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Species of the Month
Outdoor Education Internship
Woodland Skipper Butterflies
Become a Nature Guide
Goal #6 of our Strategic Plan
Summer Club
Upcoming Events
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Fire Season is Upon Us
Fire danger is very high. Help us protect the Arboretum by taking extra care to prevent fire. Absolutely no smoking, barbecues, fires, or fireworks on site.
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Apply to our Outdoor Education Internship
Want to share your love of nature? Our Outdoor Education Interns develop understanding of local ecology and lead small groups of elementary aged children in nature-based outdoor lessons.
Apply by August 22nd.
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White Oak Pavilion, Now Booking 2027!
Getting married, hosting a party, or looking for a retreat space in 2025, 2026, or 2027? Dates are filling up fast to book our White Oak Pavilion, so reach out now to reserve your spot in this unforgettable venue.
To book or learn more, please email
events@mountpisgaharboretum.org
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Insect Insights: Woodland Skipper Butterflies
"Woodland Skippers are fairly common this time of year, and are recognizable from their fighter-jet wing profile."
Learn more about Woodland Skippers in our latest Insect Insights blog by Karen Richards.
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Explore the Arboretum on a Track Chair!
We are proud to host two all-terrain track chairs through the organization David's Chair. They are free to use and can be reserved in advance through our website or by calling our office.
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Species of the Month
Tarweed
If you've walked through the Arboretum recently you likely noticed a distinct, summery smell. The source of the smell? Tarweed.
Tarweed (Madia elegans) is a native flowering annual in the family Asteraceae, it's also commonly known as common madia.
- Tarweed gets its name from the strong-smelling resin it exudes, resulting in it's sticky stem.
- The resin is thought to slow water loss, helping the plant stay green and flowering late into the season.
- Descriptions and feelings about the distinct smell vary wildly, from pleasant to unpleasant and sweet to "like paint-thinner". The smell is a frequent, contentious discussion topic around the Arboretum this time of year.
- Tarweed is a focus of cultural and prescribed burns by indigenous peoples across the west coast. Fire burns away the sticky coating from tarweed's seed pods, making them easier to harvest and process into flour. Burning also increases tarweed's seed production the following year.
- Tarweed is a host of the assassin bug, which preys on other insects that get caught on the sticky resin. The assassin bug may even work with the plant to keep other insects from injuring it.
Images by August Jackson
| Introducing Goal #6 of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan |
Mount Pisgah Arboretum will Develop Facilities that Enhance the Visitor Experience.
Desired Outcomes
- The venue attracts consistent event rentals, contributing to increased community engagement and revenue.
- Site hosts ADA-compliant facilities.
- Visitors easily navigate the Arboretum with improved signage.
- Capitol investments are maintained and expanded.
- Visitors feel safer and more secure.
- Caretaker's house is functional and habitable.
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A Few More Weeks of Fun!
There are a few open spots in our final weeks of Summer Club, sign your kids up now.
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Become a Nature Guide!
Volunteers needed! Nature Guide Volunteers are trained in local ecology, working with kids, plant & animal ID, and more!
Orientation Night
Tuesday, September 9th 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
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Forest Ecology Workshop Series
This is a three-part workshop presented by Rich Kelly, a retired forester, long time Arboretum member, and nature guide.
Ecological Communities - Field Studies
Saturday, August 2nd 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
In this session, you will discuss the characteristics of the major plant communities at the Arboretum, complete field studies to collection site, biotic, and environmental data in the communities and compare the results.
Trees & Forests - Carbon Pools
Saturday, September 20th 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
In this session, you will explore how trees take in carbon dioxide as they grow and how forests can store large amounts of carbon, sequestering it from the atmosphere. This workshop includes site visits to assess the carbon pools at the Arboretum, analyze the carbon stores and processes, and a look at how forests can capture carbon and mitigate climate change.
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Upcoming Nature Tours
All guided tours start at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum Education Building. Pre-registration is required. Members and kids under 4 are FREE, Non-Members $5 per person.
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August Bird Tour
Sunday, August 10th 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Join Mieko Aoki and Julia Siporin for another monthly bird outing intended for people with all levels of birding experience. We’ll use vocalizations, habitat, and behavior clues for identification of our breeding population and year-round residents.
Insect Tour
Sunday, August 24th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Open your eyes to the fascinating world of insects on a tour led by insect-enthusiast and Mount Pisgah blog author Karen Richards. We’ll look into the incredible adaptations of some creatures you may recognize, and no doubt learn about some lesser-known insects as well. Every insect tour is a mini-safari!
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Upcoming Work Parties
Become a steward of the Arboretum by helping us improve and maintain our facilities and habitat during our Work Parties!
During Work Parties, volunteers help us keep our trails, facilities, and park clean, accessible, and beautiful! No experience is required to volunteer on these days, and we will provide tools, gloves, and a parking pass.
For all our work parties, we will meet at the bottom of the parking lot near the shop (the string of buildings at the bottom of the lot) at 9 AM.
Summertime Wildflower Garden Maintenance
Saturday, August 16th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
AND Saturday, August 23rd 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Help us clean up the Patricia Baker Wildflower Garden. We will be laying down new mulch, removing woody material, sheet mulching future planting beds, and removing undesired plant species!
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Get Involved
Want to make a difference in other ways? We are always looking for nature guides, trail stewards, park ambassador volunteers, and many other roles. Let's talk about how you can get involved with the Arboretum.
Learn more about some of the opportunities here.
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