Enjoy 'Autumn Unplugged' at the Arboretum

"Autumn Unplugged"- running from Sept. 17 through Oct. 31 at the Arboretum - celebrates the serene beauty of fall with its golden sunlight, brisk air, crackling leaves and flaming palette.  The centerpiece event will be "Pumpkin Palooza," an eye-popping display of fall's favorite plants—varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds, to be exact—in the Oswald Visitor Center Great Hall. Here's a sampling of key events:

Arboretum AppleHouse  - Now through Oct. 31. Purchase apples from a changing inventory of more than 50 varieties throughout the season - from longtime favorites to recent U of Minnesota introductions. Located 1.5 miles west of the Arboretum on State Highway 5.  Call ahead for varieties available: 952-443-1409 or find the list here. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. now through Oct. 31.

September Weekend Family Fun: Cattail Creations. Visit the greenhouse and discover how carnivorous plants catch their prey. Saturdays & Sundays in September; noon-4 p.m. Learning Center. Free with gate admission.

Apple-Tastings at Oswald Visitor Center. Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 17-18, 24-25 and Oct. 1-2 & 8-9; 1 to 3 p.m. Sample University of Minnesota research apples, share your opinion in a brief survey and visit with Master Gardeners. Maybe you'll discover the next Honeycrisp!

'Pumpkin Palooza' Exhibit. Sept. 24-Oct. 31, Great Hall, Oswald Visitor Center.  This dazzling display of cucurbits (aka, pumpkins, gourds and squash) reflects the endless variety fall cultivars harvested today.  Large and small, orange, blue or white, there's a pumpkin for everyone!  Arboretum gardeners have cultivated 130 varieties - common and exotic - in the Arboretum's Horticultural Research Center fields and hundreds will be displayed.                                               

Annual Auxiliary Harvest Sale & Quilt Raffle. Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Snyder Building Auditorium & Lobby.  Don't miss this popular sale of botanic arrangements & more, all created by Auxiliary members. Proceeds benefit the Arboretum. Raffle of Auxiliary's 2011 quilt is Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.  

Minnesota Herb Society Sale & Daffodil Society of Minnesota Bulb Sale.  Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 25, 12 a.m.-5 p.m. Shop for herbal crafts created by the Minnesota Herb Society or check out new bulb varieties at the Daffodil Society table.  Both located in the Oswald Visitor Center.

Arboretum Outdoors with Hoigaard's - Nordic Walking. Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1 & 6 p.m.
Oswald Visitor Center. Learn the newest fitness craze - Nordic walking!  Hoigaard's will provide instructor and walking poles for your use. Free with Arboretum admission.

Steelroots Guided Walk. Saturdays, Oct. 1 & 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free one-hour guided walk led by trained Arboretum Guides, featuring sculptures of artist Steve Tobin set amid the Arboretum's glowing gardens and quiet groves.  The interplay of the art with our Minnesota landscape invites you to see both with fresh eyes.  Departs from Oswald Visitor Center Great Hall.

Library Used Book Sale. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 7-9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Snyder Auditorium. Don't miss this popular sale of gently used books of all types - from horticultural texts to novels, plus CDs, DVDs and magazines.  Sponsored by Friends of Andersen Horticultural Library at the MN Landscape Arboretum.  Proceeds benefit the library.

October Weekend Family Fun:  Falling Leaves. Why do leaves change color and fall from the trees? Make an autumn keepsake. Noon- 4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday in October. Marion Andrus Learning Center. Free with gate admission.

Traditional Tea. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2:30-4 p.m. Snyder Building. Enjoy a traditional formal tea with sweets, scones & savories, plus a trifle. $23/$26. Reserve at 612-626-3951 or online at https://umnarboretum.catertrax.com.

Pumpkin Palooza Weekend - Oct. 22-23. Oswald Visitor Center & Arboretum Grounds
A pumpkin party with fun for everyone!  "Mini-Pumpkin Heads" crafts for kids Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Marion Andrus Learning Center ($1 per pumpkin); pumpkin-carving demos and pumpkin-growing tips from master gardeners from 1 to 3 p.m. both days and a screening of "Bill's Big Pumpkins" documentary at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. both days (in the Snyder Auditorium).  

Ghouls and Goblins at the Maze, Saturday, Oct. 29, 1-5 p.m.  Arboretum Garden Maze & Oswald Visitor Center. A spook-friendly Halloween adventure for the whole family.  Dress in a fun costume!  Walk the half-mile Trick or Treat Trail to the Maze Garden - chockful of surprises!  Then head back to the Visitor Center for family activities and "spook-tacular" music!  Free gate admission during the event hours.  Registration suggested.  You can register by clicking here or by calling 612-625-9456.  Ghouls & Goblins at the Maze is presented by RBC Wealth Management.

Ar-BOO-retum Halloween Event. Monday, Oct. 31, All day, Oswald Visitor Center. Free admission for anyone wearing a costume.  Dress up the kids and "trick or treat" for apples in the Gift Store and cookies in the Restaurant.  Storytime for the young and young-at-heart and "spooky" tunes with singer Sheri O'Meara.