Tree Planting Demonstration at the Milton Public Library, September 26th, 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Registration opens September 5th.

Trees are an extremely important part of combating climate change. They also play a key role in supporting our ecosystems. Come to the library on Tuesday, September 26th for a presentation by staff from the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum on choosing the right tree to plant in your yard, how to plant it and maintain it. Registration for this in-person program is required and will open three weeks in advance of the event.

This program is part of Milton Grows: a year-long initiative for all ages focused on gardening and sustainability. Funded by the federal Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the MBLC, and supported by our partners Sustainable Milton and the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

Registration opens Sep 5th - Click here for registration

Celebrate the season with us at October-FamilyFest, Saturday October 21, 2:00PM-5:00PM

Tickets required, $20 adults, kids free.

Join us at the Wakefield Arboretum for a family-friendly afternoon of local beer, delicious food, live music, s'mores, pumpkin carving and fun for everyone at October-FamilyFest. Tickets include entrance to the gardens, food (brats) and one free pour from Barrel House Z, a small-batch beer brewer from Weymouth, MA.

Electric Standard will be returning to bring us rock, blues and soul with the sound, spirit and enthusiasm of the original rock 'n' roll combos. Formed in 2015, the Boston-area trio initially began as a cover band, interpreting songs from a wide range of eras and genres through a roots-rock sensibility. The band's latest album, Lady Luck & the Grand Vizier, was produced with Bill Mason at Second Story Studios. Released in 2023, the album shows Electric Standard expanding its sonic range to include an even wider range of blues, folk and pop styles.

Join in the fun of pumpkin carving. Bring a pumpkin, go home with a jack-o-lantern, leave the mess here (our chickens will thank you!) You can bring your own pumpkin or purchase one from us for $5.00. Make sure to select the "pumpkin ticket" when you register.

Click here for tickets.

Boston Public Schools will be visiting us this fall

Visits from school groups are at the heart of our mission of connecting people with a living landscape. The staff is looking forward to welcoming Boston Public School students this fall.

Horticultural Summer Intern, Mimmi Huria (right) with staff member Bridget Gaffney (left).

Our Summer Horticultural Intern program success

Through June, July and August we were working alongside Mimmi Huria. She took an active role in many of our summer projects, including rejuvenation of the lilac garden, removing invasive plants, pruning many shrubs and trees, and enhancing our woodland area. We wish her well in her senior year.

John DelRosso, head arborist, explains the use of tree labels that provide information about each plant in the collection.

Wakefield Arboretum Staff visit Arnold Arboretum

Polly Wakefield's strong relationship with Arnold Arboretum is part of her legacy. Wakefield staff and our summer horticultural intern enjoyed an extensive tour of the landscape, library, collection highlights, and equipment barn. John DelRosso, head arborist, generously shared his time and invaluable insights and experiences around daily operations in arbor care, plant health programs, impacts of changing climate conditions, and managing invasive pests and plants, as well as guiding us through highlights of the arboretum's collection. One "must stop" on our tour was the remaining Cornus kousa donated by Polly.

The interesting bark on this Cornus kousa is characteristic of the features Polly looked for when selecting trees for propagation.

Master Gardeners Volunteer Program

Master Gardeners will be joining us in the gardens again this September providing much needed help in maintaining the collection.

Successful training to identify invasive plants with The Friends of the Blue Hills Adopt-A-Trail program

Through our on-going collaboration with The Friends of the Blue Hills Adopt-A-Trail program, we provided training to help volunteers identify invasive plants that are threatening the local forest habitat. Volunteers met at Fowl Meadow, which is a wetland habitat that meanders over seven miles through Norwood, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Milton, Sharon and Hyde Park. This program is designed to train and allow volunteers to take responsibility for regular trail maintenance on a trail or section of trail.