GENERAL EVENTS

Summer Brown Bag Lecture Series 

Welcome Back Bluebirds

Wednesday, June 7th|Noon-1pm

Gail Fisher, from the North American Bluebird Society, will explore why we care about bluebirds, a brief history of their decline and resurgence, some bluebird biology, predators and competitors, and ways you can help. Also included is a hand-out with resources for more information about bluebirds and the native plants that support them.

Gardening with Native Plants

Wednesday, June 14th | Noon-1pm

Location: Frances Plecker Education Center 

 Anna Maria Johnson is part of the Headwaters Master Naturalists and the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. She will be discussing ways you can use native plants in your home garden to help promote healthy ecology that benefits wildlife and people, too. She will share inspiring photos of plants and pollinators that she and her family have observed in recent years as part of their ecologically-minded home gardening projects. 

Waterwise Gardening

Wednesday, June 21st| Noon-1pm

The Importance of Pollinators for Biodiversity

Wednesday, June 28th| Noon-1pm

Location: Frances Plecker Education Center

Through presentation and active outdoor learning, this brown bag emphasizes the importance of pollinators for ecosystem health and how pollinators can serve as teachers of biodiversity. 

 With special emphasis on butterflies and bumblebees, participants will observe a diversity of species in arboretum gardens and learn about pollinator behaviors, including use of habitats. In case of inclement weather, participants will engage in pollinator learning activities indoors. This program will be presented by Professor Amy Goodall, Professor of Geography at JMU. 

A Presentation on Bonsai Trees

Wednesday, July 19th| Noon-1pm

Come join us as we explore nature in miniature! For this brown bag lecture series, Clark Driver will be presenting an introductory course on the art of bonsai and container grown trees. Clark will be giving a brief overview of the origins of the artform, fundamentals of bonsai display, and how bonsai can help connect you to your natural environment. He will also be discussing various techniques on how to create, train and refine your own bonsai. Please plan to attend!

Harrisonburg Songtuary

Saturday June 24 and July 22

2:00-3:30PM

Summer Sound Bathing

Tuesday, June 6 5:30pm

Wednesday, July 11 5:30pm

Tuesday, August 8 5:30pm

Tuesday, Sept 12 5:30pm

Registration fee: $25 |Click here to register

Summer Forest Bathing

Thursday, July 16th | 10:00am-11:30 am with Tamera Helms

Meet at Pavilion| Free| Register Here 

Thursday, July 13th | 10:00am-11:30 with Annette Naber

Forest Bathing, or shinrin-yoku, was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a form of preventative medicine with many scientific studies confirming its beneficial impacts on our sense of well-being and physical health.  Experience some of the mindful and multi-sensory exercises that make forest bathing an enjoyable and beneficial nature therapy. Join Annette Naber of Emerald Mountain Sanctuary or Nature and Forest Therapy guide Tamera Helms in this guided walk.