Guided Trail Walk

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and thr......More

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more. Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather. There is no pre-registration walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center. Walks are FREE however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free. Know Before You GoGuided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.

Sound Bath

Sound Bathwith Asheville Wellness Tours Saturday, September 5  |  10 – 11:30 am Register Here!  Experience the magic of Sound Baths in the Gardens. While relaxing amongst the flora, be soothed by the sounds of unique instruments used to reset your nervous system. This 6......More

Sound Bathwith Asheville Wellness Tours Saturday, September 5  |  10 – 11:30 am Register Here!  Experience the magic of Sound Baths in the Gardens. While relaxing amongst the flora, be soothed by the sounds of unique instruments used to reset your nervous system. This 60-minute pause from your day-to-day will be nestled in the gardens of The NC Arboretum: a nature home away from home. If it’s raining, don’t worry. There is a beautiful indoor space with large windows overlooking the forest so you can still soak in the magic without being actually soaked. Your ticket grants you access into The NC Arboretum (feel free to explore their exhibits afterwards!). You can bring your own mat or borrow one of ours for $5. Asheville Wellness Tours offers customizable wellness and yoga retreats and experiences in the mountains of Western North Carolina. While our mission is to help you reconnect with yourself, with others, and with nature, we’re also here to have fun! We love to intertwine interesting, insightful, and rejuvenating experiences so you can enjoy a truly meaningful time here in beautiful Asheville. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Salamander Diversity in the Southern Appalachians

Salamander Diversity in the Southern Appalachianswith Patrick Brannon Saturday, September 5  |  1 – 3:30pm BRN – Elective Register Here!  The southern Appalachians are one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world. More species of salamanders exist......More

Salamander Diversity in the Southern Appalachianswith Patrick Brannon Saturday, September 5  |  1 – 3:30pm BRN – Elective Register Here!  The southern Appalachians are one of the most biologically diverse regions in the temperate world. More species of salamanders exist in these mountains than anywhere else, and nowhere are they more abundant. Participants will be presented a lecture focusing on biology and ecology of salamanders, biogeography, reasons for the enormous diversity in this region, and local threats to species diversity. Afterwards, students will analyze and graph data to observe how different species coexist in streams. Weather permitting, we will then search the Arboretum grounds to observe species in the wild. Patrick Brannon is an independent naturalist and educator. He holds a M.S. in Biology from Appalachian State University, and has performed research on the ecology of salamanders and small mammals. For the past 22 years he was Outreach Coordinator at the WCU Highlands Biological Station, where he taught courses on amphibians and mammals as part of the UNC Institute for the Environment Program at HBS, in addition to many K-12 school programs and educator workshops. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Fall Wildflowers of the NC Arboretum

Fall Wildflowers of the NC Arboretumwith Lauren Lampley Wednesday, September 9  |  1 – 4pm BRN – Core  |  BREG – Core Register Here!  Interested in learning how to identify wildflowers? Join Lauren on this walk around the Arboretum property where we will go over differe......More

Fall Wildflowers of the NC Arboretumwith Lauren Lampley Wednesday, September 9  |  1 – 4pm BRN – Core  |  BREG – Core Register Here!  Interested in learning how to identify wildflowers? Join Lauren on this walk around the Arboretum property where we will go over different ways of identifying plants and different families of flowers. Some flowers are very difficult to identify to species and some are relatively easy so we will talk about how to get as close as possible with tools we can easily carry into the field. We will be using Newcomb’s guide to key out some of the less common flowers but will focus on learning how to look closely at flowers to identify them. This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time. Lauren Lampley began her career at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation as a Park Naturalist which solidified Lauren’s interests in ecology and a passion for teaching others. She has led walks and hikes in a variety of subjects from Geology to Birding and especially enjoys learning and teaching about our local ecology. She currently works at the NC Arboretum as the Adult Education Coordinator managing all the programming hosted through the Adult Education Department. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Arbor Evenings

Arbor Evenings 2026June 10 – September 17, 2026Baker Event LawnSip and stroll through the gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! Arbor Evenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays June 10 through......More

