Every May, visitors flock to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts to breathe in the fragrant lilac collection and witness the array of color. This flower has a history of medicinal use and if you have ever spent time inhaling this sweet fragrance you may have noticed a sense of calm and relaxation. Spending time connecting with nature has been scientifically proven to treat stress-related illnesses and lilacs are considered potent medicine when it comes to symptoms of anxiety. May can be a time of unwinding as we transition into a new season under a warmer and brighter sun. Whether you’ve been visiting the lilac collection for years or have yet to experience them, Guide Tam Willey invites you to unplug, de-stress and recharge on a Guided Lilac Therapy Walk.
This is a two hour therapeutic experience that combines wandering, sitting, and resting. We will cover no more than a mile, leisurely meandering through the collection as Tam guides us through a sequence of gentle sensory-opening invitations that welcome us to notice more of our surroundings.
Tam is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. She recently completed her practicum here at the Arnold Arboretum where she has been regularly guiding Forest Bathing Walks. Tam has first hand experience of the healing benefits of spending time in nature. For more information about Tam take a look at her website, Toadstool Walks. Fee (for one session) $30 Arboretum member, $40 nonmember. Register at http://my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5209. This event is being held on two different days, May 15 or 17, from 9 – 11.
In case of inclement weather, contact 617.304.9313. Meet at the map table at the Ponds, through the Forest Hills Gate.
