A visit to the Awesome arboretum in Harrisonburg
After several delayed attempts this summer, I finally was able to visit the awesome Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and I was not disappointed.
It was a day of several stellar events, starting with the Perseid meteor showers, and the planetary alignment before dawn. In early afternoon, there was an eclipse, although you couldn’t see much in Virginia. And it was New Moon.
So perhaps it was just in the stars that I should finally make my way back out to Harrisonburg after my last visit four years ago!
An delightful day for the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
I was ready, and though the day began kind of foggy after the planetary alignment, the sun revealed itself as I made my way over the mountain.
After a restorative visit with a dear friend in Staunton for coffee and bagels, it was time to make my way toward Edith J. at J.M.U.
All about the approach
According to the flyer I took from the kiosk above, “the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum is a public garden located at JMU’s East Campus which provides all students and community members with an outdoor classroom, a forested green haven that is home to a rich oak-hickory forest habitat of flora and fauna, flowering gardens, and native wildflowers.”
With at least 19 separate sections including herb and fern gardens, a meditation labyrinth, and the Viette perennial collection, the arboretum exceeds the description above by miles.
From the main entrance, you can park for free and head immediately to the Children’s zone on your left, or straight toward the nature center. To reach it, pass through their gorgeous half acre pond area, populated with giant carp, nodding mallow, hibiscus flowers, and all manner of gorgeous Virginia native plants.
I was able to talk to a couple gardeners there and compliment them on the work they’re doing. They manage to maintain a very clean but casual and woodsy and inviting space for the public. As a gardener myself, I know this is not easy.
One of the gardeners in the pond did admit that she still keeps an eye out for cotton mouths, even though they’re not reported to be in this area. And I don’t blame her! I am from a more “snakey” part of Virginia, so am always on the lookout for those kind of surprise visitors.
The three staff people I spoke with all seemed very happy, helpful, and proud of the gardens.
Summer is winding down
I think the cooler temperatures after a hot beginning to the summer; plus improved air quality added to the lift in all our moods.
One of the gardeners was in waders and (likely) pulling duckweed and generally keeping the focal pond looking great.
I saw a few turtles and some very, very large fish.
Wildflower showcase
Cut-leaf coneflowers, Lobelia cardinalis and Rosin weed ringed half the area around the pond. The grounds are also replete with Milkweed, New York Ironweed, New England Asters, Wood asters, Scarlet Beebalm, Wild Monarda. and more. EJC Arboretum is a show place of pollinator and native plants.
Keep the vibe going and buy some to take home
Not only can you see smell and learn about the plants at Edith J. Carrier in Harrisonburg, you can also buy them.
They had three tables out front of very reasonably-priced quart-size plants, and advertised an upcoming plant sale in September 2026. There is a greenhouse in the back of the property where many of the sale plants are grown.
I spoke with Janis in the Francis Plecker Education and Welcome Center. Though I interrupted her eclipse-viewing activity, she was very helpful and told me about some of the upcoming programs. Activities for all ages happen often on the arboretum grounds, including sound baths, and nature journalling.
They recently had a person who spoke about rehabilitating bats that will return due to overwhelming interest in the last program.
Janis gave a good introduction to the place; she encouraged me to check out the children’s area. I took her advice and am so glad I did, because it was actually a highlight for me in the garden. Though my children have been adults for quite some time now, I quickly reverted to a decades-younger version of myself due to the garden’s clever design!
I left the Nature Center area and enjoyed their outdoor classroom and fountain next to the building.
Onward and upward
The news around town is the arboretum will be expanding, as soon as the road construction nearby concludes. It will be adding sixty acres to the existing 125, which is very exciting.
It is true that I saw many beautiful plants. Some of my favorites were the stands of Jewelweed. (I’m a big Jewelweed fan). And there was Bald Cypress, a favorite from my hometown in Norfolk!
I also really enjoyed the wetland and woodland paths on my way to the final destination for me, the children’s area
The ending was another beginning
The children’s area is full of magical large carvings of morel mushrooms, and they’ve done a great job stoking imagination, evoking whimsy, and integrating things for people with sensory issues.
There was sensory path, a hollow log inviting you to pretend that you were a skunk, “spider web” netting to play on, an outdoor marimba and other soundscapes. I could have stayed out there all day, playing “the wheels on the bus go round and round’ on the music equipment!
A place to rest for a while
From there, I sat in the outdoor classroom area of picnic tables and wrote notes about my visit. The sun had come out and heated the day, so I enjoyed the shade and the sounds of the gardens. Even though there’s a lot of traffic near campus, you really can’t hear it once you’re in the garden.
I appreciated the two areas of restrooms for the oldsters amongst us as well!
Instead of telling you any more about it, (because I could go on for quite a while) I encourage you to just go.
Suggestions: Go on a day when you can catch a plant sale, a lecture, or one of their other low or no-cost programs. Or just take a toddler with you and fully-immerse yourselves in the magic that is palpably present here!
The Edith J. Carrier Arboretum in Harrisonburg is easily accessible via Route 33 Spottswood trail that runs East-West through the Blue Ridge to Fredericksburg, and Interstate 81 that runs North-South through Virginia, parallel to the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkways in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
A very Friendly City Indeed
If you do go to Harrisonburg and head to the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, make time for the Friendly City Food Co-op as well. It’s a fabulous cooperatively owned grocery store (a rarity these days) and wonderful place to pick up locally grown and prepared food. It is less than three miles from the arboretum, and chock full of produce and art, and is full of friendly people!
Friendly City Food Co-op is a full-service grocery store with prepared and hot foods available to eat in-house, outside, or as carry out picnic dining. I had not been to a food cooperative in a long time. I was a member in the 1990s of both New Age/Whole Foods in Norfolk, and Fare Share in Richmond, and it was great to see a bustling cooperative being supported by the entire community. Kudos, Harrisonburg!
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