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The Arboretum, University of Guelph

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The Arboretum, an integral part of the University of Guelph, has a mandate to promote education, research and outreach. Have a question for us?

Tune in on the last Tuesday of each month for our "Ask the Arb" feature with Arb staff on Facebook Live or Zoom (registration at https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/educationandevents/workshops)!

11/03/2026

Hello! My name is Brayden, and I am a third-year zoology student here at U of G. I am one of The Arboretum Volunteer Naturalists (AVN) this year, organized through the Volunteer Experience and Career Training (VECT) program. I am so happy to be here learning alongside everyone!

For this post, I wanted to talk about aster and goldenrod. They may be out of season now as the days are getting shorter and the leaves are losing colour, but they never go out of style, that's for sure. Have you ever stopped to notice how beautiful the purple (New England aster) and yellow (goldenrod) look when placed together? It turns out that this colour combination is particularly pleasing to the cone cells in our eyes because purple and yellow sit opposite one another on the colour wheel! Obviously, these colours stand out to other animals too...not just to humans!

These plants usually grow together, and as Robin Wall Kimmerer explores in her chapter "Asters and Goldenrod" in Braiding Sweetgrass (2013), their combined colours stand out more to pollinators (like bees) than either one would alone. How cool is that? If you want to learn more about this relationship, Kimmerer's chapter makes for a wonderful read, especially for anyone still trying to hold on to the last embrace of summer.

Take care and see you in The Arb!

Photo: Yellow goldenrod and Purple New England aster at The Arboretum
Text and photo by Brayden, Arboretum Volunteer Naturalist

11/02/2026

Stargazing!
Thursdays, November 2026 - June 2027, as listed below
Times are as listed below
Format: In-Person
Instructor: Trevor Chandler and/or Michael Wright
Fee: $19 +HST per person, per session*

Come, enjoy a calm outdoor evening, and see the stars!
Members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be setting up astronomical telescopes for private viewings. Come see winter constellations like Ta**us, Gemini, and Orion, as well as star clusters, nebulae, and many other curious objects in the beautiful winter Milky Way. Later, as winter melts into spring, we may even view a few distant galaxies.

Our goal is to run 3 of the following programs:
November 12, 2026, 6 PM to 8 PM (Moon and Saturn)
January 14, 2027, 6 PM to 8 PM (Moon and Saturn)
February 11, 2027, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars at their best)
March 11, 2027, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars)
April 8, 2027, 8 PM to 10 PM (Moon, Jupiter, and Mars)
May 13, 2027, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM (Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars)
June 10, 2027, 9 PM to 11 PM (Moon, Jupiter, and Mars)
The info in the brackets indicates the principal solar system objects visible at the time.

The weather makes stargazing very unpredictable and therefore hard to schedule. Instead of opening up registration for all of these dates and having to cancel some of them, we are going to have everyone who is interested sign up on a list (there is no fee to do this).
To sign up on the list, click on the link to register for workshops, and you will find the link for the list in the list of workshops.

The morning of each of the above listed dates, we will send an email out by 10:30 AM to let you know whether the instructors are going to run the program or not. Their decision will be based on both the sky and the weather. Registration will open when we send out the email. Anyone can register for the program regardless of whether they are on the sign up list or not.
*Please note these programs are non-refundable once you register and pay for them

Register here: https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/educationandevents/workshops

Photo: Informative text about the workshop series, and a photo of two people observing a full night sky.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween!

Did you know? The Arboretum is home to more than 1700 different taxa of woody plants, in thematic collections including the World of Trees, Native Trees of Ontario, and collections of Oaks, Beeches, Maples, and Conifers!

Video: A single leaf with a pumpkin-like face, then a variety of leaves with faces start dancing on the screen. “Happy Halloween” with the Arb logo in a pumpkin.
Audio: Halloween music

10/31/2026

This week, let's explore the ancient life of the Ginkgo biloba, most commonly referred to as the ginkgo tree, but its true common name is the maidenhair tree due to its unique, fan-shaped leaves that closely resemble the leaflets of the maidenhair fern! These trees are known as living fossils, as they are the only survivors of a group of trees that predate the Jurassic period on Earth! Fossils of leaves identical to maidenhair leaves have been discovered and date back to over 200 million years ago.

During the fall season, the ginkgo leaves turn a beautiful bright yellow, which can be seen in our World of Trees Collection here at The Arboretum. Follow the link below and in our bio to find these magical trees!

In addition to their beautiful fall colour contribution, during this time ginkgo trees produce and drop a very unique seed. Ginkgos are a dioecious species, meaning they have both female (seed-bearing) and male (pollen-producing) trees. Ginkgo seeds have a yellow fleshy coat that makes them look like fruits, but also produces a very strong vomit-like smell. Today, this may be quite unappealing, but historically animals enjoyed this smelly, fleshy coat, which helped distribute seeds in the wild as they passed through the gut and dispersed from their hard outer shells!

