Consider giving to LLI

For 30 years, LLI has offered courses, trips, events, and a multitude of other experiences to folks in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area. All that we do could not be done without the support and efforts of our members, instructors, and volunteers. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we once again look to you for support. Your investments in LLI have already made the program strong, and your continued contribution can elevate LLI for decades to come.

Follow this link to go to our giving page.

The Arboretum is again hosting its free Brown Bag lecture series this summer. Below is information on each lecture over the summer. 

• When: Wednesdays at noon, June and July
• Format: Lecture
• Audience: Adults or mature youth
• Location: Frances Plecker Education Center,  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU
• Fee: None

Registration requested (Helps us plan, and we can contact you if there are changes to the program.)

EJCA contact: Kelli Hertzler, Education Coordinator. Gdxc5j@jmu.edu or (540) 568-3194. 

June 10: Native Landscaping for Backyard Birds

by Rich Woods, President of Augusta County Birding Club

Would you like to attract more birds to your backyard? Then it's time to go native! Join us to learn which native plants our resident and migratory bird species prefer. Whether you have a small space or large property, every little bit counts and can make a difference in bird conservation! 

July 17: Brood Pollination of Plants by Specialized Insects

by David Hembry

Brood pollination is a type of pollination mutualism in which specialized insects pollinate the flowers of certain plants, and in exchange, the plants provide either some of their seeds or flower tissue as food for these insects' larvae. These interactions exemplify the notion of mutualisms (mutually beneficial interactions) as ones in which both partners are reciprocally exploiting each other but net benefits outweigh costs. In this talk I'll provide an overview of these relationships, starting with the famous mutualisms between fig trees and pollinating fig wasps, and yuccas and their yucca moths, before moving on to other more obscure and recently discovered examples. Then I will give a brief introduction to some of the work my lab has done at JMU on leafflower plants and their brood pollination by leafflower moths. 

June 24: Flora of Virginia app 

Anna Maria Johnson will walk guests through the updated  Flora of Virginia Mobile App and how to use it in your day-to-day life. 

Johnson is a Flora of Virginia Ambassador, president of the Shenandoah Chapter of the VA Native Plant Society and coordinator/project manager for the Plant Ridge & Valley Natives: Guide for Gardeners. 

July 1: Exploring our Watershed with Watercolors 

by Ali Sloop, JMU Stormwater Coordinator, watercolor activity by Kelli Hertzler, Arboretum Education Coordinator

Join us on a virtual journey downstream from JMU’s campus to the Chesapeake Bay. During our “journey” we will create a watershed painting inspired by what we see as we travel from campus to the Bay. This trip will connect us and our impacts (both good and bad) to all who live downstream. No artistic skills needed, but a willingness to try something new is required.

July 8: Sounds Fun: Discussion and demonstrations of hearing in humans and animals

by Lincoln Gray,  retired Professor of Communication Sciences at JMU and Adjunct Research Professor of Otolaryngology at the UVA Medical School

What CAN humans hear, and what DO we hear when not distracted by other sounds.  How do these abilities compare with those of other animals (and at least one plant, if you can believe that).  This talk will briefly review medical and graduate school lectures on such topics, interspersed with several demonstrations.  Such listening can be fun. 

July 15: Topic Conservation Photography: Riverine and Backyard Biodiversity in Rockingham County 

by Steven David Johnson, conservation photographer and Professor of Visual and Communication Arts at EMU

In this multimedia talk, I’ll focus on my work photographing biodiversity close to home: across the street on the Shenandoah River and even closer to home at our backyard pollinator garden and frog pond just outside of Broadway, VA (this project is the  cover story for current of edition of National Wildlife Magazine). I’ll discuss how these longterm photo projects have contributed to the educational and advocacy work of conservation organizations. 

Click this link to view information regarding the LLI trip to Greece in October, 2026.

While we'll still use email as our primary communication tool, Facebook will also be a fun and interactive way to learn more about what is going at LLI! Announcements, events, throwback photos - you won't want to miss it! We just updated some of our photos so check it out.

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