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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm Saturday 8am - 4pm Sunday 8am - 11am

May Arboretum Society

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Reno, NV
May Arboretum Society

The May Arboretum Society is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, educating, and advocating for the Wilbur D. May Arboretum. Join Us! MayArboretumSociety.org

May Arboretum and Botanical Garden within Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno, Nevada. The May Arboretum Society's mission is to serve the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden by creating, maintaining and sustaining opportunities that promote greater awareness, understanding and appreciation of the role of plants in the high desert and mountain bio-regions. The Society's intention is t

o provide financial support and volunteer hours for the continued improvement of the Wilbur D. The May Arboretum Society is a membership-based non-profit organization. Membership is open to any person, family or group interested in the arboretum and its collections. The benefits of membership include volunteer opportunities in the Arboretum, early notification of workshops, educational opportunities, and an informative monthly newsletter as well as year-round discounts at area garden centers and nurseries. Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to serving as docents and tour guides, children's programming, office work, workshop assistants, and gardening. Training is provided to all volunteers.

08/24/2026

Beautiful gardens don't grow on their own. They grow because a community cares.

Our volunteers play an invaluable role in helping care for the gardens and preserve this special place for our entire community. Whether they're lending a hand in the garden, helping with events, or sharing their time behind the scenes, their dedication is what helps us continue to grow and thrive.

From the bottom of our hearts, we couldn't do it without you. Thank you to every volunteer who continues to show up and grow alongside us.

📝 Interested in volunteering in the gardens? Visit our website to learn more: https://mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/volunteer/

08/23/2026

May Arboretum is currently closed to the public due to the Hawk Fire and the surrounding evacuation area.

At this time, the Arboretum and park remain safe and have not been impacted by the fire. However, we are still within the Washoe County evacuation zone and will remain closed until it is safe to reopen.

For everyone’s safety, please do not attempt to enter the park while the closure and evacuation orders are in effect.

We’re grateful to the firefighters, first responders, and emergency personnel working to protect our community. ❤️

We’ll share updates here as conditions change and let you know as soon as May Arboretum is able to safely reopen.

Stay safe, Reno!

08/22/2026

You can scroll through a hundred pictures of the Arboretum.
You can save the flowers. Screenshot the views. Even make them your wallpaper.

But you can’t download the sound of birds overhead.
You can’t save the scent of lavender in the air.
And you definitely can’t screenshot the feeling of walking beneath the trees.

Some things are meant to be experienced, not scrolled past.

Open 7 days a week. Come experience the May Arboretum for yourself.

08/21/2026

Nature needs advocates.

The trees don't talk. The flowers can’t write. The animals won't speak our language.

Nature needs people willing to notice, care, and act.

Through community support, we can help preserve the May Arboretum and the natural beauty that makes Reno home.

Be a voice for the places that cannot speak for themselves.

🔗 Learn more about becoming a member at mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/join

08/20/2026

Have you met the secret keepers of the gardens? You may have walked right past them without realizing the important work happening beneath your nose. 🐝

Meet one of Reno’s most hardworking pollinators: the bees. When they move from flower to flower, they transfer pollen that helps plants reproduce and produce seeds and fruit. This simple process supports plant diversity, provides food and habitat for wildlife, and helps maintain the ecosystems we all depend on.

Curious to learn more about our local pollinators? Explore our Seeds of Knowledge series and watch 'Pollinators' to discover more about the tiny creatures helping our gardens and arboretum thrive: mayarboretumsociety.org/learn/knowledge-series-videos

08/19/2026

What if the best place for kids to learn isn’t always inside a classroom? 🔍

Remember the places you loved exploring as a kid, the ones where a simple walk could turn into your very own adventure? We want the Arboretum to be that place for the next generation.

Here’s why:

1. There’s always something to discover.
Flowers, trees, birds, insects, and hidden corners can turn every visit into a new adventure.

2. Curiosity comes naturally.
Kids can ask questions, get their hands dirty, and learn by experiencing nature firsthand.

3. There’s room to wander.
A garden path can become a trail, a discovery, or an entirely new world through a child’s imagination.

4. Nature comes to life.
Watching a bee pollinate a flower or seeing the seasons change makes the natural world feel real and tangible.

5. Wonder has room to grow.
The memories children make here can become the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of nature, and a desire to protect it.

As we grow older, we sometimes forget how magical it is to simply look closer. The Arboretum gives kids a reason to keep wondering.

Bring the little ones, slow down, and see the garden through their eyes.

08/18/2026

Consider this your sign to come hang out with us.

We have flowers.
We'll answer your calls.
We'll walk the paths with you.
And we have Rod.

But, most importantly, we’re not going anywhere.

When you need someone to rely on, we'll be there for you. 💐

📍Visit the May Arboretum at 1595 N Sierra St, Reno, NV 89503.

08/14/2026

A little beauty can make a lasting difference.

With the 12 Months of Flowers Card, you'll receive a fresh, seasonal bouquet from Sparks Florist each month for a year. Even better, 25% of every $50 card purchased goes toward the May Arboretum Society.

It's an easy way to enjoy something beautiful while helping us care for the gardens, expand educational opportunities, and preserve the Arboretum for generations to come.

Sometimes supporting something you love can be as simple as bringing a little more beauty into your home.

🔗 Learn more: mayarboretumsociety.org/product/12-months-of-flowers-card

07/25/2026

🪻Thank you to everyone who came out to support our Lavender in the Garden event at the May Arboretum earlier this month!

Twelve varieties of lavender were available for purchase, with each one having its own unique characteristics. Some were ideal for landscape use, others for dried arrangements, for containers and edging, and even for culinary use!

💜 A special thank you to our experienced gardeners who provided visitors with tips on pruning, care, and everything else lavender.

🌼 Become a May Arboretum Society member: https://mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/join/

🌼 Make a donation to the May Arboretum Society: https://mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/

07/14/2026

The Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden: a sanctuary for birds, pollinators, and plant life from around the world.

The arboretum spans 22 acres, with 13 acres currently cultivated. This means that nearly half of the park remains undeveloped.

This undeveloped space holds the future, containing limitless potential that could inspire generations to come!

Potential gardens include:
- The Cactus and Succulent Garden 🌵
- New Pavilions and Gathering Spaces 📚
- Children’s Discovery Gardens 👧
- Seasonal Gardens and Walking Paths 🌼
- Pollinator and Bird Habitats 🐝

Public funding keeps us open. Community investment helps us grow. An endowment is more than funding; it’s a promise that the garden will endure.

Help us grow the future.

🤝Get involved: https://mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/join/

👏Make a donation: https://mayarboretumsociety.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/

Video Produced by: Bryon Evans Films

Address

1595 N Sierra Street
Reno, NV
89503

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 4pm
Sunday	8am - 11am

Website

https://mayarboretumsociety.org/

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