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Mushroom Festival
Ladybird Flies
Site Internship
Upcoming Events
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Fire Season Continues
Despite our recent rain, fire danger continues. 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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White Oak Pavilion, Now Booking 2027!
Getting married, hosting a party, or looking for a retreat space in 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: Gymnosoma Flies
"Late summer is the time to find what the British call Ladybird Flies. If you disregard the head and wings of this fly, it looks remarkably like a lady beetle, right down to the white patches behind the round little beetle’s eyes, which are represented by the coverings of the fly’s halteres, or vestigial wings..."
Learn more about Gymnosoma flies in our latest Insect Insights blog by Karen Richards.
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Are You our Next Site Intern?
Become our next site intern and build experience with habitat restoration, trail and park maintenance, plant identification, land stewardship, and all sorts of facilities projects. Our interns have fun and are eligible for credit.
Apply by September 22nd.
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Prepare for the Season: Test Your Mushroom Knowledge
We've been enjoying this quiz as a way to brush up our mushroom identification skills, how many can you ID?
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In-Kind Wishlist
Cardboard
Support our site team by dropping off any spare cardboard at our onsite office.
Baked goods for Mushroom Festival Set Up Volunteers
Help fuel our team of dedicated volunteers as we set up for festival! Drop off baked goods (or other snack donations) to the Arboretum office on the afternoon/evening on Thursday, October 23rd or in the morning on Friday, October 24th.
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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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Mushroom Festival 2025
Sunday, October 26th 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
We're hard at work preparing for the Mushroom Festival and it's looking to be another fantastic year.
Curious about what the festival has to offer? Read about last year's event from Cascade Mycological Society.
Tickets go on sale next Friday, September 26th! Arboretum members get free festival tickets, become a member anytime before the festival and get in free (you'll also get free tickets to our Spring Wildflower Festival, plus more perks)!
| Enter the Scarecrow Contest |
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The Scarecrows are Do-It-Yourself and must be kid-friendly. This is a public event and any entry that is deemed offensive, inappropriate, religious, or political will not be permitted.
- Themes as follows:
- Laughing Stalk (Funniest)
- Strawful Sight (Scariest)
- Hanging with the ghoul kids (Youth ages 12 and under)
- Out-standing-in-its-field (Best overall)
- We are happy to provide you with hay.
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Set up the Saturday before the festival (October 25th) bring your scarecrow to the Arboretum from 10am-1pm. Set them on designated posts in "scarecrow alley" (the lawn area behind the Pavilion).
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Day-of the festival: your scarecrows should already be set up and viewable to Festival attendees who will vote throughout the day. The winners of the contest will be announced during the Festival as well as emailed and called the week after for prize pick up!
To enter, email education@mountpisgaharboretum.org with your name(s), email address, and phone number.
Remember: have a gourd time!
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Volunteer at the Festival
Volunteering is filling up fast! Sign up now if you want to help. Festival volunteers get free entry and a poster!
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Forest Ecology Workshop Series
This workshop series is presented by Rich Kelly, a retired forester, long time Arboretum member, and nature guide.
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 will include site assessments of 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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Equinox Watercolor and Creative Writing Workshop
Wednesday, September 24th 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Celebrate the magic of the autumn equinox with a creative and reflective family-friendly workshop lead by Clara-Julia Peru! Together, we’ll explore the beauty of native plants as they transition with the season, using watercolor painting and creative writing to connect with nature in a meaningful way. Whether you’re a budding artist, a curious writer, or simply looking for a unique way to spend time in nature, this workshop offers a welcoming space to create, reflect, and celebrate the equinox together.
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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
Sunday, September 21st 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!
Oak Gall Tour
Sunday, October 5th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Among the branches and leaves of our oaks exists a complex and bizarre world that is easy to overlook. Join the Arboretum's environmental educator, Kevin House, for an exploration of galls and the organisms that induce them.
Spider Spotting: Family Tour
Saturday, October 11th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Spider Spotting: What eight legs, many eyes, and a knack for catching flies?- it must be our friend the Spider! Together we will scout the Arboretum for signs of various spider species, and make a spider-inspired craft! Framed for kids & their chaperones.
October Bird Tour
Sunday, October 12th 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 year-round residents and fall migrants.
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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.
All work parties meet at the bottom of the parking lot near the shop (just passed the bright orange trailer) at 9 AM.
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Accessible Trail Resurfacing Project - United Way Days of Caring
Thursday, September 25th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Help Mount Pisgah Arboretum keep our most loved paths accessible, attractive, and safe for all visitors! Project volunteers will help load, haul, spread and rake out trail surfacing materials (gravel for this event) on some of our most used trails.
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Water Garden Trail Resurfacing
Saturday, October 11th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Join us is resurfacing our trails, we will be moving gravel and brushing trail edges.
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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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