20th Annual Litten Lecture
20th Annual Litten Botanical Lecuture: February 17 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM | FREE
Location: Festival Conference Center Ballroom
Monarch Butterfly Research: Taking for Granted What We Don't Know — Lessons From a Few Years of Monarch Butterfly Research
Lee Brown is an Assistant Professor of Biology at James Madison University. Her conservation-focused research has centered around movement and demography of bird and butterfly populations in human-dominated and natural landscapes. Insights from her most recent work on monarch butterflies and the use of lightweight radio telemetry tags for tracking their long-distance movements has been highlighted in several media outlets including the New York Times, WHRO public media in Virginia, and Milenio in Mexico City. During this year's Frances Litten Botanical Lecture, she will share there is still so much we don't know about monarch butterflies. We need to always keep this in mind and be open to thinking about monarchs and conservation of pollinators in general in new ways and perspectives.
Registration for the lecture is requested but not required.
Register for lecture and/or reception here
Catered Members Reception 5:30 PM (Donor Event)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED - LIMITED TO 80 GUESTS
Come mingle with other supporters of the Arboretum, participate in an activity to provide feedback on the Arboretum's plans for the future and an exhibit of local butterfly research from a JMU student, and enjoy a delicious selection of hors d'oeuvres. Wine and beer will be available for purchase at our cash bar.
Walks, Talks & Workshops
Master Gardeners Talk Series
Winter Seed Sowing | Saturday, Jan. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Cost per person: $5, Register Here
Location: Meet at the Ernst Tree Terrace
Are you dreaming of the spring and summer months? Winter can be an excellent time to get a head start on your gardening. One fun and rewarding project is winter seed sowing. Learn all about it and create your own winter sowing project to take home!
Cost per person is $5. Register here.
Invasive Plant ID Walk and Workshop
Invasive Plant ID Walk | Wednesday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. | Free Event, Register Here
Invasive Plant Removal Workday | Friday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. | Free Event, Register Here
Location: Meet at the Arboretum's Frances Plecker Education Center
Join Jacob Edel, Invasive Management Specialist at Blue Ridge PRISM, and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum for this FREE field training where you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants. These sessions include a short hike along trails, some with uneven surfaces.
Space is limited to 20 participants for the Walk and 10 participants for the Removal Workday.
These are free events. Register here.
Recurring Programs
Native Plant Social
With the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society
Second Sundays | 1:30 PM-3:00 PM
Location: Frances Plecker Education Center
Bonsai Club Meeting
1st Tuesdays | 6-8 PM | FREE
Location: Frances Plecker Education Center
Join presenters, Clark Driver and Simon Jilg for a short lecture, bonsai displays, and door prizes!
Evenings With Bats | Monitoring Program
1st & 3rd Fridays | Dusk | FREE
Next Meeting: 2026 dates are forthcoming
Location: Pond
Gather around the Pond and marvel at bats as they emerge for their evening hunt. The VA Master Naturalists return for their bat emergence monitoring program.
Plan to arrive 15 minutes before sunset.
Wellness and Soundscape Programs
Sound Bathing
Tuesdays, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. | $25 Register here
Using gongs, crystal and Tibetan bowls, voice, drums, shakers, and chimes, Connie Magee will take you on a sound journey that will relax and de-stress you and bring your whole being back into a state of harmony on all levels; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Connie Magee is a multi-modality massage therapist, medicine woman, Yoga Instructor, and meditation teacher.
Registration and communication are now directly with Sacred Valley Healing Arts.
Harrisonburg Songtuary
Select "RSVP Here" for times and locations.
Harrisonburg Songtuary is a community song circle that seeks to propagate co-enchanting cohorts of contemplayful singers, sponsored by the Arts Council of the Valley and the Office of Creative Propulsion.
On the Songtuary website, you may find more details and RSVP for upcoming gatherings; receive email updates, add to your calendar, or share on social media. We appreciate when you let us know you’re coming, and we hope the web RSVP is convenient for you as well!
ANNUAL EVENTS
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February April May |
June - August September October - December |
May - September | Private Greenhouse Shopping by Appointment
$50 Minimum purchase required, call (540)-568-3194 to schedule
Grounds: Free to the public
Dawn to dusk | 365 days a year
Frances Plecker Education Center:
M-F | 8 AM - 4 PM
