2013 Calendar of Annual Events

Updated: February 8, 2013

  • February 4-14, 2013, Valentine's Day Online Indoor Blooming Plant Sale, Shop in advance from the arboretum website, from a selection of blooming potted plants. Order online and pick up in the *FPEC for your Valentine that can be enjoyed all growing season long.
  • February 10 and 14, 2013, Valentine's Day Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Sunday before Valentine's Day, 1:00-4:00 pm, and Thursday, 4-8 pm, Romantic horse drawn carriage rides by moonlight on Valentine's Day, afternoon rides the Sunday before. Advance reservations recommended.
  • February 13, 2013, Winter Miniature Landscapes Workshop, noon – 1:30 pm, An annual workshop creating a desktop, coffee table, or window sill miniature landscape with Pam Shank owner of Landscapes in Miniature. Register to make your own “wee world”. $35 fee. Visit the arboretum website for details and to register online.
  • February 14, 2013, Valentine's Day Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Thursday, 4-8 pm, Romantic horse drawn carriage rides by moonlight on Valentine's Day, afternoon rides the Sunday before Valentine's Day, 1:00-4:00 pm, advance reservations required.
  • February 26, 2013 Frances Litten Invitational Memorial Dinner, 5:30-7:00 pm, Festival Ballroom, Tuesday by invitation only, a gathering of EJC Arboretum friends, donors, faculty, volunteers and staff past and present gather with Litten family members, honoring the legacy and memory of colleague and friend, Frances Litten, educator, flower show judge, and early Arboretum Board Member and volunteer. Lecture presenters' book and prints sales and signing 5:00-5:30 pm.
  • February 26, 2013, Frances Litten Lecture, Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secret Lives of Everyday Trees, 7:00-8:30 pm. No registration needed. Tuesday, Nancy Ross Hugo, author of Remarkable Trees of Virginia, will speak about her new book Seeing Trees, and share her passion for seeing the intricate beauty of their under-appreciated structures. Using images captured by and co-lecturing with fine art photographer, Robert Llewellyn, the evening includes a slide show that will be perhaps the most beautiful images the Litten Lecture Series has yet offered with pictures that, rather than focusing on the statuesque grandeur of trees, reveal their intimate beauty. Book and print sales and signing at close of lecture. Festival Conference Center,
  • March 5, 12, 19, 2013, Bonsai Workshop, noon - 1:00 each session, Arboretum Grounds Manager and Bonsai Master, Mike Hott, attend in the FPEC to create a ‘wee-tree' to enjoy at home or office. $35 fee covers all materials inclusive to create a Bonsai tree. Or $12 fee for final session only for “wee- tree tune-ups” for prior workshop members.
  • March 17, 2013 St. Patrick's Day Dinner Lecture Sunday afternoon, 1:00-3:00 pm, offered annually on date St. Patrick's Day falls; enjoy Irish cuisine and brew, and a virtual botanical tour to a new region of the globe with a guest lecturer each year. A per person cost each year covers 3-course dinner, tax, tip, beverages, and a libation of choice. Advanced reservations required seven days in advance. To reserve, call (540) 568-3194., 1:00 pm cash bar opens, dinner served 1:30 pm, lecture 2:00 pm, *FPEC
  • March 17, 2013, St Patrick's live Highland Pipes, Sunday afternoon, free public performance 3:00-4:00 pm, from the lawn area of the arboretum, live performance by piper Fred Holbrook of Massanetta Springs Conference Center.
  • March 23, 2013, Easter Egg Hunt, 11:00 am, for young children with the Theta Nu Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, Saturday, pre-registration required. Contact the Executive Board of the Theta Nu Chapter to register your child. The egg hunt will start in the Pavilion. Cost per child information available at registration at Theta Nu website 30 days before event date. http://www.jmu.edu/multicultural/icgc/chapters/zeta_phi_beta.shtml
  • March 27, 2013, Birding Workshop, In partnership with the Rockingham Bird Club, an avifauna notable and photographer of Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley avian species Diane Lepkowski, lectures on songbirds to raptors, giving an annual spring lecture and forum discussion in the *FPEC, noon to 1:30 pm, This workshop partners with guided birding trail walks in April or May.
  • March 31, 2013, Easter Sunrise Service, JMU RISE hosts the annual inter-denominational Easter Sunrise Worship Service, 6:00 am at the arboretum on the main lawn.
  • April 2, 3, and 4, 2013, Spring Children's Art Workshop, either 10-12:00, or 1:00-3:00 pm, in the Frances Plecker Education Center, (FPEC), the Tues, Wed, and Thurs workshop offers children's education on plant identification as well as basic botanical drawing, all materials included in a $35 cover charge. Advance online registration needed.
