PlanetEye

Stroll among the landscaped grounds of the Arnold Arboretum this week and you will be overwhelmed by the sweet fragrance of hundreds of lilac bushes in full bloom.

Traditionally held on Mother's Day, visitors from around the world come to the Arnold Arboretum just to celebrate "Lilac Sunday".

Located in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Arnold Arboretum is a Harvard University research institutions. The Arboretum has 265+ acres of forest, meadows, and landscaped grounds that feature thousands of rare and lovely wooded plants including perennial shrubs, roses, bonsai, hemlocks, and conifers.  

Lilac Sunday is the one day of the year that picnicking is allowed on the grounds of the Arboretum. You can bring your own- or there is food available to purchase on-site. Throughout the day there will be tours of the lilac collection by the Arboretum's extremely knowledgeable docents. For kids, there are plenty of activities including storytelling, crafts, and games.  There will even be dancing among the flowers! Morris Dancing (a kind of English folk dance) performances are always a Lilac Sunday highlight.

Every season is special at the Arboretum; it is truly one of the city's hidden gems.  Note too, that the Arnold Arboretum is also one of the few Boston attractions that is always free!

Take the "T" (Orange line to Forest Hills) as there isn't any parking in the Arboretum proper and parking immediately outside the Arboretum is extremely limited.