2013 Calendar of Annual Events

Updated: September 05, 2013

  • September, 16, 2013, OnLine Bulbs Sale, with pick up in the FPEC for orders placed online.
  • September 27 & 28, 2013, Fall Plant and Bulb Sale, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Frances Plecker Education Center, shop Virginia native wildflowers and cultivar perennials, shrubs and trees, at just the right time for fall planting.
  • October 4 & 5, 2013, Fall Bulb Sale, Friday and Saturday at the Frances Plecker Education Center, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Saturday Oct 5 on Godwin Field, time to be announced after game time is published, Godwin Field sale closes with the football game kickoff. Purchase the 2013 JMU colors annual bulb collection of beautiful and rare bulbs, or buy from a selection of spring blooming bulbs to plant in home or business landscapes. Sale is closed Sunday but continues the remainder of the week, Monday-Friday, October 7 to 11 at the Frances Plecker Education Center, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or until bulb inventory is liquidated.
  • 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 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. For more details or to register, the arboretum website 30 days in advance of this program.
  • October 19, 2013, Children's Harvest Festival, Saturday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., at the Frances Plecker Ed Center, a free festival with dance exhibitions and lessons, crafts and sidewalk chalk art, singers, musical instrument performance and demonstrations, story time, trails tours, snacks, harvesting trees' seeds collection trail activity and much more offered at this free educational fall children's festival. Horse drawn wagon rides are available for the whole family with ticket purchase. For more details or to reserve, call (540) 568-3194 or visit the arboretum website 30 days in advance of this program.
  • October 26, 2013, Fall Color Carriage Rides Leaf-peeping at its best! Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage in the beauty of the autumn leaf colors of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. For more details or to register, the arboretum website 30 days in advance of this program.
  • November 5, 6, 7, 2013, 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.
  • November 18 — December 4, 2013, Festive Holiday Plants and Evergreens Decor on-line Sale, Bring the beauty of fresh blooming holiday plants and the scent of evergreens into your home for the Holidays. The EJC Arboretum offers locally grown, high-quality plants. Order pick up December 5 & 6 in the FPEC, 8:30-5:00 pm.
  • December 11, 2013, Annual Festive Greens Workshop, Wednesday, noon to 1:30 p.m., create a versatile holiday décor piece that will beautify any home or business with style and fragrance, under the guidance of a floral expert, Abby Long from Blakemore's Florist. Fee varies depending on supplies ordered when registering. Register at jmu.edu/arboretum. Held in the FPEC. For more details or to register, the arboretum website 30 days in advance of this program.
  • December 14, 2013, Moonlight Holiday and Winter Commencement Carriage Rides, Saturday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., reserve to enjoy a horse drawn holiday carriage moonlight or daytime ride. Harrisonburg's favorite horses are harnessed in jingle bells for this festive celebration. For the cost of a movie ticket, create a holiday or graduation memory of a lifetime! Carriages leave on a 20-minute schedule for an approximate one-mile ride. For more details or to reserve, call (540) 568-3194 or visit the arboretum website 30 days in advance of this program.
  • December 23 (noon) -31, 2013, Winter Holiday, EJC Arboretum offices closed to reopen January 2, 2013

2014 Calendar of Annual Events

  • February 12, 2014, Terrarium Workshop, Wednesday, noon-1:30 pm, in the FPEC, Miniature landscape expert, Pam Shank, demonstrates and guides through the process of creating a succulents terrarium. Create a wee world to use as home or business decor. Register online opens 30 days in advance of the workshop.
  • February 25, 2014, Frances Litten Invitational Dinner Tuesday, 5:30-7:00 pm, Festival Conference Center, Ballroom B, by invitation only, a gathering of colleagues and friends of founding arboretum board member and educator, Frances A. Litten.
  • February 25, 2014, Frances Litten Botanical Lecture, Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 pm, Festival Conference Center, Ballroom A, Book sales and signing after the lecture 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm. A botanical field notable and often author, lectures and presents avant-garde botanical information at this annual free public lecture. Speaker and topic are announced online approximately a month ahead of this event.
  • March 17, 2014 St. Patrick's Day Dinner Lecture Saturday closest to St. Patrick’s Day annually, 6:00-9:00 pm, in the *FPEC 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 covers a 3-course dinner, tax, tip, beverages, and a libation of choice. Advanced reservations required. To reserve, call (540) 568-3194 or go online to the arboretum website 30 days before event,
  • March 17, 2013, St Patrick’s live Highland Pipes, Monday, free public performance 5:00-5:45 pm, from the Jurney Stage Garden lawn area of the arboretum, live performance by piper Fred Holbrook of Massanetta Springs Conference Center.
  • March 26, 2014, Birding Workshop, Wednesday, noon-1:30 pm In the FPEC, 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.
  • April 20, 2014, Easter Sunrise Service, 6:00 am at the arboretum on the main lawn, JMU RISE hosts the annual inter-denominational Easter Sunrise Worship Service. In conjunction with the Friday late afternoon observance of Good Friday.
  • April, 2014, Spring Children’s Art Workshop, date to be announced online approximately a month ahead, 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, 2 & 9, 2014, 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 5, 2014, Guided Bird Walk, led by a birding expert, Greg Moyer, in partnership with the Rockingham Bird Club, 8:00 a.m. meets in the Pavilion.
  • April 12, 2014, Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm, 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
  • Feb 12, 2014 St. Patrick's Day Dinner Lecture Saturday closest to St. Patrick’s Day, noon to1:30 pm,
  • April 13, 2014, Campus Cookies Easter Egg Hunt for JMU students, 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, 2014, A Latte` Jive, Alzheimer’s Benefit 5K Run and Concert, date to be announced online approximately a month ahead,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, 2013, Arbor Day Trees and Native Plant Sale, date to be announced online approximately a month ahead, Friday andSaturday, 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, 2014, 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, 2014, 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 26-May 3 2014, Virginia Historic Garden Week The EJC Arboretum celebrates with tours 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
    • Arboretum Tour Celebrating Historic Garden Week, April 30, 1:00 pm
    • April 22, 2014, Earth Day Wildflower Walk, 10:00 am
  • April, 2014, Virginia Arbor Day Public School Gift Tree Planting Ceremony: date to be announced online approximately a month ahead, 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. 2014, A new public hosts this event each year. (Date and time chosen by the school educator and schools can apply to be selected for a tree planting ceremony by emailing the Education Coordinator on the arboretum website Contact Us page.)
  • April 25, 2014, Arbor Day in Virginia event is the Virginia Native Trees Tour, with the Arboretum Director, at 1:00 pm meets at the *FPEC
  • April, 2014, Wildflower Walk with The Virginia Native Plant Society Saturday, 10:00 am, date to be announced online approximately a month ahead, VNPS docent tour guide and wildflower aficionado, starting in the FPEC
  • May, 2014, Annual Spring Notable Wildflowers Field Trip, date and destination to be announced online 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 11, 2014, 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 10 & 11, 2014, Mother's Day Carriage Rides by twilight 6:30-9:30 pm Saturday evening, and 1-4 pm Sunday afternoon, in the Arboretum, FPECSaturday, 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, 2014, Spring Celebration Plant Sale (formerly Herb and Garden Festival), date to be announced online approximately a month ahead, 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, 2014, 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, 2014, Summer Children’s Art Workshop, date to be announced online, 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, 2014 Summer Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series dates and topics to be announced online, in the Pavilion, Wednesdays except July 4th week, 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.
  • July 11, 2014, Summer 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 21, 2014, 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

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

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