  • April, 3 & 10, 2013, Annual Daffodil Walks Wednesdays at 10:00 am, Arboretum Exploration Series Tours with the Arboretum Director, enjoying over 50 varieties on exhibit at the EJC Arboretum. Walks meet at the Pavilion. No advance registration.
  • April 6, 2013, Guided Bird Walk, led by a birding expert in partnership with the Rockingham Bird Club, 8:00 a.m. meets in the Pavilion.
  • April 7, 2013, Campus Cookies Easter Egg Hunt for JMU students, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, Sunday, 1-4:00 pm, Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life, JAC card required, JMU students with JAC cards search for hidden Easter eggs holding valuable coupons and discounts to area merchants and a free cookie from Campus Cookies!
  • April 14, 2013, A Latte` Jive, Alzheimer's Benefit 5K Run and Concert, Sunday, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Sigma Kappa sponsors an annual 5k benefit for the Central and Western Virginia Chapter of the American Alzheimer's Association, on the arboretum grounds, "A Walk You’ll Remember!" with live music at the 5k conclusion, and runners cool down and enjoy coffee, decaf, tea, and water served free compliments JMU Catering. Automatic rain date April 7 announcement to post on Sigma Kappa website, jmu.sigmakappa.org
  • April 19 & 20, 2013, Arbor Day Trees and Native Plant Sale, 9:00 am -3:00 pm in the parking lot of the *FPEC, with an on-line list of plants offered at the sale. In the prime time of spring, the Arboretum offers a wide selection of wildflowers, contrasting foliage plants like native ferns, with unusual shrubs and trees. To honor those who educate youth, city and county public school teachers receive 15% off tree purchases presenting a school ID!
  • April to October 15, 2013, Walk-Up Plant Sale, Beginning in mid April, and projected to continue until the first hard frost in the region which will be about mid October. Shop from a selection usually currently in bloom natives, exotics and cultivars perennials, shrubs, and trees at the *FPEC
  • April to October 15, 2013, Private Greenhouse Shopping by Appointment, Beginning in mid April, and projected to continue until the first hard frost in the region which will be about mid October. Shop from the entire greenhouse inventory of natives, exotics and cultivars perennials, shrubs, and trees, by advance appointment only, with $50 minimum purchase required. Call (540) 568-3194, or visit the arboretum website to schedule the appointment.
  • April 20-27, 2013, Virginia Historic Garden Week at the EJC Arboretum: starting at the *FPEC, Arboretum grounds are open free to public, dawn to dusk. Tours will be led by Jan Sievers Mahon, Arboretum Director and will focus on the arboretum's bulb collection, wildflowers and flowering shrubs and trees. Tours will start at the Frances Plecker Education Center. Preregistration is not needed
    • Historic Garden Week tour, April 25, 1:00 pm
    • April 22, 2013, Earth Day Wildflower Walk, 10:00 am
  • April 23-26, 2013, Virginia Arbor Day Elementary School Gift Tree Planting Ceremonies: Public school students, faculty, staff and parents gather for an Arbor Day observation and ceremony, to plant a tree at their school and learn about the value of greening Harrisonburg's public school campuses, as the EJC Arboretum grows into its' community. 2013, Thomas Harrison Middle School hosts this event. Contact Educator, Greg Corder, STEM Academy. (Schools can apply to be selected for a tree planting ceremony by emailing the Education Coordinator on the arboretum website Contact Us page.)
  • April 26, 2013, Arbor Day in Virginia event is the Virginia Native Trees Tour, with the Arboretum Director, at 1:00 pm meets at the *FPEC
  • April 27, 2013, Wildflower Walk with The Virginia Native Plant Society Saturday, 10:00 am, VNPS docent tour guide and wildflower aficionado, starting in the FPEC
  • April 28, 2013, third annual RMH Hospice Butterfly Picnic, noon to 3:00 pm, grieving families and individuals may bring a brown bag picnic and participate. Share in the beauty of a butterfly release, a walk to remember, and live music. For more info, contact RMH Hospice Bereavement Coordinator at (540) 433-4430, or email: Andree.jeannotte.7133@rhcc.com
  • May 2013, Annual Spring Notable Wildflowers Field Trip, destination to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum each spring to a new wild regional location, dress for an expedition to view wildflower species in their natural setting with a Virginia Native Plant Society Member, Arboretum Board Member, or Arboretum Director or as guide. Register in advance. Participants meet at destination. For details at (540)568-3194.
  • May 10, 2013, National Public Gardens Day, EJC Arboretum, a Shenandoah Valley public botanical garden and native plants preserve is open free dawn to dusk. And plan to shop Spring Celebration Plant Sale in celebration of National Public Gardens Day to support the EJC Arboretum while making home and business landscaping ecofriendly and lovely!
