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Species of the Month
Wildflower Festival
Summer Club
Goal #2 of our Strategic Plan
Hiring Summer Education Interns
Summer Celebration & Annual Meeting
Upcoming Events
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We're Hiring Summer Outdoor Education Interns
Get your application in by June 12th
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White Oak Pavilion Booking for 2025 AND 2026!
Getting married, hosting a party, or looking for a retreat space in 2025 or 2026? 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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Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Wildflower Festival Art Installation
Read about the Labyrinth art installation by the artist herself, Julia Siporin.
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In Case You Missed it, Spring Tree Time is Out Now!
We recently sent out the Spring issue of our print newsletter "Tree Time", check it out now!
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Species of the Month
Camas Pocket Gopher
The Camas Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bulbivorus), also known as the Willamette Valley Gopher, is a small rodent species found only in the Willamette Valley.
- Camas Pocket Gophers have external cheek pockets used to gather and transport food. Their cheek pockets have their own sets of muscles, including sphincters that control the opening and closing of the pouches.
- Camas Pocket Gophers do eat camas bulbs, as their name implies, but dandelion greens are their primary food source and also a bedding material.
- They have large incisors that specifically adapted to dig through our hard, dense clay soil.
- Pocket Gophers are frequently viewed as pests because of their impacts on lawns and agriculture, but they have a positive impact on ecosystem health providing benefits including aerating the soil, dispersing seeds, lessening soil erosion, fertilizing, and creating habitats for other creatures.
- They create complex systems of tunnels that feature ventilation ducts and small room-like caches for specific uses (see a burrow diagram below).
- Their tunnel systems have been found to be up to 240 meters!
- A number of other native and non-native species like voles, chipmunks, skunks, mice, and rabbits also use the tunnel systems created by the Camas Pocket Gopher.
- Look for signs of the Camas Pocket Gopher on your next visit to the Arboretum!
Image via Ian Silvernail, Institute for Applied Ecology
| Diagram via Philg88; Wikimedia Foundation |
Thanks for an Incredible 2025 Wildflower Festival
What a fantastic day! So many community members came out to celebrate local ecology, exploring and enjoying the more than 250 wildflowers on display, local crafts and nonprofits, delicious eats, nature tours, kids activities, educational talks, art installations, and music acts.
We welcomed a record number of new members at this year's Wildflower Festival, thank you for joining the Arboretum family.
A sincere thank you to our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who attended, this event wouldn't be possible without all of you.
Stay tuned for next year's Wildflower Festival and our fall Mushroom Festival!
| Introducing Goal #2 of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan |
Mount Pisgah Arboretum will deepen our engagement with diverse populations.
Desired Outcomes
- Regular engagement with community partner organizations strengthens relationships and expands collaborative opportunities.
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities actively engage with and feel represented in Arboretum initiatives.
- Staff and Board are well-trained in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.
- Visitors experience the Arboretum as an accessible and inclusive environment for diverse abilities.
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Summer Club Spots are Filling Up!
Check out the full list of themes and sign up now to get your perfect spot.
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Summer Celebration & Annual Meeting
Sunday, June 29th 2:00-5:00pm
Enjoy a June afternoon at the Arboretum with refreshments, live music, and lawn games.
Hear a little about what we've been up to over the last year, elect Board members, honor volunteers, and help us raise funds to buy a much-needed new tractor!
This event is free and open to all members, supporters, and fans of the Arboretum - so bring your family and friends! Only members may vote in Board elections.
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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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Insect Tour
Saturday, June 7th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Open your eyes to the fascinating world of insects on a tour led by insect-enthusiast and Mt. 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.
June Bird Tour
Sunday, June 8th 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Join Mieko Aoki and Julia Siporin for another monthly bird tour intended for people with all levels of birding experience. We’ll use vocalizations, habitat, and behavior clues for identification of our year-round residents and spring migrants. Come discover the Arboretum’s avian diversity.
Dragonflies & Allies: Nurturely Family Tour
Saturday, June 14th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Big, small, colorful and acrobatic, dragonflies and their look-alikes are fascinating creatures. Together we will explore our aquatic habitats to delve into the world of these winged wonders.
Mindful Meandering
Sunday, June 22nd 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Listen….Can you hear the whispered request from your whole being to slow down and be held by the exquisite beauty and kindness of Nature? Join Julia Siporin in this 3-hour retreat where luxurious time will be spent sitting quietly in guided meditations, meandering in silence, and opening the senses to the lush splendor of Mount Pisgah Arboretum.
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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.
Water Garden Graveling
Saturday, June 7th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
AND Saturday, June 21st 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
During this Work Party, help us resurface our trails with gravel to help improve access within the Arboretum.
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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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