Paul Blandford, former Longfellow National Historic Site educator and a ranger for fifteen years, will share his ideas as to how and why Longfellow stayed true to his beliefs, and still touches the hearts of people today.

Longfellow believed that "by the art of the poet our common life is uplifted" and that a poet should be close to the heart of humanity, writing not only for "the few that think, but also for the many who feel."

This program is free to the public and will be held at Story Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery. Coffee and tea will be served at 9:30 AM.

After the indoor program, we will hold a short wreath-laying ceremony at Longfellow's grave on Indian Ridge Path and then return to Story Chapel for birthday cake. Please register online for this event.

This event is co-sponsored with The Friends of the Longfellow House and the Longfellow National Historic Site.

True to its common name, the Paperbark Maple is noted for its showy, reddish-orange to cinnamon-bronze, smooth, exfoliating, papery-translucent bark which provides year-round interest in the tree - particularly against the bleak backdrop of winter.

In early May the trifoliate leaves of the Acer griseum burst into lavender-purple leaf. With warmer weather, the coarsely toothed, three-to-six inch emerging leaves turn a darker green. One of the last maple trees to develop fall color, paperbark foliage turns a vibrant scarlet with leaves that often persist on the tree into and throughout the winter season.

Learn more about Mount Auburn's horticultural collections.

"A Field Guide to Mount Auburn's Interesting Conifers," "Big Trees at Mount Auburn" and "Unusual Trees of Mount Auburn" are all available for purchase at the Entrance Gate to the Cemetery.

In honor of African American History Month, we will read this true story of Jacobs' experiences as a slave in antebellum south. Jacobs is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. FREE.

Visit mountauburn.org to learn about other programs at the Cemetery.

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Birds and Birding at Mount Auburn Cemetery: An Introductory Guide is regularly available for purchase at the Cemetery from 8:30 AM to 4 PM everyday (except holidays). The cost is $8.00. Copies are available by mail order by sending payment to the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery, ATT: Bird Guide, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Please include the cost $8.00, plus $2.00 for mailing and handling (total $10) for each copy ordered.

Experience how contemporary landscape design and architecture are shaping the burial spaces for the 21st-century. The driving tour will end at Bigelow Chapel.

Please register online for this and other programs at Mount Auburn.

Learn more about Mount Auburn's many burial and memorialization options.