  • May 11 & 12, 2013, Mother's Day Carriage Rides by twilight 6:30-9:30 pm Saturday evening, and 1-4 pm Sunday afternoon, in the Arboretum, FPEC Saturday, give a special mom a memorable celebration by a carriage ride through the natural beauty of the Arboretum, costs vary per person for adults and children, and per private carriage, phone for cost and to reserve (540)568-3194 or email.
  • May 10 & 11, 2013, Spring Celebration Plant Sale (formerly Herb and Garden Festival), 9-3pm Friday & Saturday, Wide selection of plants, shrubs and trees, with Saturday educational activities that may be a lecture, demonstrations, ask-an-expert, lecture, live music, and a butterfly release.
  • June, 2013, Storytime in the Understory, 11a.m. to approximately 12:00 noon monthly program begins in June second Tuesdays, and continues through September. Children will develop an understanding of the importance of nature from children's literature selections. Bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs, and a brown bag picnic lunch for after Storytime.
  • June or July, 2013, Summer Children's Art Workshop, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, 1:00-3:00 pm, Children will learn summer trees and flowers of the arboretum. The workshop offers education on plant I.D. and basic botanical drawing, materials included in a $35 fee.
  • Mid June through July, 2013 Summer Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, in the Pavilion, Wednesdays at noon, free, no advance registration needed, enjoy lunch and a great topical lecture. Series lecture topics will post to the arboretum website in the spring of 2012.
  • June 21, 2013, Summer Strawberry Full Moon Carriage Rides, 7-10:00 p.m. Friday evening. Enjoy being drawn through the woodlands of the Arboretum by beautiful Belgium and Percheron teams of horses and an experienced coachman on a warm summer night in a romantic convertible carriage.
  • June 22, 2013, Solstice Under the Stars, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Reserve to enjoy displayed heavy hors d'œuvres, live music and dancing, and fine wine. Make it a wild and wonderful Solstice celebration with dancing on the arboretum lawn to live music and fine wines, outdoors on or closest to the year's longest day, on the grounds of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, annually the Saturday closest to each year's longest day.
  • September, mid-month date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, 2013, On-Line Bulbs Sale, with pick up in the FPEC for orders placed online.
  • September 14, 2013, Monarch Migration Tagging Workshop, Saturday, 10 am - noon in the FPEC, with Linda Marchman, educator and butterfly farm owner. Enjoy a lecture and various activities, for children age seven to adults, along with tagging and releasing Monarch butterflies to start their seasonal migration. (Also available as a class field trip.) For more details, call (540) 568-3194.
  • September, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, Bonsai Workshop, noon - 1:00 each session, Arboretum Grounds Manager and Bonsai Master, Mike Hott, attend in the FPEC to create a ‘wee-tree' to enjoy at home or office. $35 fee covers all materials inclusive to create a Bonsai tree.
  • September 27 & 28, 2013, Fall Plant and Bulb Sale, Friday and Saturday 9 am - 3 pm held at a location to be announced 30 days in advance of the sale, shop a huge inventory of Virginia Native wildflowers and cultivar perennials, shrubs and trees, and spring bulbs, at just the right time for fall planting.
  • October 4 & 5, 2013, Fall Bulb Sale, , Friday and Saturday, 9 am - 3 pm in the FPEC, and Saturday only Godwin Field morning, time to be announced, Godwin Field sale closes with the football game kickoff. Choose the JMU Colors Annual Bulb Collection of beautiful and rare bulbs, or buy from a selection of bulbs to plant in home or business landscapes.
  • October 4, 2013, Private Greenhouse Close-out Shopping Appointments Coincides with date of Fall Bulb Sale, Friday only, with an Arboretum Green House Manager. Call (540) 568-3194 to reserve a half-hour appointment to shop the growing season closeout plant, shrub, tree inventory at the arboretum greenhouse.
  • October, 2013, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, Fall Children's Art Workshop, After School 4:00-6:00 pm in the FPEC, children will study and create botanical drawings of leaves, their forms and colors, and berries found within the arboretum, as well as plant I.D. $35 charge includes materials.
  • October, 2013, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, Fall Annual Remarkable Trees Tour, See the Remarkable Trees of the region traveling with the EJC Arboretum Director as guide. Visit the arboretum website after September 20th, for details for this annual educational and enjoyable field trip, and to register.
  • October 19, 2013, Children's Harvest Festival, Saturday 1 - 5 pm, with dance exhibitions and lessons, crafts, singers, musical instrument performance and demonstrations, story time, trails tours, snacks, seed collecting trail activity and much more offered at this free fall children's festival. Horse drawn wagon rides are available for the whole family with ticket purchase.
  • October, 2013, date to be announced on jmu.edu/arboretum, Fall Color and Homecoming Carriage Rides in the Arboretum, 10 am - 2 pm, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage through the autumn colors of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum.

* "FPEC" Frances Plecker Education Center, found on the grounds of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum,

780 University Blvd., Harrisonburg, VA 22807, 540-568-3194