A note about our programs
We hold most programs rain, snow, or shine, unless we notify you otherwise. If you cancel your registration seven days or more prior to the program date, we’ll refund your fee in full. If you cancel within seven days of the program date, we are unable to refund your fee. If the Foundation of the State Arboretum cancels a program for any reason, we will refund your fee in full. Programs open to children/youth require an adult to attend with them and the adult is responsible for their supervision for the duration of the program. Advance registration is required for all programs. Space is limited.
Coastal Plain Fossils (Ages 8+)
2:00-3:00 PM Sunday, March 2nd
Join Virginia Master Naturalist and Environmental Educator Sara Dydak to learn all about fossils! In this program, you’ll find out how organisms become fossils, what types of organisms lived in Virginia millions of years ago, and where to hunt for fossils in Virginia. Then, you’ll sort through sediment collected from the Coastal Plain region of Virginia to search for your very own fossils to take home!
What to expect: An engaging talk, then an activity.
Who can come: This program is designed for youth ages 8+. Minors must be accompanied by a caregiver for the duration of the program. No pets, please.
Where to meet: Meet at the Blandy library in the Quarters building. Signs will direct you from the front parking lot near the flagpole and information kiosk to the library.
Climate Change: Woke fantasy or conservative imperative?
Analyzing the risk of our extreme weather from a non-partisan perspective
7:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 18th
We all recognize that the weather is changing, but how much is due to human activity and how much is from natural patterns? Will the weather weirding get worse? How will these changes impact our jobs, economy, health, personal security, and geopolitical stability and what can we do about it?
Join us for this non-partisan, science-based presentation to learn the answers to these questions and much more. No matter where you stand on climate change, this presentation will deepen your understanding about what is happening and help you talk about this important topic with others.
We'd love for you to bring a friend! Tickets are "buy one, get one free."
Speaker: Kathleen Biggins is the Founder and President of C-Change Conversations, a national nonprofit dedicated to fostering understanding about the risks of climate change to our economy, health and security, and geopolitical stability. Kathleen hails from New Orleans and is a graduate of the University of Virginia and attended the Albert Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany, as a Rotary Scholar. Prior to founding C-Change, she had a career in journalism and advertising. She now lives in Princeton with her husband and their dog.
What to expect: A lecture-style talk.
Who can come: This program is designed for adult audiences.
Where to meet: Meet at the Blandy library in the Quarters building. Signs will direct you from the front parking lot near the flagpole and information kiosk to the library.
Duplex or apartment complex? Where are solitary bees most at risk of parasitism?
Virtual program. 7:00 - 8:00 PM Thursday, March 20th
Bee hotels---artificial nest structures for solitary bees and wasps---are supposed to provide much-needed habitat for native pollinators, and can now be purchased at many big box stores. But do crowded bee hotels leave the bees and wasps nesting inside more vulnerable to parasites? Join Blandy graduate student Willow Lovecky to learn about the weird and wonderful lives of solitary bees and wasps as she describes her field research on bee hotels at Blandy. Willow has been monitoring 110 bee hotels with high (apartment complex) and low (duplex) density treatments. Join us to see what she found!
How to “tune in”: Expect to receive a link to the Zoom meeting during the week of the program through the email used in Eventbrite at registration. Can’t find it? Check your spam folder, or email public programs coordinator Ariel Firebaugh (alf7f@virginia.edu) to request a new link. Still having trouble? We hope to livestream the program on Blandy’s Facebook page.
Register for this program on Eventbrite to receive a Zoom link.
It’s not salty enough! Does salt affect how plants and insects get along?
Virtual program. 7:00 - 8:00 PM Thursday, March 27th
Have you ever poured salt on a roadside in the wintertime? Did you ever wonder where the salt went after the de-icing job was done? The salt will melt into the soil and make the soil a challenging environment for plants to grow. However, the salt may provide a good thing for insects and mammals. Join Blandy graduate student Jemima Elsherbini to learn about the importance of excess salt within the soil and how it effects the relationships between plants and their pollinators and herbivores!
How to “tune in”: Expect to receive a link to the Zoom meeting during the week of the program through the email used in Eventbrite at registration. Can’t find it? Check your spam folder, or email public programs coordinator Ariel Firebaugh (alf7f@virginia.edu) to request a new link. Still having trouble? We hope to livestream the program on Blandy’s Facebook page.
Register for this program on Eventbrite to receive a Zoom link.
Spring 2025 Volunteer Day at Blandy
Spring Volunteer Day at Blandy
10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 22, 2025
What to expect: Learn about volunteer opportunities at the Arboretum and meet other members of our vibrant community. Each hour-long session includes:
- Garden care demonstration
- Tour of high-needs areas
- How you can help
- Make and take seed packet
Who can come: Adults aged 18 and up. No pets, please!
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a full water bottle.
Where to meet: Courtyard of the Quarters Building.
Spring Wildflower Walk at Blandy
5:30-7:00 PM Thursday, April 17th
Discover Virginia’s spring wildflowers! Tour the woodland section of the
Native Plant Trail with Blandy’s Assistant Curator Jack Monsted. Scout for trilliums, bluebells, and other “spring beauties” as you learn all about the natural history of these fascinating flowers.
What to expect: We will walk ~0.5 miles over lawn and mulch paths, with frequent stops to observe flowers.
Who can come: Adults and children aged 8 and up. No pets, please!
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a full water bottle. If you’d like, bring materials to take notes and a favorite wildflower field guide or smartphone identification app (e.g., iNaturalist).
Where to meet: Meet at the flagpole at the front parking lot close to the “Arboretum Information” kiosk.
Neotropical Migrants Bird Walk
8:00-10:00 AM Friday, April 18th
Spring (migration) has sprung! Join Blandy Director and birding enthusiast Dr. Dave Carr in search of early breeding warblers (e.g., Pine, Yellow, Palm, and Yellow-rumped) and other neotropical migrants.
What to expect: We will walk ~1.5 miles over lawn and gravel paths with gently rolling terrain.
Who can come: Adults and children aged 12 and up. No pets, please!
What to bring: Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes that can withstand a bit of early morning dew on the grass. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Blandy.
Where to meet: Meet at the flagpole at the front parking lot close to the “Arboretum Information” kiosk.
Wildflower Walk at the G. R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area (Linden, VA)
1:00-3:00 PM Tuesday, April 29th
Learn to recognize our spring wildflowers in their native habitat. Scout for trilliums, orchids, and other spring wildflowers alongside Blandy’s Assistant Curator for the Native Plant Trail Jack Monsted.
What to expect: We will walk ~1.5 on hiking trails with occasional steep uphill and downhill sections, stopping frequently to observe flowers.
Who can come: Adults and children aged 12 and up. No pets, please!
What to bring: Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a full water bottle. If you’d like, bring materials to take notes and a favorite wildflower field guide or smartphone identification app (e.g., iNaturalist).
Where to meet: Meet at the Thompson Wildlife Management Area Trillium Parking Lot (directions provided following registration).