Over the past two years, with the generous support of the Massachusetts Sesquicentennial Commission of the American Civil War as well as individual donors, Mount Auburn completed the conservation treatment of 17 of our most threatened Civil War monuments.

Newly conserved monuments, along with those of many other veterans, were adorned with flags for Memorial Day, a fitting tribute at the end of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. See more...

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Horticultural Highlight: Fringetree, Chionanthus

Fringetree, Chionanthus virginicus presents an outstanding spring-white, floral display.

The individual flowers usually have four narrow, strap-like, one-inch-long petals. However, the fragrant flowers occur in great numbers, in six-to-eight-inch long, soft, fleecy, panicles. Learn more...

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Pride Walk at Mount Auburn

Sunday, 6/7 at 1PM

Celebrated, scandalous, and unknown: meet some fascinating figures of Boston's LGBT past with volunteer Robin Hazard Ray. Register today!

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Experiencing Roberto Mighty's earth.sky

On a snowy February morning, I went to the studio of new media artist Roberto Mighty to preview earth.sky, a multimedia installation that would be shown during Cambridge Open Studios, May 9-10. I wasn't sure quite what to expect... read more

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Early Risers Horticulture Club

Fridays, 6/5 & 6/19 at 7AM

Join us for this free morning excursion to discover what's in bloom and any other items of horticultural interest. From early bulbs to magnificent flowering trees, we will try to catch them all.

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Eternally Green: Reducing Our Reliance on Peat Moss

Gardeners often pride themselves with being good stewards of the environment and adding back to nature. In reality many of us contribute unknowingly to a problem that is being felt around the world through the use of peat moss.

Peat, formed in bogs... learn more

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Fun Summer Activity!

Mount Auburn Family Nature Guide

Mount Auburn is a great place to visit with children of all ages and we've just expanded our resources for children and families with our new Family Nature Guide! Written and illustrated by naturalist and educator Clare Walker Leslie, this guide helps children to write and draw about nature.

Last month, the Friends of Mount Auburn and Belmont Savings Bank, who supported the publication, hosted a Family Nature Celebration to launch the guide and encourage children to learn more about Mount Auburn's many resources.

Pick up a copy at our front gate alcove or Visitor Center today!

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Wildlife Highlight: The Nesting Birds of Mount

There have been at least 58 species of birds that have been documented as nesting within the grounds of Mount Auburn. The most common nester at Mount Auburn is the American Robin.

Some Robins will start building a nest in early April, though most are started by the first week of May. Incubation is usually 12-14 days... learn more

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Peter Byus monument

Learn more

Juneteenth - A Walking Tour

Saturday, 6/20 at 1PM

On June 19th, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Union General Gordon Grange announced the total emancipation of slaves throughout the United States. The following year, people in Galveston organized "Juneteenth" as an official holiday.

Join Volunteer Docent Stephen Pinkerton on the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth for a guided tour of the graves of key members of Boston's African American community who lived through the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Register today!

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Biodiversity at Mount Auburn

Wednesday, 6/24 at 5:30 PM

Join herpetologist Joe Martinez and ecologist Brooks Mathewson for a walk around Mount Auburn to monitor coverboards for the evidence of amphibians living at the Cemetery. Sign up now!

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Jews Buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery - A Walking Tour

Saturday, 6/27 at 1PM

Join Volunteer Docent Helen Abrams on a walk to visit the famous (Felix Frankfurter, Bernard Malamud and Edwin Land among others) and not so famous Jews buried at Mount Auburn. Register today!

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Dendroica Warblers Evergreen

by Wenfei Tong

Person of the Month:

Ludlow Griscom (1890-1958)

Ludlow Griscom, an ornithologist known as "Dean of the Birdwatchers," was born on June 1890 in New York City.

Prior to Griscom's methods of field identification, birds were typically shot from their perches and skinned for proper identification. Griscom advocated for education and 'flash' identification, wherein the observer relied on visual cues to identify birds.

He was a frequent visitor to Mount Auburn and contributed to a list of 158 species found here. Learn more...

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History Highlight:

The "Lawn" is Renamed

The center of Lawn Avenue, originally referred to as the "Lawn", was developed by Alexander Wadsworth in the 1850s. In the 1930s, the area was redesigned to reflect the strong influence of estate gardens. In 1942, the "Lawn" was renamed in honor of noted botanist Asa Gray... read more

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Beyond Our Gates: Events of Interest to the Community

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS

105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Thursday, June 4
Dear Mr. Longfellow: Letters to and from the Children's Poet
With Author Sydelle Pearl
Open House at 4:30 p.m.
Talk in Carriage House at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17
Warrior Writers Poetry Reading
6:30 p.m. on East Lawn
Some adult content and topics

Sunday, June 21
FindYourPark Summer Festival
Damn Tall Buildings
3:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 28
FindYourPark Summer Festival
Light Verse with Norman Shapiro
3:00 p.m.

The Museum of Fine Arts Katsushika Hokusai show, now - August 9th. The vast majority of the Japanese works in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston show come from Mount Auburn Cemetery resident William Sturgis Bigelow.

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Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery

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friends@mountauburn.org

tel: 617-547-7105

www.mountauburn.org