SUMMARY:

Join us for this easy walk in Boston's Arnold Arboretum at its Autumn best.  The Arboretum is a unique institution in many ways.  It is a Boston City park, as the land is owned by the city, but yet, the collection of trees and bushes are under the care of Harvard University.  It is also the oldest such institution in the United States, and it is currently celebrating its 150th year of existence.  If you get a chance, read the article by Patricia Harris in the 9/15/22 Travel section of the Boston Globe, but here is an interesting tidbit of information from that article:  "One of the Arboretum’s oldest specimens is the harbinger of fall foliage. The Schlesingeri red maple, propagated in the late 1800s from a tree spotted in a neighbor’s yard by Arboretum founding director Charles Sprague Sargent, is often the first tree to show fall colors. Just after the heat of August dog days, its leaves transition from grassy green to olive green. They soon begin to show deep red tones and reach full color in September. The original specimen is planted near the Arborway Gate, right across the road from the Hunnewell Visitor Center. It’s hard to miss."  We will start the walk right in front of the Hunnewell Center, so we should be able to see it.  From there we will walk away from the main paths and well into the park itself, not only to avoid the crowds, but also to enjoy some of the out-of-the-way wonders of the Arboretum.  We plan to walk about 2-3 miles, but this being a city park, you are free to do as much or as little as you'd like, but please let one of the trip leaders know that you are leaving.  We think we should be done with the walk at around 4:00 p.m., and you are all welcome to join us for a late lunch/early dinner at the always popular Galway House on Jamaica Plain's Centre Street.  Dress appropriately for Boston Fall weather.  Heavy rain will cancel.  We will let you know the day before if that is the case.

Driving directions to the location and spot to meet at:

We will meet in front of the Hunnewell Visitor Center at the main Hunnewell  entrance to the Arboretum.  The official address is 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.  There is some limited parking right on the Arborway, but the Arboretum is easily accessible by the T.  You can either take the Orange Line or the #39 Bus to the Forest Hills Station, then cross South Street to get to the Forest Hills Gate of the Arboretum.  You will then have to walk either across the park itself, or on the sidewalk along the Arborway to get to our meeting spot.