So, if you are out and about in The Arboretum, pass by our ancient ginkgo trees and see if you can smell the pungent odour of their seeds!

Location link: https://guelph.arboretumexplorer.org/taxon-813.aspx

Photos:
1. The ginkgo trees in the World of Trees Collection
2. The beautiful and unique fan-shaped leaves
3. A zoomed-in shot of the seeds hanging in the tree cover
4. The seeds of the trees with the fleshy coat
5. A comparison of the seeds with (top) and without (bottom) the fleshy coat
6. View of the gingko trees from underneath, showcasing the beautiful yellow leaves

Texts and photos by Horticulture intern, Alyssia.

*Please keep to the designated pathways and lawn areas to protect blooms. Do not climb the trees, pick or prune plants/seeds, or step in plant beds. Thank you!

10/29/2026

What’s in colour at The Arboretum? Silver Maple, Sugar Maple, Winged burning bush, Ruby Glow witch-hazel, Dawn redwood, Virginia creeper, and Fragrant sumac!

1. Acer saccharinum - Silver Maple (Location: Arboretum Promenade, Maples, Arboretum Grounds)
2. Acer saccharum - Sugar Maple (Location: Maples, Arboretum Grounds)
3. Euonymus alatus - Winged burning bush (Location: World of Trees)
4. Hamamelis × intermedia 'Ruby Glow' - Ruby Glow witch-hazel (Location: Park in the Garden)
5. Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn redwood (Location: Park in the Garden, World of Trees, Conifers)
6. Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper (Location: Arboretum Grounds)
7. Rhus aromatica - Fragrant sumac (Location: Arboretum Grounds)

Snap a photo? Tag The Arb!
Note: Please keep to the designated pathways and lawn areas to protect blooms. Do not climb the trees, pick or prune plants, or step in plant beds. Thank you!

Photos and text by Cael Wishart, Head Gardener

*Note: foliage conditions may vary based on weather

10/28/2026

Desmond here again!
Although warbler migration is almost done, we still have a few species of these charismatic birds flitting about. One of them is the Orange-crowned Warbler; one of my favourite warblers. While these guys might not be right in your face with dazzling colours like our Redstarts and Parulas, they have a more subtle beauty about them. A rather drab olivey warbler, the Orange-crowned warbler is best told apart from other similar counterparts, like the Tennessee Warbler, by its yellow undertail coverts and white arcs. As a bird-watcher in southern Ontario, it’s common knowledge that Orange-crowned Warblers are much easier to see in Fall rather than Spring. Looking at charts gathering data from sightings backs this up. In Wellington, sightings of Orange-crowned Warblers peak for Wellington in October, with it being 8 times more likely to encounter one then during their peak window in Spring. My question is why.

Out of four subspecies, the subspecies Celeta best represents Ontario. Differing slightly in molt pattern, plumage colours, and size, the subspecies also breed in different areas with different migration routes. A Neotropical migrant, Orange-crowned Warblers of the subspecies Celeta usually migrate through the southern and eastern U.S. before reaching their breeding grounds in the vast boreal forests of Alaska and Canada. A much later migrant, they seem to initiate dispersion when their arthropod food supplies dwindle from cold or drought. They arrive in southern Ontario en masse weeks after most Warbler species have peaked in migration numbers.

From what I found, most of the reasoning behind why their prevalence is much more pronounced in Fall than Spring is anecdotal. So here’s my educated take on it. Already a scarce springtime migrant, much of their migration is overnight, leaving them undetected. From experiences of seeing them in Spring, their behaviour is different as well. They hang around high in the tree tops among mixed flocks of warblers, often only allowing brief looks, as most warblers do.

When Fall comes around, the adults aren’t the only ones migrating; the hatch-year birds come through as well. I find they give much better looks in the Fall as well. Instead of being high up in the canopy, many are seen in goldenrod fields, sifting through flowers in search of lingering insects. I often see them associating with sparrows and kinglets moving through these fields. To top this off, their migration window in the Fall is much longer than it is in Spring.

Now, much of what was just stated above applies to most warbler species in the Fall. With all the hatch-year birds, there’s a greater quantity of warblers moving through, and many species have a longer migration window in the fall, like the Orange-crowned Warbler. The overall absence of Orange-crowned Warblers in the Spring, along with behavioural changes, creates a very pronounced example of this.

So, while the question of why we see more Orange-crowned Warblers in Fall doesn’t have a black and white answer and is instead anecdotal, it creates a fun discussion. Let us know what you think about it, along with any personal anecdotes you may have. And don’t forget, Orange-crowned Warblers are still around! Go outside and look for this fun warbler in your local goldenrod fields. Good luck!

Photos:
1 . Orange-crowned warbler on a branch
2. Orange-crowned warbler in a hand with a circle by the undertail coverts
Text by Desmond MacNeal, photos by Chris Earley

10/28/2026

The Arboretum is home to an incredible diversity of life, and we want to keep you in the loop on what people are finding!