Arbor Evenings 2026June 10 – September 17, 2026Baker Event LawnSip and stroll through the gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! Arbor Evenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays June 10 through September 17, 2026 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.     **Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.** There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from Arbor Evenings help support The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission. 5:30 – 8:30: Angela Easterling & Brandon Turner (Not quite country & not quite folk! Angela, a unique and engaging songwriter, brings rootsy, refreshing, and homespun tunes with her duo partner, Brandon)Enjoy dinner from a rotating selecting of food trucks!Scheduled performances are subject to change.View upcoming dates here. Support for this event series is generously provided by:

Baker Event Lawn

Plein Air Painting in the Gardens

Plein Air Painting in the Gardenswith Erika Busse Thursday, September 10  |  9am – 11pm Register Here!  There is no better way to relax and connect with your creative side and nature than en plein air painting. In this class, artist Erika Busse will teach you how to pai......More

Plein Air Painting in the Gardenswith Erika Busse Thursday, September 10  |  9am – 11pm Register Here!  There is no better way to relax and connect with your creative side and nature than en plein air painting. In this class, artist Erika Busse will teach you how to paint an original Appalachian inspired artwork outside at the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. She will take you through each step of the painting process, all skill levels are welcomed and all supplies are provided. This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time. Erika Busse moved to Asheville in 2017 after graduating from the University of Alabama with degrees in art and business. She is a small business owner of her full time artist business, sharing mountain inspired painting and printmaking with the world. She has been teaching plein air painting classes since 2021. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Awakening Creativity — An Introductory Workshop

Awakening Creativity — An Introductory WorkshopWith Catherine Willows Thursday, September 10  |  9:30 – 11:30 am Register Here!  Creativity lives innately within us all—our natural capacity to imagine, envision new possibilities, and bring fresh energy into our lives. I......More

Awakening Creativity — An Introductory WorkshopWith Catherine Willows Thursday, September 10  |  9:30 – 11:30 am Register Here!  Creativity lives innately within us all—our natural capacity to imagine, envision new possibilities, and bring fresh energy into our lives. In this two-hour introductory workshop, you’ll be invited into a different kind of art-making: not focused on skill or product, but on expression from within. Held in sacred space and in communion with nature, we’ll explore intuitive painting, journaling, and reflective practices to quiet the mind and awaken your inner creative self—helping you see what may not have been fully acknowledged, and allowing inspiration, clarity, and joy to arise. Many participants are surprised by what unfolds—the unexpected that emerges through the process itself. This introductory session lays the foundation for future workshops. No art experience is needed—just an open spirit and a willingness to explore and students are encouraged to bring their journals with them if they would like to. Catherine Willows is a Registered Nurse, Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, and Transformational Creativity Coach, and founder of Willows Coaching and Consulting. While holding sacred space, she guides adults in awakening their inner creativity — moving beyond the demands of daily life into greater flow, self-discovery, and joy through intuitive art-making processes. Catherine believes creativity and our connection to the natural world are deeply interwoven  — both vital pillars of wellbeing, supporting nervous system regulation and inner equanimity, and together essential for living a meaningful, embodied life aligned with purpose and authentic expression. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here.   See all of our classes open for registration here!

Blooms in a Hoop: Beginner Embroidery Workshop

Blooms in a Hoop: Beginner Embroidery Workshopwith JeanAnne Taylor Thursday, September 10  |  12 – 4pm Register Here!  Students will learn basic techniques of hand embroidery, as well as information on needle sizes, types of floss, and appropriate fabric. I will demonst......More

Blooms in a Hoop: Beginner Embroidery Workshopwith JeanAnne Taylor Thursday, September 10  |  12 – 4pm Register Here!  Students will learn basic techniques of hand embroidery, as well as information on needle sizes, types of floss, and appropriate fabric. I will demonstrate how to do the embroidery stitches, then work one on one if necessary for students to understand. I will provide a supply kit for the students. They will have a finished (or mostly finished) project to take home. JeanAnn Taylor loves to be creative with words, watercolors, hooks, yarn, dancing, gardening, fabric, and thread. As an award-winning embroidery artist, she combines her love of nature with original embroidery designs. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Arbor Evenings

Arbor Evenings 2026June 10 – September 17, 2026Baker Event LawnSip and stroll through the gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! Arbor Evenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays June 10 through......More

