Each month we offer a variety of programs to inspire, teach and engage. All Connecticut College Arboretum programs are open to the public and many of our programs are free or available at a discounted rate with membership and for current Connecticut College students. Some programs require registration to confirm your spot. Email arbor@conncoll.edu if you need assistance.

Connecticut College is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy community. 

 

Free Guided Tours

Free guided tours at the Connecticut College Arboretum begin in May.
Tours start at 10 a.m. on the first and second Sunday of each month from May thru October.
Our free guided tours are open to the public and pre-registration is not required. 

Native Plant Collection (1st Sunday of the month)

Tours of the Native Plant Collection meet at the entrance gate to the Native Plant Collection located on Williams Street across from the Williams Street entrance to the Connecticut College main campus.

Tour dates: 

May 4
June 1
July 6
August 3
September 7
October 5

Caroline Black Garden (2nd Sunday of the month)

Tours of the Caroline Black Garden meet at the entrance to the Caroline Black Garden located on behind the Vinal Cottage across Mohegan Avenue from the main entrance to the Connecticut College campus. Access to the parking area behind Vinal Cottage is located at 4 Winchester Avenue.

Tour dates: 

May 11
June 8
July 13
August 10
September 14
October 12

 

 

Growing Native Orchids

DATE: Saturday, April 12, 2025
TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This presentation introduces participants to the fundamentals of northeast native orchid cultivation, including habitat requirements, propagation methods, and conservation principles. Attendees will learn how to create and sustain orchid-friendly environments in their own landscapes.  

Instructor Ana Bermudez is a botany major, environmental studies minor, and scholar in the Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment. Originally from Miami, Florida, Ana has worked with tropical orchids at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s micropropagation laboratory where she researched native lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.). Using this knowledge, Ana has been creating a native orchid demonstration garden at the Connecticut College Arboretum.
 
This program is being offered in partnership with the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones. Current members of the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones may attend this program for free.
  
Registration required.
Space is limited.

COST: $10 -or- FREE for current members of the Connecticut College Arboretum or Wild Ones Mountain Laurel Chapter. 

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Dividing Perennials

DATE: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
TIME: 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Connecticut College Arboretum Horticulturist, Anna Fialkoff, leads a workshop to identify perennials that can be divided in the spring and the methods for dividing different species. This will be an outdoors, hands-on workshop dividing perennials in the planting beds outside the New London Hall Greenhouse. Participants will be able to take home selected divisions to add to their own garden!  
 
Registration required.
Space is limited.

COST: $30 -or- $25 for current Connecticut College Arboretum Members. 

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Images of trees with information about the Connecticut College Arboretum Arbor Day event  

ARBOR DAY

DATE: Friday, April 25, 2025
TIME: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Come celebrate trees with us!

Free tours, educational display and other activities!

Visit our Arbor Day Event Page for full schedule.

 

 

 

Annual Wildflower Walk

DATE: Friday, May 2, 2025
TIME: 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

On a slope just south of the Laurel Walk lies the Edgerton and Stengel Wildflower Garden, containing over 75 species of wildflowers. Some of the flowers you can expect to see include: Jack-in-the-pulpit, Virginia Blue Bells, Wild Geranium, Solomon’s Seal and Trillium. Join Connecticut College Arboretum Director Maggie Redfern on a 45-minute walk through the Wildflower Garden and learn about our ephemeral treasures.
 
Registration requested.
Space is limited.

COST: FREE! 

 

REGISTER HERE

 

 

  Logo for New London Trees

New London Tree Walk from A to Z

DATE: Saturday, May 10, 2025
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Join Maggie Redfern, Connecticut College Arboretum Director and President of New London Trees, for a walk to learn about the trees of New London!

Within downtown New London there’s everything from Acer to Zelkova. Urban trees provide a range of benefits from environmental to social. Learn to identify some of the more common and most unusual specimens on the downtown streets and parks. This tour is for anyone interested in nature in the city. 
 
Meet in front of the Public Library of New London at 63 Huntington Street.
 
This program is hosted in partnership with New London Trees. 
 
Registration requested.

COST: FREE!  

 

REGISTER HERE

  Wild Ones logo

Gardening with Moss, Ferns and their Cronies in Stony New England Landscapes

DATE: Saturday, May 10, 2025
TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. -- Wild Ones Social hour starts at 10 a.m.

Moss gardening has been popular in Asia for millenia, but if you Google "moss" you will mostly find recommendations on the best ways to kill it!  Master Gardener Steve Colgan believes that moss can be an element of almost any garden or landscape and will talk about practical aspects of moss gardening with how-to's and don't-do's.  He will also give some consideration to lichen, ferns and other lower vascular plants that feel comfortable in moss-friendly environments. 

For more information on this program click HERE.
 
This program is hosted in partnership with Wild Ones. 
 
Prior to the program, attendees are welcome to join Wild Ones for a social hour with coffee, tea and light refreshments starting at 10 a.m.
 
Registration requested.

COST: FREE!  

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Logo of the Connecticut Audubon Society

2025 Migration Magic Birding Walk

DATE: Saturday, May 10, 2025
TIME: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Connecticut College Arboretum provides an urban oasis for migrating songbirds with its diverse habitats. We’ll look for the songbirds that sing from the forests, swallows foraging over the pond and wetlands, and more. The walk will be approximately 1-1.5 miles on level dirt and grassy terrain.

For more information on this program and other CT Audubon Society Migration Magic events click HERE.
 
This program is hosted in partnership with CT Audubon Society. 
 
Registration required.
 
Space is limited.

COST: $10 -or- FREE for members of the Connecticut College Arboretum or CT Audubon Society  

NOTE: Registration is handled through the CT Audubon Society. The registration link below will bring you to their registration page for this program. 

REGISTER HERE

 

Native Deciduous Azaleas

DATE: Saturday, May 17, 2025
TIME: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Nancy Moss Fine Azalea Garden displays 18 different types indigenous to eastern North America. At least one species can be found in bloom from late April through mid-August. Join Mary Villa, retired Connecticut College Arboretum curator, for a tour of the collection that coincides with what we anticipate to be peak bloom time, so you are sure to experience the variety of fragrance and color.

Registration required.

Space is limited.

COST: $10 -or- FREE for members of the Connecticut College Arboretum 

REGISTER HERE

 

  Poster for the Connecticut College Arboretum's Music in the Meadow concert

 

2025
Music in the Meadow

DATE: Friday, May 30, 2025
GATE OPENS: 6:00 p.m.
MUSIC STARTS: 6:30 p.m.

$10 per person -or- $20 per family of up to 4 people 

 

 

Visit us on facebook @ConnecticutCollegeArboretum to stay up to date on our programs and events. To receive advance notice of programs you can sign up to get our monthly email newsletter on the Arboretum home page. You don't have to be a member to receive notifications but we would appreciate your support of becoming a member if you are not one already.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER.