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Come join us for an open studio experience to practice and perfect techniques of botanical illustration. Under the guidance of instructor, Cristina Baltayian, these classes will be exploring color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.  

Tuesdays 10am-2pm

September Session: September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23 (4-week session, Members: $275, Non-Members: $295)

October Session: October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28 (4-week session, Members: $275, Non-Members: $295)

November Session: November 4, November 11, November 18 (3-week session, Members: $206.25, Non-Members: $221.25)

December Session: December 2, December 9, December 16 (3-week session, Members: $206.25, Non-Members: $221.25)

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Classes will resume on September 11, 2025

THURSDAY MORNINGS 9:30-11am

Tai Chi, often described as "meditation in motion," is a gentle yet powerful form of exercise that enhances strength, flexibility, and balance while promoting mental calm and reducing anxiety.

Rooted in the ancient “I Ching” philosophy, Tai Chi is a martial art that integrates the principles of energy flow and movement. Kinetic Tai Chi, developed by Master Chien, blends these ancient foundations with modern physics, focusing on potential and kinetic energy. This practice includes techniques such as striking, throwing, and submission, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced students.

By combining physical movement with Tai Chi’s deep philosophical teachings, students can experience lifelong health benefits, sharpen their mental clarity, and develop advanced combat skills. Whether you're new to Tai Chi or looking to refine your practice, this class offers a path to improved well-being and personal growth.

*Class is located on covered walkway in front of Ayres Hall. *Class may be moved indoors or cancelled due to rain! Cancellation/Reschedule/Refund Policy: Cancellations or reschedules must be requested in advance of one week prior to the program start date in order to qualify for a refund or reschedule. Cancellations or reschedules requested within 7 days of the class start date will not qualify for a refund or reschedule. The Arboretum does not offer credit or reschedules for missed classes. If you are unable to cancel within the required refund window, please consider your program fee a donation to the garden. Your registration confirms your understanding of and agreement with this policy. 

About the instructor:

Master Chien is the founder of Kinetic Tai Chi and 2014 Kung Fu Master of USC Pacific Asia Museum. In 2013 he became the first instructor to teach Tai Chi at the legendary Gold’s Gym, Arcadia, CA.  Chien’s heavy focus on the principle of softness to conquer hardness has helped students to overcome not only their physical limitations, but their mental ones as well, to reach the ultimate level of “soft as silk and hard as steel”. [post_title] => Tai Chi [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => tai-chi-17 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-19 16:51:55 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-19 23:51:55 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=46462 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3523113 [meta_value] => 2025-09-18 09:30:00 [day] => 18 [time] => 9:30AM [theRow] => 97 ) [2] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 54695 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2025-09-04 12:03:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-09-04 19:03:15 [post_content] =>

Thursdays; 11-11:30am 

For children from infants to 5 year olds. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This not a drop-off program. Members free; included in paid admission. Registration is not required.

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Cancelled: Luca

Member Movies in the Garden are back!

Join in for a movie night filled with tasty food, artsy fun, and good vibes for all ages. It’s the ultimate summer shindig you won’t want to miss!  Come early to enjoy pre-show activities.

Friday, September 19  Luca (1 hour 35 minutes) Animated - Family/Fantasy - Rated PG 6 p.m. Doors open (Pre-Show Activities) 7:00 p.m. Movie starts at Dusk   Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his new-found best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water's surface. The Peacock Cafe Concession Stand Specialty Drinks from the Peacock Bar Food Truck(s): coming soon! Food truck(s) line-up may be subject to change without notice. Movies in the Garden Lineup: Friday, October 10 - Beetlejuice Friday, November 7 - The Grinch Not a member?  Join today!  arboretum.org/support/join-us Questions? memberships@arboretum.org or 626.821.3233 [post_title] => Movies in the Garden - Luca [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => movies-in-the-garden-luca [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-09-17 11:21:27 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-09-17 18:21:27 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=68824 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3514997 [meta_value] => 2025-09-19 18:00:00 [day] => 19 [time] => 6:00PM [theRow] => 0 ) [5] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 45969 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2022-02-24 14:24:06 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-02-24 22:24:06 [post_content] => [post_title] => Basic Fine Art Painting [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => basic-fine-art-painting [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-21 14:23:14 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-21 21:23:14 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=45969 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3503538 [meta_value] => 2025-09-20 09:30:00 [day] => 20 [time] => 9:30AM [theRow] => 119 ) [6] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 45971 [post_author] => 25 [post_date] => 2022-02-24 14:27:44 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-02-24 22:27:44 [post_content] => [post_title] => Mid to Advanced Fine Art Painting [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => advanced-fine-art-painting [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-21 14:23:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-21 21:23:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=45971 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3500312 [meta_value] => 2025-09-20 12:30:00 [day] => 20 [time] => 12:30PM [theRow] => 119 ) [7] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 44482 [post_author] => 25 [post_date] => 2021-12-10 15:57:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-12-10 23:57:47 [post_content] =>

