A weekend among the trees starts on Friday for the Arboretum Expo.
Events like hiking, concerts, workshops and awards are all free to attend. Participants are encouraged to register for events online.
On Friday, Sept. 9 the event is called SoundBound, a guided walk and concert.
The idea for a guided musical walk came from bassist Ben Finley who attended a climate science workshop for artists.
“It was an intensive session for professional artists to learn more about climate science, and consider how their work can really engage with the urgent needs of our day that we know we have around climate change,” said Justine Richardson, director of the Arboretum at the University of Guelph.
Musicians, annais linares, Sophie Brown, Reza Yazdanpanah, Joe Sorbara and Finley will be joining the walk and performing a concert afterwards. There will be environmental facilitators guiding the walk.
“So it really is an improvisational exploration about trying to incorporate nature knowledge with a musical performance,” said Richardson.
The event is pay what you can, with a suggested donation of $15.
The events were previously held online due to the pandemic, this year they will be in-person aside from the plant auction.
Events on the Saturday will include a tour of the recently-renovated Gosling Wildlife Garden.
Sales from the plant auction will go directly to the Arboretum. “The Arboretum is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. So it's really free to our whole community and we have a range of supportive funds,” said Richardson.
The entrance to the Arboretum is located at College Avenue and Victoria Road. There is parking available. The Little Tree Café food truck will be parked and serving coffee and snacks.
Bidding is open until Sept. 11 at 9 p.m.
There will be a small plant sale at the Arboretum going on during the events.
“There will be people visiting, walking, you can meet other plant and nature people. Get to know something you haven't seen or heard of before,” said Richardson.
Friday, Sept. 9
SoundBound! Led by Ben Finley and U of G graduate students
Hales-Mackay Shelter at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10
"Seeing the Forest for the Trees" hike with Megan De Roover
West Lawn at 9 a.m.
Gosling Wildlife Garden Tour guided by Chris Earley
West Lawn at 9 a.m.
CommuniTree hike lead by Michelle Beltran
West Lawn at 9 a.m.
Tree Climbing Demonstration by Mike Yost
10 a.m.
Blast From the Past hike lead by Marika Bowrin
West Lawn at 11 a.m.
Ecopsychology Walking Workshop by Memona Hossain
West Lawn at 11 a.m.
Beings of Victoria Woods Tour guided by Christa Wise
West Lawn at 11 a.m.
Ecological Restoration Workshop presented by The Arboretum in partnership with Guelph Institute for Environmental Research
Taylor Nature Centre from 9 a.m. - noon
Guelph Urban Forest Friends (GUFF) Henry Kock Award for Tree Stewardship
Arboretum Gazebo, West Lawn from noon - 1 p.m.
Panel and Launch of Sound Walk- "How to Draw a Tree (Trees, Mental Health, Creativity)” presented by Dawn Matheson
Arboretum Centre from 1 - 1 p.m.
