Spring 2024

Spring will be here before you know it and we offer a little bit of something for everyone!

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. Connecticut College is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy community. Some programs require registration to confirm your spot. Email arbor@conncoll.edu if you need assistance.

 

Vernal Pools Walk

Saturday, March 16, 9:00-11:00 AM

$10 / FREE Members (Arboretum and CT Audubon Society); registration required 

Each spring, as snow melts and temperatures rise, vernal pools come to life! Many amphibian species rely on vernal pools for breeding, and unique plants and insects can be found in these seasonal wetlands as well. Join the CT Audubon Society's RTP Estuary Center to search the vernal pools that dot the Connecticut College Arboretum and look in the other wetland habitats on the property for amphibians, birds, insects, and more!
 

Be(e) a Smart Native Plant Shopper

Saturday, March 16, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Meet in New London Hall, classroom 101

FREE; No registration required 

With spring plant sales and planting season just around the corner, this program will help you find the right native plants for your garden.  Learn the importance of ecoregion and ecotypes with Lydia Pan, President Mountain Laurel Chapter, then participate in discussion around the use of native cultivars (natives) versus straight species. We will provide guidance on how to talk with plant retailers to ensure that their plants are safe for pollinators and wildlife.  We want to hear about your experiences, good and bad.  There will be plenty of time for your questions and conversation.
 

The Art and Science of Pruning

Saturday, March 30, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meet in New London Hall, classroom 101

$20 / $10 Members (Arboretum); Advance registration required 

Trees and shrubs thrive with judicious pruning. This workshop will cover what, when, how and why to prune. Topics covered will include training young trees and shrubs to avoid future problems, renovating overgrown shrubs and pruning hedges. After a brief lecture inside, participants will go outside to view pruning demonstrations on campus plantings. With Jim Luce, retired grounds supervisor and Anna Fialkoff, Arboretum horticulturist.
 
 

Orchids for Beginners

Thursday, April 18, 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Meet in New London Hall, botany lab 112

$20 / $10 Members (Arboretum); Advance registration required 

Growing orchids in your home can be easy and rewarding with their long-lasting flowers. Participants will learn about several types of orchids that make good houseplants, their light and water requirements, and how to get them to re-bloom. Tour the Connecticut College greenhouse orchid collection, and take part in a repotting demo. Registrants are invited bring in their own plants to learn how to repot or diagnose plant problems.
 

Annual Wildflower Walk

Friday, May 3, 12:15-1:00 PM
Meet at Arboretum entrance which is located at approximately 830 Williams Street

FREE, No registration required 

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. Enjoy a 45-minute walk through the Wildflower Garden and learn about our ephemeral treasures.

 

Spring Bird Walk

Saturday, May 11, 9:00-11:00 AM

$10 / FREE Members (Arboretum and CT Audubon Society); registration required 

Spring is one of the most exciting times to be a birder in Connecticut, as many species make their northbound migration back to their breeding grounds from their wintering grounds further south. The diversity of habitats in the Connecticut College Arboretum offers important stopover sites for these birds to rest and refuel. Join Joe Attwater from the CT Audubon Society's RTP Estuary Center and search for warblers, vireos, swallows, and more! 
 
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
 

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.