Sound Bath is a meditative experience where participants are ‘bathed’ in sound waves through the use of deeply resonant acoustic instruments like singing bowls and gongs. During a sound bath session, participants can experience a sense of awe at the sheer physicality of the singing bowls’ acoustic resonance, leading to a gradual release of tension and a meditative state of mind. As the session ends, participants can experience a restorative reset, subtler awareness of their body in its surroundings, mental clarity, and joy.

Because of the meditative nature of this class, we strongly recommend that participants be 8 years old and older.

*Please bring your own mat or blanket to lay on! *Class location subject to change due to weather. *Due to the summer heat, the Sound Baths on August 30 and September 20 will be inside in Ayres Hall!

Cancellation & Refund Policy: Cancelations must be requested in advance of one week prior to the program start date in order to qualify for a refund. Cancellations requested within 7 days of the class start date will not qualify for a refund. The Arboretum does not offer credit or reschedules for missed classes. If you are unable to cancel within the required refund window, please consider your program fee a donation to the garden. Your registration confirms your understanding of and agreement with this policy.   *Please arrive 10 minutes before class to ensure you are not left behind!  Refunds will not be granted to registered guests who miss the walk due to tardiness.   Jacinto Astiazarán is a visual artist and practitioner of sound baths in private and public gatherings around Los Angeles for the last five years. His unique approach to the singing bowls guides participants through an acoustic soundscape, ‘painting’ a mental space that promotes a deeply relaxed state of body and mind. [post_title] => Sound Bath [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => sound-bath [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-09-17 11:21:32 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-09-17 18:21:32 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=44482 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3524269 [meta_value] => 2025-09-20 15:00:00 [day] => 20 [time] => 3:00PM [theRow] => 50 ) [8] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 55518 [post_author] => 25 [post_date] => 2023-07-07 14:16:50 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-07-07 21:16:50 [post_content] =>

SOLD OUT! September 20th 5:30-7pm

BOOZY BOTANY  How did the rise of prohibition lead to soda fountain drug culture? Why was absinthe demonized and glorified in Victorian Europe? How did the gin and tonic keep the age of sail afloat? Join us for a uniquely educational experience as we walk the garden and explore the plants that birthed some of our favorite alcohol elixirs while sipping little tastings of each. Our journey will culminate with a short demonstration on how to create homemade hooch using simple household items and botanic bits that can be found around town. Cheers!

Must be 21 or older to attend, ID’s required

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Come explore the seasonal wonders of the Arboretum in this special parent/child education series where caregivers and their little ones sing, play, and explore the bounty of nature together.

Each new 6-week session features a different theme with new and exciting explorations of the unfolding seasonal changes in the gardens.

Join us with your little one or the whole family.

Designed for children 0-5 years old; older siblings warmly welcome.

Upcoming Session:

Join us under the golden hue of the harvest sky to celebrate the magic of autumn at the arboretum. Over the course of six weeks, parents and children will share in the wonder of the season through circle-time storytelling, movement, and hands-on nature crafting. Together, you'll explore falling leaves, busy squirrels, changing trees, and the quiet rhythms of autumn. Each gathering invites curiosity, connection, and cozy moments in nature’s autumn classroom.

Sunday Mornings at 9:15am-10:15am

Session Dates: September 21-October 26

 

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“Acorns & Oaks” classes are taught by Betsy Edelberg (founder of Playgroup LA) who has taught hundreds of parents and children over 17 years! Betsy holds 3 degrees in Child Development. She has certifications in Children’s Yoga, Brain Gym, and training in Waldorf Early Child Education. Instagram: @playgrouplosangeles Website: www.playgrouplosangeles.com Questions? Please contact Brooke Applegate at brooke.applegate@arboretum.org

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CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY Cancellations requested up to two weeks in advance of the session start date will receive a full refund. Cancellations requested less than two weeks in advance of the session start date do not qualify for a refund. We do not offer credits or makeup dates. The Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation reserves the right to cancel a class due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the class non-viable. If the Arboretum cancels a class, registrants will be offered a full refund. [post_title] => Acorns and Oaks: Seasonal Explorations [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => acornandoaks [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-19 15:20:22 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-19 22:20:22 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=59426 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3521164 [meta_value] => 2025-09-21 09:15:00 [day] => 21 [time] => 9:15AM [theRow] => 48 ) [10] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 44664 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-12-22 10:47:02 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-12-22 18:47:02 [post_content] =>

Come join us for an open studio experience to practice and perfect techniques of botanical illustration. Under the guidance of instructor, Cristina Baltayian, these classes will be exploring color pencil, graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor on various papers, vellum and other surfaces. The emphasis will be on plant observation, drawing, composition, color theory and matching, and medium techniques.  