Arbor Evenings 2026June 10 – September 17, 2026Baker Event LawnSip and stroll through the gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! Arbor Evenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays June 10 through September 17, 2026 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.         **Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.** There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from Arbor Evenings help support The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission. 5:30 – 8:30: Elizabeth McCorvey & Lefty Carmean (Mixing fiddle, violin, banjo, and the cello)Scheduled performances are subject to change.View upcoming dates here. Support for this event series is generously provided by:

Baker Event Lawn

River Systems of the Blue Ridge

River Systems of the Blue Ridgewith Anton DuMars Friday, September 11  |  12 – 4pm BRN – Core Register Here!  Water is essential to life but is also a powerful agent of change. Rivers, through both daily processes and catastrophic floods, shape Earth’s surface through e......More

River Systems of the Blue Ridgewith Anton DuMars Friday, September 11  |  12 – 4pm BRN – Core Register Here!  Water is essential to life but is also a powerful agent of change. Rivers, through both daily processes and catastrophic floods, shape Earth’s surface through erosion and sediment transport. In River Systems of the Blue Ridge, we will investigate how the Broad River changes character and shapes the landscape along its course from the headwaters, through the Piedmont, and onto the Atlantic Ocean. Anton DuMars, a resident of Black Mountain, NC, is an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston. His geological interests include fluvial, deltaic, and coastal processes. Ideally, he’s spending time on a hiking trail or aboard his sailboat. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

History and Archaeology of the Arboretum

History and Archaeology of the Arboretumwith Bob and Mary Noel Friday, September 11  |  1 – 4pm Register Here!  The land that makes up The North Carolina Arboretum has been home to different human groups over a span of more than 15,000 years. It has had many uses and be......More

History and Archaeology of the Arboretumwith Bob and Mary Noel Friday, September 11  |  1 – 4pm Register Here!  The land that makes up The North Carolina Arboretum has been home to different human groups over a span of more than 15,000 years. It has had many uses and been shaped by those who lived here. This walk, led by archaeologists Bob and Mary Noel, will give participants a chance to see and hear about past occupants of this land, and even a little history about how it became the state’s Arboretum. Bob and Mary Noel both had long careers as archaeologists with the US Forest Service. Bob worked mostly in North Carolina where he recorded thousands of sites on national forest lands here. Most of Mary’s archaeological work was in Idaho and Ohio. Both of them have been active in living history programs as well, most recently with the Heritage Alliance in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The Noels now have a consulting firm and still do archaeological survey projects. Mary can be found working at the Arboretum’s Baker Information desk several days a week, sharing her knowledge of local trails, gardens and history. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!

Guided Trail Walk

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and thr......More

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more. Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather. There is no pre-registration walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center. Walks are FREE however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free. Know Before You GoGuided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.

Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreat

Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreatwith Asheville Wellness Tours Saturday, September 12  |  10am – 1pm Register Here!  Celebrate abundance, balance and equilibrium during this immersive morning nature connection retreat. During this seasonal transition, we’ll mark ......More

Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreatwith Asheville Wellness Tours Saturday, September 12  |  10am – 1pm Register Here!  Celebrate abundance, balance and equilibrium during this immersive morning nature connection retreat. During this seasonal transition, we’ll mark the threshold between summer and fall, honoring the Earth’s bountiful harvest while slowing our pace, awakening our senses, and practicing embodied acts of gratitude. Honoring this liminal fifth season, connecting with ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human-world, nourishing the relationships that sustain and connect us. Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience with a community Earth offering, followed by a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours. Christa Hebal is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Born and raised in the mountains of northeast Tennessee, she has lived in Asheville for 24 years. Christa has an adventurous heart, and loves to help others encounter wholeness through embodiment and nature connection practices. She has had a professional bodywork practice for 18 years as a nationally certified Massage Therapist, and is also a practitioner of Ortho-Bionomy®, Usui Reiki Master, Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist, Clinical Aromatherapist, and Certified Traditional Herbalist. She is also certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. ●  Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email [email protected] with questions. ●  See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here! Questions? Check our FAQs. ●  We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. ●  Follow us on Facebook & Instagram! ●  Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord! ●  Interested in supporting the NC Arboretum more directly? Donate to the ONE Fund here. See all of our classes open for registration here!