Join Viles Arboretum and Maine Public Health Association for an insightful event exploring how rewilding your yard -planting native species, reducing lawn space, and creating habitat for pollinators- can benefit both the environment and your well-being.

Part of the MPHA's regional Pollinator Series, this gathering brings together students, community members, and public health professionals to connect and learn. Enjoy a short talk, networking with refreshments, and guided walks through the Arboretum to see rewilding in action. 

Join herbalist, homeopath, and flower essence practitioner Debra Bluth for a guided walk through Viles Arboretum, where you'll meet a variety of medicinal plants and trees along the way. Discover key identifying features, folklore, and traditional uses of these plants from herbal, homeopathic, and flower essence perspectives. Ages 16+

Each walk will feature different plants, so you're welcome to join one or all three for a unique experience every time. Wear sturdy shoes that can handle a bit of dirt!

Potential Plants for Each Walk (subject to change):

Walk #1: Plantain, burdock, dandelion, sumac, yarrow, elder, lungwort, white oak, bloodroot, violet,Solomon seal

Walk #2: Red clover, ginkgo, iris, Japanese knotweed, hawthorn, rose, comfrey, horse chestnut, catalpa,poison ivy, lesser cinquefoil

Walk #3: elecampane, mugwort, lesser periwinkle, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, boneset, gravel root,jewelweed, blue vervain, white cedar, white pine

Register for all 3 walks and use promo code THREE to save 10%

Join herbalist, homeopath, and flower essences practitioner Debra Bluth for an introduction to flower essence workshop.

Flower essences are energetic remedies made from the blossoms of living plants, potentized by the sun or moon, and created with intention and ceremony. Taken orally, these essences work on a vibrational level to support emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Each essence carries a unique energetic imprint, guiding the body and mind toward greater balance and healing.

In this immersive workshop, you'll explore the foundations of flower essences, including their history, uses, and the subtle yet profound shifts they can facilitate. A significant portion of the day will be spent outdoors, where each participant will have the opportunity to create their own flower essence.

Ages: 18+

Viles Arboretum is proud to host a talk in the Tree Talks series, which pairs tree identification with local history, and community project.

Join Viles Arboretum, the Maine Forest Service, the Maine Tree Farm Program, and Maine Woodland Owners for a unique guided walk exploring both natural and cultural history in the Cony & Knight Cemetery.

Maine Forest Service District Forester Allyssa Gregory and retired forester Andy Schultz will lead participants through an engaging exploration of tree identification alongside observation and discussion about the meanings behind historic headstone symbols. 

From weeping willows and clasped hands to lambs and urns, gravestone carvings from the 18th and 19th centuries often carry symbolic meanings - expressing grief, faith, hope, and remembrance. These quiet markers tell stories about the values, beliefs, and lives of those buried in the cemetery and reflect artistic trends of their time.

We're excited to welcome you to this thoughtful walk through one of Augusta's lesser-known historic spaces - where stories of the land and the people are rooted together. 

• To ensure an inclusive and engaging experience, registration will be limited to 20 participants.
• Walk begins and ends in the Education Barn at Viles Arboretum.

About the Guides

Allyssa Gregory is the Maine Forest Service’s District Forester for the MidCoast and chair of the Town of Thorndike’s Cemetery Committee. She assists with regulatory issues related to NRPA and FPA, leads educational workshops, and offers in-person visits to landowners with 10+ forested acres. She obtained a forestry degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her professional background includes rural forestry, urban forestry, horticulture, and structure firefighting. Allyssa is involved with the Tree Farm program as a certified inspector and serves as chair for Knox & Waldo Counties. She is a member of the Maine Old Cemetery Association and is a Project Learning Tree facilitator.

After graduating from the University of Maine School of Forest Resources in 1976, Andy Schultz began his career as a forester. He has worked in the private sector as a lumber grader for a small sawmill, and a field forester for International Paper Company. He also worked as a Landowner Outreach Forester for the Maine Forest Service. Most recently, he has worked as an independent consulting forester. Retired now (almost,) he continues to enjoy walking and talking in and about the Maine woods.

Maine’s bird populations are constantly shifting, with some species thriving while others decline. State of the Birds: Decades of Change explores these patterns over the past few decades, highlighting which birds are disappearing, which are on the rise, and what these changes might mean for the future.

This presentation is led by Nick Lund, Maine Audubon's Advocacy and Outreach Manager. A passionate birder and writer, Nick is the author of The ABA Field Guide to the Birds of Maine; Dinosaurs to Chickens: How Evolution Works; and The Ultimate Biography of Earth. His articles have appeared in Slate.com, The Washington Post, National Geographic, and more.

Following the presentation, join us for a guided bird walk to put your knowledge into practice. We’ll explore the surrounding landscape, searching for some of the species discussed and observing firsthand the changes in Maine’s bird populations. Whether you're an experienced birder or just getting started, this is a great opportunity to deepen your appreciation for the birds of Maine.

Join Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District and Viles Arboretum as we host Maine Forest Service District Forester Jared Gregory on a walk through Viles Arboretum to learn about some key species of Maine's forests.

We will learn what makes species unique, including:

• Distinctive features
• Ecological niches
• Cultural importance
• Insect and disease concerns
• Use as forest products
• Stewardship implications

All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the "Forest Trees of MaineCentennial Edition - 1908 to 2008" guide to continue your tree identification journey.

Light refreshments will be provided before we head out and we explore the diverse treespecies of the arboretum.

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to enhance your knowledge of Maine's woodlandecology while enjoying the beautiful grounds of Viles Arboretum! Space is limited to 24 attendees, so register today.

You may call 207-626-7989 to register by phone, Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30am-4:30pm.