Tuesdays 10am-2pm

September Session: September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23 (4-week session, Members: $275, Non-Members: $295)

October Session: October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28 (4-week session, Members: $275, Non-Members: $295)

November Session: November 4, November 11, November 18 (3-week session, Members: $206.25, Non-Members: $221.25)

December Session: December 2, December 9, December 16 (3-week session, Members: $206.25, Non-Members: $221.25)

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WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 5:30-6:45pm

Take a break from your busy week and flow into tranquility in the serene setting of the Arboretum. Our mid-week all-levels flow yoga class offers a perfect opportunity to reset, unwind, and reconnect. This gentle yet invigorating session combines breath, movement, and mindful stretches to help release tension, improve flexibility, and restore balance. Whether you're new to yoga or have an established practice, the peaceful surroundings of the Arboretum provide the ideal backdrop for deepening your practice and rejuvenating your body and mind. Let the natural beauty guide you through a calming evening of flow and restoration. *Please bring your own yoga mat! Cancellation/Reschedule/Refund Policy: Cancellations or reschedules must be requested in advance of one week prior to the program start date in order to qualify for a refund or reschedule. Cancellations or reschedules requested within 7 days of the class start date will not qualify for a refund or reschedule. The Arboretum does not offer credit or reschedules for missed classes. If you are unable to cancel within the required refund window, please consider your program fee a donation to the garden. Your registration confirms your understanding of and agreement with this policy.  About the instructor: Stephanie Vosper has been practicing and teaching yoga since 2010.  She has worked in varied settings, from festivals, to private lessons to 24 Hour Fitness, where she worked until gyms closed in 2020.  She is currently thrilled to be part of the yoga team at Stronghold Climb LLC where she has been for the past 2 years.    Stephanie holds a Bachelor degree in Health Science and completed her 200 YRT in 2015 with Live Love Teach. Stephanie is passionate about yoga and will be practicing it until beyond her dying day, because yoga is union with mind, body and spirit and has enhanced her life immeasurably.  Stephanie loves nothing more than to share her knowledge and love of yoga to foster wellbeing amongst all.                     *This class may be taught by a substitute teacher without advance notification to participants should the need arise.  Questions? Please call the Education Department at 626.821.4623 or email at education@arboretum.org. Click here for Morning Yoga dates [post_title] => Yoga in the Garden – Evenings [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => yoga-in-the-garden-evenings [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-03 09:03:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-03 16:03:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=44697 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3467451 [meta_value] => 2025-09-24 17:30:00 [day] => 24 [time] => 5:30PM [theRow] => 113 ) [12] => stdClass Object ( [ID] => 32099 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2020-04-29 11:00:51 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-04-29 11:00:51 [post_content] => The Arboretum Library's book group explores the portrayal of western North American landscape in fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, letters, graphic novels, etc.  The group generally, but not always, meets the 4th Wednesday of the month in the Arboretum Library.  When the weather is good and the mosquitos are less active, the group will meet outside in appropriate places in the gloriously, beautiful grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. At other times the group will meet in the Arboretum Library with social distancing and masking if desired. The group leader will decide each month whether the meeting will be in-person (in the Arboretum Library or outside on the Arboretum grounds) or on Zoom. The group uses a modified version of the Shared Inquiry™ method developed by the Great Books Foundation.  The discussion is greatly enhanced if the chosen book of the month is read, although we welcome those who just want to listen. Let the host know you want to listen. New participants are always welcome! Click here to see the questions already asked for this year's past books and check out the history of the book club by hovering on the tab and explore the books from previous years. For more information and to be added to the e-mail reminder list about the Community Book Discussion Group, please contact, Arboretum Librarian Emeritus, Susan Eubank, at Susan.Eubank@Arboretum.org.  You must RSVP to Susan for the discussions you would like to attend.

June 25, 2025, 7:00 p.m.

Read Me, Los Angeles by Katie Orphan, Altadena, California : Prospect Park Books, 2020.

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 August 27, 2025, 7:00 p.m.

