This is the time of year in which the nice weather (and the accomp-anying lack of news that always rolls in with it) forces content-starved Internet writers to churn out post after post with the same basic theme: “Here’s another nice thing to do outside!” With my luck, of course, I plan to write a couple of those posts during one of the rainiest stretches of weather we’ve had in quite some time.
I’ll stubbornly push through, however, and suggest that once the rain stops, you should get yourselves over to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain just as soon as possible. All the rain should have the place looking as green as ever, and should also keep the pollen in check for those of you who suffer from allergies. And it’s an easy trip — less than a mile’s walk from the Forest Hills station on the Orange Line
I like the Arboretum as a warm-weather destination because it can be almost anything, depending on what you’d like to do. Want to take a walk in the woods? Lay down on a grassy knoll and take a nap? Picnic with a date? Get drunk on wine and watch the squirrels? Whatever. About the only thing you can’t do is climb the trees.
If you’re a green-thumb type, though, you’ll maybe want to spend some time actually checking out the countless species of trees and plants on display across the Arboretum’s 281 acres. The Arboretum has over 15,000 plants representing over 10,000 variants of over 3,000 different species of trees, shrubs, and vines. (Here’s the inventory, if you’re interested.) There’s also a herbarium with over 1.3 million pressed specimens, and records from the Arboretum’s extensive history.
You can also appreciate the historic significance of the Arboretum. The place is over 140 years old, having first opened in 1872, and is operated in conjunction with Harvard University. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, America’s preeminent landscape architect, and makes up one of the biggest parts of the Emerald Necklace, a series of green spaces that wind through Boston and link Boston Common with Franklin Park. (Olmsted also designed Central Park in New York City, but since he made his home in the Boston area, we’ll forgive him for that.)
We know, there’s a decent chance you’re going to just get wined up and watch the squirrels, but at least you can tell people you went for the other stuff.
When was your last trip to the Arboretum? What are the squirrels up to? Tell us in the comments.
