Virginia sweetspire. It is a smaller North American shrub that grows in low-lying woods and near wetlands.
• Chasmanthium latifolium aka river oats or North American Wild Oats is a grass species native to eastern and central North America.
• Pontederia cordata, also known as pickerelweed, is an aquatic perennial that is native to North America and thrives in freshwater shorelines.

Looking Ahead: Restoring the Stream, Increasing Educational Impact

Continuing to repair the riparian borders alongside the stream is essential to good stewardship of stormwater management. However, it's not enough. "Our future goals include another restoration of the Arboretum's stream to ensure we are most effectively managing stormwater," says Katie Rankin, director of the Arboretum. "In addition, this project will allow us to learn more about how to manage stormwater and erosion and share these findings with our visitors and with the JMU campus."

Keeping the Big Picture in Mind: The Arboretum and JMU

According to Ali Sloop, JMU’s Stormwater Coordinator, the university, including the Arboretum, is a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) comprised of roads with drainage systems, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, channels and storm drains. “The Arboretum plays a large role in meeting our educational requirements,” says Sloop. Indeed, the Arboretum is a learning laboratory for everyone from young children who learn about nature, plants and insects, to students studying environmental science, to faculty conducting research. "Our educational efforts are a critical control measure for limiting pollution and issues related to stormwater runoff."

Arboretum Hosts Hundreds of Seventh Graders for Watershed Education

Thanks to a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) collaborated with the Arboretum to expand watershed programming to the schools' entire seventh grade population, which included about 600 students in fall 2024. The students had instruction at school about Standards of Learning related to watershed health before traveling to the Arboretum to interact with our facility, staff, and volunteers to learn about and observe the watershed system at work.

Students Participated in These Watershed Activities:

• A habitat walk to construct a food web for organisms that really do live at the Arboretum.
• A game that included running down a tiered hill at the Arboretum to model the effects of deforestation on water pollution.
• An exploration of the Plecker Pond area to investigate the possible consequences of draining the pond to put in a parking lot.
• Working with modified lego models with recycled materials to attempt to reduce the amount of storm-water runoff in a model community.
• Beading bracelets to represent aspects of the nitrogen cycle.

Increasing Watershed Programming Visibility in Virginia

While she was serving at the Education Coordinator, current Arboretum Director Katie Rankin developed the 7th grade program as part of her capstone project to become a Certified Environmental Educator through the Virginia Association for Environmental Education. She presented this project at the annual VAEE conference in Roanoke, Virginia, in February 2025 to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 50 environmental educators from around the Commonwealth.

New Faces at the Arboretum

The Arboretum recently welcomed a new Education Coordinator and a new Public Relations and Marketing Specialist.

Kelli Hertzler, Education Coordinator

John Wallace, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist