The Arboretum, University of Guelph

The Arboretum, University of Guelph 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)!

What's in bloom this first week of Summer? Canada Anemone, Blue false indigo, Gray dogwood, Yellow foxglove, Pale purpl...
06/23/2026

What's in bloom this first week of Summer? Canada Anemone, Blue false indigo, Gray dogwood, Yellow foxglove, Pale purple coneflower, European mock-orange, and Purple-flowering raspberry!

1. Anemone canadensis - Canada anemone (Location: Roots and Shoots Garden)
2. Baptisia australis - Blue false indigo (Location: Gosling Wildlife Gardens, English Garden)
3. Cornus racemosa - Gray dogwood (Location: Gosling Wildlife Gardens, World of Trees)
4. Digitalis grandiflora - Yellow foxglove (Location: English Garden)
5. Echinacea pallida - Pale purple coneflower (R.J. Hilton Centre)
6. Philadelphus coronarius - European mock-orange (Gosling Wildlife Gardens)
7. Rubus odoratus - Purple-flowering raspberry (Gosling Wildlife Gardens, Roots and Shoots Garden, R.J. Hilton Centre)

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



Photos by Head Gardener, Cael Wishart

06/22/2026

Spotted in The Arboretum: a nesting Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)!

Snapping Turtles dig a sizeable hole in well-drained sediment to bury 20-40 eggs. They choose a location that is both in proximity to a body of water and elevated enough to avoid flooding. Filling in the hole with dirt and gravel helps keep the eggs safe from weather and predators. Young Snapping Turtles usually hatch in August or September, a few months after they are laid in late spring and early summer.

At The Arboretum, we use nest boxes to keep turtle nests safe. Predators such as raccoons have been known to dig up eggs, and nest boxes also protect them from being trampled by visitors!

       

Video 1: Snapping Turtle laying an egg in an excavated hole. Text: "Watch one of our resident Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) lay eggs! She has been laying eggs in this excavated hole for over an hour already, and will continue until she has laid 20-40 eggs!"
Video 2: Snapping Turtle filling her nest with dirt to bury her eggs. Text: "After she's done, it's time to fill the hole back in!"
Video 3: Snapping Turtle walking around her buried nest. Text: "Burying her eggs underground protects them from the elements and hides them from predators until they hatch. They could take up to thee months to hatch!"
Video 4: A Snapping Turtle walking down a gravel path. Text: "All done!"
Video 5: A nest box covering the nest site. Text: "The Arboretum uses nest boxes to keep the eggs safe!"

Videos by Ben Hartshorn.
Text by Ben Hartshorn and Lilly Curtis-Norcross, Summer Naturalists

06/22/2026

You hear them everywhere: on trails, out the car window, and even in your own backyard. Let’s put a face to the voice!

This is the Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). It’s a loud and feisty bird for its small size, and as secondary cavity nesters, you can readily find them nesting in bird boxes around The Arboretum. They can use hundreds of small twigs and other nesting material to completely fill up a cavity, making them unsuitable for other bird species to nest in. They have even been known to “evict” other birds to steal their nesting spots!

Listen to its chattering calls around The Arboretum this summer!

       

Video 1: House Wren singing on a perch on our Ivey Trail. Text: "Do you recognize this sound?"

Video 2: House Wren singing on a perch on our Ivey Trail. Text: "This is a Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). He has a nest nearby, and he's defending it!"

Video 3: House Wren peeking out of a bird box. Text: "As secondary cavity nesters, they will readily nest in bird boxes!" An arrow points to the wren "There he is!"

Video 4: House Wren perched, then flying away. Text: "Listen to their chattering calls around The Arboretum this summer!"

Audio: House Wren singing
Videos by Ben Hartshorn
Text by Ben Hartshorn and Lilly Curtis-Norcross, Summer Naturalists

06/20/2026

Arb Expo: Tree Day and Plant Sale 2026 Plant Spotlight: Sneak Preview!
Check out just a few of the many plants we are growing for the Plant Sale in September! Stay tuned this summer for more plant spotlights!
Save the date for Arboretum Expo 2026, Saturday, September 12th, 10 AM - 3 PM!
Details on our website, link in the bio and here: https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/education-events/ArbExpo

Video: Plants in the greenhouse with Southern Blue Flag ( Iris virginica var. schrevei) at the end.
Text: Arboretum Expo: Tree Day and Plant Sale! Sept.12, 10 AM - 3 PM!
Link in the bio

Let's meet Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)!Siberian Elm was introduced to North America in the late 1800s and quickly became...
06/20/2026

Let's meet Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)!

Siberian Elm was introduced to North America in the late 1800s and quickly became popular as a shade tree, shelterbelt species, and even a living hedge. Its rapid growth, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in poor soils made it a favourite choice across much of the continent.

But fast-growing trees often come with trade-offs.

What starts as a tidy hedge can eventually become a massive tree reaching 15–20 metres tall. Siberian Elm produces huge numbers of wind-blown seeds, spreads aggressively into natural areas, and has brittle wood that is prone to storm damage. Despite its vigorous growth, it is often relatively short-lived compared to many native tree species.

One easy way to identify Siberian Elm is by its small leaves, which have a more symmetrical base than our native elms.



Photos:
1. Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
2. A Siberian Elm branch
3. A Siberian Elm leaf in the palm of a hand

Photos and Text by Alison Morrison, Manager of Horticulture

Looking for a great last-minute Father’s Day or teacher's gift for the nature lover in your life? Are you a teacher loo...
06/18/2026

Looking for a great last-minute Father’s Day or teacher's gift for the nature lover in your life?
Are you a teacher looking for classroom resources for next year?
Shop Arb Merch!