The Forgotten Botanist by Wynne Brown, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2021

ISBN: 9781496222817 “Every once in awhile, a book comes along that, even though it is non-fiction, is so well written that it reads like a novel. [...] I was drawn in immediately by Ms. Brown’s eye for detail and [the] well written narrative of […] Lemmon’s life, loves, and scientific contributions to the field of botany. [The book] chronicles [her] remarkable life, in which [she & her husband] found new plant species in Arizona, California, Oregon, & Mexico & traveled throughout the Southwest [...]. [It] is a timeless tale about a woman who discovered who she was by leaving everything behind. Her inspiring story is one of resilience, determination, & courage—and is as relevant to our nation today as it was in her own time.” — Mary Sauers, NCompass Blog WILLA Literary Award Winner in Creative Nonfiction; 2022 Spur Award Winner; 2022 Top Pick in Southwest Books of the Year; New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Finalist in Cover Design; Honorable Mention in the At-Large NFPW Communications Contes The Forgotten Botanist is the account of an extraordinary woman who, in 1870, was driven by ill health to leave the East Coast for a new life in the West--alone. At thirty-three, Sara Plummer relocated to Santa Barbara, where she taught herself botany and established the town's first library. Ten years later she married botanist John Gill Lemmon, and together the two discovered hundreds of new plant species, many of them illustrated by Sara, an accomplished artist. Although she became an acknowledged botanical expert and lecturer, Sara's considerable contributions to scientific knowledge were credited merely as "J.G. Lemmon & wife." The Forgotten Botanist chronicles Sara's remarkable life, in which she and JG found new plant species in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Mexico and traveled throughout the Southwest with such friends as John Muir and Clara Barton. Sara also found time to work as a journalist and as an activist in women's suffrage and forest conservation. Her inspiring story is one of resilience, determination, and courage--and is as relevant to our nation today as it was in her own time.

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November 26, 2025, 7:00 p.m.

Icarus by Deon Meyer translated by K.L. Seeger, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2015

ISBN: 9780802124005 “Deon Meyer's gritty crime novels [are] part police procedural, part political thriller . . . What makes Meyer such a national treasure - and as good as anyone in the world - is that even if you have no knowledge or interest in South Africa's history or present, his books are compelling page-turners. Politics and race are just part of the intricately crafted superstructure bolted onto the rock-solid chassis of a top-quality crime thriller, driven by a writer with deceptive skill.” — Books Live [A] …”great discovery: classy, edgy writing, subtly plotted and beautifully balanced between fast-paced action, pungent social comment and the process of investigation.” —Weekend Australian South Africa's preeminent crime fiction writer, Deon Meyer is internationally acclaimed for his razor's-edge thrillers, unforgettable characters, and nuanced portrayals of contemporary life in his native country. The fifth pulse-pounder starring Captain Benny Griessel, a lead detective in South Africa's priority crimes unit, delves into the country's burgeoning tech and wine industries. A week before Christmas, a young photographer discovers a plastic-wrapped corpse amidst the sand dunes north of Cape Town. The only thing found on the corpse is a dead iPhone, but it doesn't take long for the police to identify the body as that of Ernst Richter--the tech whiz behind MyAlibi, an internet service that provides unfaithful partners with sophisticated cover stories to hide an affair. Meanwhile, Benny Griessel is called to the scene of a multiple homicide involving a former colleague, and four years of sobriety are undone on the spot. He emerges from his drunken haze determined to quit the force, but the take-no-sass Major Mbali Kaleni, now his boss, wants Griessel on the Richter case. The high-profile murder has already been the subject of fierce media speculation, with questions swirling about the potential for motive: could the perpetrator be one of the countless jilted spouses? An aggrieved client? Before the week is out, an unexpected connection to a storied family winery comes to light, and Griessel's reputation is again on the line. Mounting towards a startling conclusion, Icarus is another exceptional novel from the "King of South African Crime."

December 17, 2025, 7:00 p.m.

Venice by Jan Morris as James Morris, London: Faber & Faber, 1960

“... [She] writes beautiful prose. This hymn to Venice, from someone who has lived there, is, as you would expect, a lyrical and haunting evocation of the beauty of one of the world's most visited tourist destinations, and a fascinating history of a city state that was a republic and maritime empire throughout the middle ages. […I]t is also shrewd and practical and funny. [...] This is a piece of the best sort of travel writing, the sort where the traveller becomes part of an alien landscape and has deep interactions with the inhabitants and begins to struggle to an understanding of what it must be like to live in such a place..”— David Appleby, Goodreads   [post_title] => Reading the Western Landscape Community Book Discussion [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => reading-the-western-landscape-book-group [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-06-02 17:43:49 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-06-03 00:43:49 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.arboretum.org/?post_type=events&p=32099 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [META] => 3386894 [meta_value] => 2025-09-24 19:00:00 [day] => 24 [time] => 7:00PM [theRow] => 60 ) )