We’re starting a new series highlighting observations made in The Arboretum on iNaturalist! iNaturalist is a citizen science platform where people can upload photos of wildlife, contributing to a global database of hundreds of millions of observations. These records help researchers better understand the natural world, and give insight into things such as species’ distributions, phenology, and even leading to the discovery of new species!

Here in The Arboretum, we’ve accumulated over 55,000 observations thanks to people sharing their nature finds. In this series, we’ll round up some highlights and share a few notes from our naturalist team.

Without further ado, this iteration's naturalist notes:
Virginia Opossum: A great find in The Arboretum! We often come across footprints in the winter when an opossum is active in the area, but spotting one alive is a real treat!

Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales): What a handy Arb lanyard! Mushroom identification can be tricky, and having a nifty Arboretum lanyard for scale can provide useful information when documenting a find.

House Finch: While these birds are frequently spotted on the main campus, they seem to be observed less often in The Arboretum.

Common Milkweed: The milkweed pods have been opening up over the past week, releasing their fluffy seeds. Quite a show!

Photos:
1. A collage of the four featured photos: L-R: Milkweed, Housefinch, Mushroom, Opossum. “Spotted in The Arboretum” iNaturalist logo
2. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) - Observer: Owen Carragher (ocarragher5537); Date: Oct. 25, 2026; Approximate location: Wild Goose Woods
3. Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order: Agaricales) - Observer: Finn L (fiwi_bird); Date: Oct. 26, 2026; Approximate location: Mtigwaaki Forest
4. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) - Observer: James Robinson (peterrob66); Date: Oct. 23, 2026; Approximate location: Arboretum Kiosk Bird Feeder
5. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - Observer: Gabe (gabe_schep); Date: Oct. 23, 2026; Approximate location: Native Tree Loop

10/26/2026

You've likely never encountered a fly quite like this!

At The Arboretum, we band birds by gently capturing them, fitting them with a uniquely numbered band, and releasing them. Occasionally, birds that we band will bring along some unexpected hitchhikers: hippoboscid flies, also known as flat flies!

Let’s learn more about them: These unusual insects are obligate, blood-feeding parasites. They're specially adapted for life on their hosts, with flattened bodies, strong claws for gripping tightly, and piercing mouthparts for feeding on blood.

When we handle birds carrying these flies, they occasionally wander onto our arms and scuttle around in a distinctly un-fly-like manner. Although these particular flat flies are adapted to feeding on birds rather than humans, their surprisingly quick movements can be a little unsettling!

Photos:
1. Close-up of the hippoboscid fly’s head
2. Top view of the fly
3. Top-side view of the fly

Photos and text by Interpretive Naturalist & Student Engagement Coordinator, Joseph Langlois

10/25/2026

October 2026 Newsletter!
Check your inboxes or visit the newsletter link to learn about The Arb in Autumn: Elm Recovery Project, Tagging Monarchs, Workshops, and More!

Link in the bio and here:
https://mailchi.mp/uoguelph/october2026

Photo: Screenshot of the October newsletter banner, with yellow Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum leaves in the background and the newsletter title. Caption text: Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum - Black maple in the Native Trees of Ontario at The Arboretum. Photo by Cael Wishart.

10/24/2026

This week, let's meet Hamamelis virginiana (American witch-hazel), a species that comes to life in the fall as others begin to go dormant.

While most trees are showing off their autumn colours and shedding their leaves, American witch-hazel begins to display its unique spidery, yellow flowers. In fact, it is the only native Ontario tree or shrub species to bloom in autumn.

By flowering in the late fall, witch-hazel takes advantage of a time when far fewer plants are in bloom, potentially reducing competition for pollinators. Its flowers can attract late-season visitors, including small flies, bees, and other insects looking for one last source of nectar and pollen before winter hits. Its unusual timing is also possible because its flowers are remarkably cold-tolerant, allowing them to persist through chilly autumn weather.

Witch-hazel leaves are oval-shaped with wavy, toothed edges. They are dark green through the growing season before turning yellow in autumn. As the leaves fall, the clusters of discrete yellow flowers become easier to spot along the branches.

Next time you visit The Arboretum, look for American witch-hazel’s yellow leaves and late-season flowers. They can be found in the West Lawn, Park in the Garden and World of Trees.

Photos:
1. Hamamelis virginiana (American witch-hazel) blooms and foliage
2. American witch-hazel foliage up-close
3. American witch-hazel blooms
4. American witch-hazel foliage

Photos and text by Cael Wishart, Head Gardener

Address

200 Arboretum Road
Guelph, ON
N1G2W1

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 8:30pm
Tuesday	7am - 8:30pm
Wednesday	7am - 8:30pm
Thursday	7am - 8:30pm
Friday	7am - 8:30pm
Saturday	7am - 8:30pm
Sunday	7am - 8:30pm

Telephone

+15198244120

Website

https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/, https://linktr.ee/uogarboretum

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