April 2026 Arboretum News

Annual Meeting: Thanks to all who attended, to speakers Lynda Mapes and Trevor Cameron, and to our board members who organized the program, helped set up the hall--and then cleaned up after it was all over. We look forward to a productive year and to seeing you again in March 2027.

Spring Fest is Coming: Join us April 18th from 10 a.m. to noon to plant snapdragons

What's not to love about snapdragons? They come in a variety of beautiful colors, are associated with strength and grace because of their ability to thrive in harsh environments. And they look like little dragon heads when the flowers are squeezed. How fun is that?

Bring the kids and help us plant these colorful flowers by the entry area. Enjoy a snapdragon craft, take a snapdragon home to plant, and be sure to return in June to see them in bloom.

April Perennial Path: Spring Bloomers

Saturday, April 11: Master Gardener and Arboretum board member Lee Borgatta highlights spring bloomers as she kicks off this year's walk and talk series with a stroll through the Master Gardener border.

Class is from noon to 1 p.m. and free to the public. No registration necessary. Dress for the weather.

Just Planted Behind the Kiosk

Sometimes a tree just gets too big for its container. That happened to this Cryptomeria japonica Elegans Aurea whose common name is plume cedar or plume cryptomeria. Its roots had grown through its container and into the ground. We hope it survives the trauma and thrives in its new home!

Check Out Kids' Corner in the Kiosk

Education committee chair Hap Wertheimer and volunteer Sonia Daines have been adding child-friendly content to both the website and our kiosk. If you're planning a trip to the Arboretum with children, be sure to check out both our new online content and the activity sheets and maps in the kiosk.

We'll be making the kiosk corner more visually interesting soon, but for now it's out there to make your child's visit to the Arboretum both educational and fun.

And since we're talking about child-friendly features, look for the new story in the book walk. We plan to install it on April Fool's Day.

I (that's me--Eileen, your editor) recently attended the Master Gardeners Spring Lecture by Bess Bronstein. Her talk focused on plants that demand less of us physically as we age and that thrive as our climate changes. She left us with this thought: "Find something joyful in your garden every day."

I know I have a tendency to look at what needs doing rather than focusing on what's beautiful now--both in my home garden and at the Arboretum. I am going to take Bess's command to heart, and I hope you will, too.

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