Biodiversity sheets are a great option at only $5 each (including tax)!
Along with many other useful and stylish items, available on our website!

The Arboretum Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 4 PM, for in-person orders or pickup. We also offer Canada-wide shipping!

Visit our website for details!
(link in the bio and here: https://uogarboretumshop.ca/)



Photos (each photo has informative text as noted above, image descriptions below):
1. The display cabinet features Arb Water bottles, tree tote, Garden birds and Dragonflies biodiversity booklets, calendar, Feeder birds and Wildflower biodiversity booklets, biodiversity sheets, and hoodies
2. Sparrow and other biodiversity sheets spread out
3. Tree tote, biodiversity booklets, including Feeder birds and Wildflowers
4. An assortment of biodiversity sheets, including birds, fungi, trees, and insects
5. Arb hoodie, Mushrooms, Spiders, and Mammals biodiversity booklets, water bottle, neck gaiters, and bowl (collapsible silicone)
6. Arb lanyard with ruler, hoodie, neck gaiter, and biodiversity sheet

What's in bloom this week? Yarrow, Lance-leaved Tickseed, Bearded Iris, Itoh Peony and Tree Peony, Oriental Poppy, and W...
06/16/2026

What's in bloom this week? Yarrow, Lance-leaved Tickseed, Bearded Iris, Itoh Peony and Tree Peony, Oriental Poppy, and Woolly Thyme!

1. Achillea x ‘Moonshine’ - Yarrow (Location: English Garden)
2. Coreopsis lanceolata - Lance-leaved Tickseed (Location: R.J. Hilton Centre, Gosling Wildlife Gardens)
3. Iris germanica ‘Clarence' - Bearded Iris (Location: English Garden)
4. Paeonia itoh ‘Bartzella’ - Itoh Peony (Location: English Garden)
5. Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Renkaku’ ' Tree Peony (Location: Japanese Garden)
6. Papaver orientale ‘Royal Wedding’ - Oriental Poppy (Location: English Garden)
7. Thymus pseudolanuginosus - Woolly Thyme (Location: Japanese Garden)

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



Photos by Head Gardener, Cael Wishart

June 2026 Newsletter!Check your inboxes or visit the newsletter link to learn about Indigenous History Month, AccessNow,...
06/15/2026

June 2026 Newsletter!
Check your inboxes or visit the newsletter link to learn about Indigenous History Month, AccessNow, Oak Catkins, and More!

Link in the bio and here:
https://mailchi.mp/uoguelph/june2026



Photo: Screenshot of the June newsletter banner, with blooms in the background, and the newsletter title. Plant ID text: Cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) at The Arboretum. Photo by Polly Samland.

Solstice Yoga Fundraiser for the Nature Centre on International Yoga Day!Join Elaine Kelly on the longest day of the ye...
06/14/2026

Solstice Yoga Fundraiser for the Nature Centre on International Yoga Day!

Join Elaine Kelly on the longest day of the year - the Summer solstice, June 21, 2026, for an invigorating morning practice at 7 AM, or calming evening practice at 7 PM.
Both sessions will be 60 minutes in length. Please bring your own mat, water, and dress for the weather with insects in mind.

Location: OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre, 250 Arboretum Rd., Guelph

Registration is pay-what-you-will with a suggested donation of $20 to the Arboretum Nature Centre renovation project. All proceeds go towards the Nature Centre renovation!

Please register for free on our website, and show proof of donation to the instructor in-person.

Registration and donation links here and in the bio:
https://arboretum.uoguelph.ca/educationandevents/workshops
website: https://bbis.alumni.uoguelph.ca/BBIS_Cannon/give/arboretum.

Elaine Kelly is an alumna who spends her 'winters' in Guelph and the rest of the year in New Zealand. She has been teaching yoga for 16 years and hosts international retreats. These 2 60-minute classes offer an opportunity to practise outdoors as the sun rises and sets on the longest day of the year.
www.elainekellywellness.com



Photo: Event poster with a person doing yoga and informative text.

Let's meet some compound leaves with 3 leaflets from around The Arboretum!Sometimes we can find patterns in nature, and ...
06/13/2026

Let's meet some compound leaves with 3 leaflets from around The Arboretum!

Sometimes we can find patterns in nature, and there is no clear reason why a form is repeated - it just is. We may be familiar with the rhyme "leaves of 3, let it be" to describe poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), but many woody plants have similar leaves. Here is a little photographic taster platter of compound leaves with 3 leaflets from around The Arboretum. Along with the dreaded poison ivy, which you can recognize climbing a century pine in the birch family collection, there are the closely related (benign) fragrant sumac, raspberry (which often grow companionably with poison ivy in the wild), bladdernut and hop-tree (both of which have scientific names referring to 3 leaves), and paperbark maple (not the only maple with compound leaves). I welcome you to explore and encounter more examples - or to discover your own pattern among the plants.



Photos:
1. Poison ivy climbing up a century pine
2. Toxicodendron radicans - poison ivy ground
3. Toxicodendron radicans - poison ivy climbing
4. Rhus aromatica - fragrant sumac leaf
5. Rubus - raspberry leaflets
6. Ptelea trifoliata - common hop-tree leaves
7. Staphylea trifolia - American bladdernut leaf
8. Acer griseum - paperbark maple leaf

Photos and text by Polly Samland, Collections Horticulturist and Plants Records Technologist

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

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Arboretum, University of Guelph posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category