Dearest friends, neighbors, and tree-lovers near and far —

It is my honor to extend to you a cordial virtual invitation to the first annual Arboretum Day here at Cypress Lawn Arboretum & Botanical Gardens on Nov. 18, 2020.  As a celebration of life befitting the lasting legacy of our Memorial Park, where trees have been cherished since our founding in 1892, Arboretum Day will honor our history, embrace the present moment, and begin to grow the foundational roots of our future.

Live Arboretum Q&A Session

Have questions about Cypress Lawn’s Arboretum? Join us for a LIVE Q&A session on our Facebook page starting at 11 a.m. PT on Arboretum Day.

Arboretum Director Josh Gevertz will be joined by Roy Leggitt of Tree Management Experts, to share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the many wondrous trees growing today in our Arboretum collection.

Have a question you’d like to ask during the Q&A session? Don’t hesitate to share your questions in the comments section of the live event.

COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Tree Planting

Following the Q&A session, we will conduct a live-streamed memorial tree planting to honor the lives of the many cherished individuals around the world who unfortunately have been — and may yet still be — lost to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

We are honored to host this memorial event virtually so that everyone can share in this experience, from both near and far.

For this tree planting, a stone dedication monument will also be placed by the new trees with the following inscribed message:

“On November 18, 2020, these Monterey Cypresses were planted as memorial trees to stand in solidarity for the many cherished lives lost in the global coronavirus pandemic. May they grow tall and strong for years to come, so we never forget, and always celebrate their lives.”

Amid the hardship of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as an opportunity for a global healing moment, Cypress Lawn would like to extend an invitation to the international arboretum community to collectively partake in this memorial planting ceremony.  Also, any individuals or communities, please join in and plant a tree in your own yard or neighborhood!

In solidarity with the countless lives affected by this worldwide tragedy, might we all plant trees together, and share a moment to remember those no longer with us, to cherish the memories of the pandemic victims, and above all, to celebrate life! If you are planning on participating and planting a tree soon, please post photos and videos using the hashtag #PlantingHope so we can track our outreach.

Video footage from our memorial planting will be incorporated into a short documentary film project, which will be released at a later date, in December.  Stay tuned!

Virtual Tree Tour

To learn more about the living collection of the Cypress Lawn Arboretum in advance of Arboretum Day, please take a moment to experience our new virtual Tree Tour. This interactive experience showcases several of the finest specimen trees of the Arboretum collection and includes photographs, video content, maps, and much more! Find the link to this virtual experience here.

Here at the Cypress Lawn Arboretum, we are looking forward to sharing a special day with you all on Nov. 18. To stay in touch with all Arboretum news, upcoming events, and current and future tree care projects, please also subscribe to our new quarterly Arboretum newsletter, “Branching Out,” by clicking this link.

Thank you, be well, find the good, and — as always — remember to celebrate life!