Join us for the Arboretum Expo 2022!

Come explore the Arboretum for walks, talks, workshops and our 2022 online plant auction with some unique plants! Pick up Arboretum t-shirts, biodiversity sheets, educational materials and more.

The Arboretum Expo runs September 9 and 10.

Featured Events

SoundBound
Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.
Hales-McKay Shelter
A showcase of musicians from the Critical Studies in Improvisation program at the University of Guelph who have been improvising and composing music around our relationships to local ecosystems. It will feature a 30-minute guided ecologically-engaged walk or indoor sitting circle followed by a 1-hour concert of music inspired by the Arboretum’s ecosystems and mentors. Organized by: Ben Finley, bassist, composer, and PhD Candidate in Critical Studies in Improvisation Musicians: annais linares (voice and effects), Sophie Brown (harp and effects), Reza Yazdanpanah (tar), Joe Sorbara (percussion), and Ben Finley (bass and effects) Suggested contribution: $15, pay what you can (to support the artists and project costs).

“Seeing the Forest for the Trees” Hike
Sept. 10 at 9 a.m.
West Lawn
This public walk is led by Dr. Megan De Roover who is the writer-in-residence affiliated with the Arboretum this year! Participants of the walk will be pushed to reconsider the ubiquitous yet overlooked tree, and thereby the nonhuman world more generally, through new theoretical framework.

Gosling Wildlife Garden Tour
Sept. 10 from 9 to 10 a.m.
West Lawn
During this public walk led by Chris Earley. learn why the Arboretum’s Gosling Wildlife Gardens are such good examples of how to attract wildlife to your backyard and help increase biodiversity in suburban and urban areas.

CommuniTREE Hike
Sept. 10 from 9 to 10 a.m.
West Lawn
This public walk led by Michelle Beltran will take you through the Wild Goose Woods, a hustle and bustle ecosystem full of life! You will take a look at how plants shape this forest and the creatures that call it home.

Gardeners: Ask Us!
Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 pm.
Roots and Shoots Garden
Master Gardeners will be at the garden to answer your questions!

Tree Climbing Demonstration
Sept. 10 at 10 a.m.
West Lawn
Have you ever been curious about how to professionally climb trees? Then this event is for you! Mike Yost, ISA certified arborist and certified tree worker of the University of Guelph, will demonstrate two types of tree-climbing techniques, single/stationary rope technique and doubled/moving rope technique. Mike will also answer any questions about tree climbing/tree care, talk about some of the physics of tree climbing, and address proper body positioning of tree climbing.

Blast From the Past Hike
Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon
West Lawn
Marika Bowrin will lead you in exploring the wonderful World of Trees collection while learning about some species that have been around for millions of years and are still standing. Home to over 400 species of trees and shrubs, the Arboretum boasts a broad collection of rare, endangered, native, and non-native tree species and some living fossils.

Ecopyschology Walking Workshop
Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon
West Lawn
Memona Hossain will lead this interactive, hands-on session and will provide an intro to the concept of Ecopsychology. This will be followed by an activity that will engage participants to look at how we can rely on nature through a reciprocation of experiences, allowing nature to gently guide our awareness through our senses, and gain understanding through nature’s wisdom.

Beings of Victoria Woods Tour
Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon
West Lawn
Join this public walk led by Chirsta Wise through Victoria Woods, one of the Arboretum’s old growth forests. You will be taking a deeper look at the plants, animals and fungi within Victoria Woods. So make sure you put on your detective cap at the start of this hike!

Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF): Henry Kock Award for Tree Stewardship
Sept. 10 from noon to 1 p.m.
West Lawn, Arboretum Gazebo
This year, the Arboretum Expo will feature the Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF): Henry Kock Award for Tree Stewardship presentation.

Panel and Launch of Sound Walk- “How to Draw a Tree (Trees, Mental Health, Creativity)”
Sept. 10 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Arboretum Centre
This panel will be led by Dawn Matheson whose participatory art project brings individuals living with mental illnesses together with trees for a yearlong creative, care-taking, reciprocal engagement culminating in an immersive public sound walk. The work aims to reflect the parallel crisis of mental illness and the environmental crisis by expanding ideas around art and new media, art practice as care, and the interdependency between humans and our natural environment. This panel will present the site-specific sound walk on the grounds of the Arboretum, plus the accessible web-based version created by artist Richelle Forsey. The team will also introduce the second phase of the project, incorporating students in the How to Draw a Forest project. This event will be followed by a reciprocal tree planting on Johnston Green with Student Wellness.