"Summer specializes in time, slows it down almost to a dream." - Jennifer Grotz

Once-a-month Open Garden Saturday

September 21, 9:00AM - 2:00PM

Come for our last Open Garden Saturday of the year, September 21st! Hours from 9AM-2PM with a garden tour at 11AM. Please call 617-333-0924 to schedule a visit.

Plant Propagation Class

September 28th, 10:00AM-12:00PM

Learn the basics of woody plant propagation with staff members, Debbie Merriam and Ellen Scheid and take home your own propagule! This class will be part of a series, stay tuned for the following courses.

NAOM Climbing Competition

October 4th-6th

We are honored to be hosting the North American Open Masters this year. Arborists from all around the world will be challenged with multiple technical climbs in some of our most impressive arboretum specimens. We are welcoming the public to attend the event at the arboretum on October 5th 9:00AM to 4:00PM! Register here.

October Family Fest 2024

October 26th 2:00PM-5:00PM

We had so much fun last year we wanted to invite everyone back for another October Family Fest. This year we will be having music by Slow Boat Home, beer, vegetable races, pumpkin carving and kids games. Sign up here!

Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens Executive Director Tom Smarr and Wakefield Executive Director Debbie Merriam discussing Landscape Management strategies.

Vaughan Woods and Historic Homestead property manager, Dan Mitchell and groundskeeper, Cindy Gilbert visit the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum to discuss the preservation of a historic site.

Exchanging Ideas with Staff from other Arboreta and Botanic Gardens

Staff members from The Vaughan Homestead in Maine and the Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens in Pennsylvania visited the Wakefield Arboretum this week to exchange ideas about everything from historic preservation, to programming, to landscape management plans. These opportunities are highly valued by staff members of both organizations.

Pressed Flower Fun!

On August 14, we had our second pressed flower workshop and were joined by many folks excited to create beautiful art! We look forward to having more pressed flower workshops in the future, hopefully we will see you there!

Second Open Garden Saturday!

August 17th started out gray but once the sun came out we had numerous visitors wandering around the arboretum. If you have missed our first two Saturdays, do not worry! We have one more scheduled for September 21st!

Staff Note

This summer the gardens are so full of brilliant colors and textures. Spring and summer rains have allowed many plants to flourish. The seed crop for the fall is also looking plentiful with American beautyberry, sapphire-berry and maple fruit ripening up slowly. This fall we are adding a new set of programs related to propagation. Propagation was Polly Wakefield's specialty so it is only fitting to offer these classes at The Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum. The first class is propagation of broadleaf evergreens, the second is seed collecting and propagation. The third class is grafting and will be held in the spring. We hope you will join us!

Debbie Merriam

Executive Director

Become a Wakefield Arboretum Member

Your membership supports educational programs connecting youth and adults with land and history and our work to create a living and accessible landscape.

IMPORTANT DATES

at a glance:

September 21st, 9AM Once-a-month Open Garden Saturday

September 28th, 10:00AM Plant Propagation Series. Register Here

October 4th-6th, NAOM Climbing Competition. Register Here

October 26th, 2:00PM October Family Fest. Register Here

Plan a visit soon!

Take a walk through the gardens and enjoy the scenery.

The Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum is open weekdays 7AM-3PM (except holidays) during regular business hours, by appointment. Garden tour every Wednesday at 11AM.

To schedule a visit, call 617-333-0924 or email: arboretum@dogwoodlanefarm.org.