Category: News

Field in foreground with classroom trailer, solar kiln, and construction site in background.

Research Greenhouse Construction

Site work has begun for construction of a new research greenhouse located at the Arboretum! This greenhouse will house research for two faculty from the Department of Biological Sciences, as well as space for the Arboretum’s plant conservation program. More details about the new greenhouse will be shared soon!

People in wooded area pulling up invasive plants.

Weed Warriors volunteers needed!

Learn to identify and remove invasive Chinese privet and English ivy using hand tools and herbicide. All ability levels welcome, training provided as needed. Please visit our YouTube channel to view lessons about this experience! This project is funded by Legacy, Inc. Partners in Environmental Education.

Volunteers will be working outdoors and should prepare for seasonal weather, insects, and poison ivy. Closed toed shoes and long pants required. You must bring your own water and snacks. You may also want to bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Masks required when social distancing cannot be maintained. Please email or call (205-310-0995) for directions and specific instructions prior to your arrival.

Sign up via GivePulse.  You can also sign up by replying to this email or sending a message to arbor@ua.edu , however sign up via GivePulse/BamaPulse is preferred.

Visit the Weed Warriors page to learn more about invasive plants!

TCMG add raised beds to Community Garden

The Tuscaloosa County Master Gardeners finished building raised beds in the Arboretum Community Garden.  Thanks to a grant from the Alabama Master Gardener Association, the community garden will have raised beds with wheelchair accessible paths.  These raised beds and a layer of landscape fabric will help control weeds and make it easier for our garden volunteers to maintain.  This winter the raised bed frames will be filled with fresh compost and we look forward to planting in the spring.  Thank you to our Master Gardeners and the CSL students for their hard work on this project!

Arboretum Resumes Regular Hours

  • December 7th, 2020
  • in News

The Arboretum will resume regular operating hours starting TODAY, December 7th!

Our public hours are 8 am–sunset, 7 days a week. Please note, we will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1.

Because of the shared entrance, Harry Pritchett Running Park (former golf course) will be open when the Arboretum is open. The front gate will close at sunset.  If you are locked in after closing, please call UAPD at (205) 348-5454 for assistance.

The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and guests remain our priority. The greenhouses, pavilion, and restrooms remain closed to the public; however, the University has provided a portable restroom that is available to our guests. It is located in the gravel parking lot at the Arboretum.

UA COVID-19 policies and government mandates are in effect at the Arboretum and on the grounds at Harry Pritchett Running Park. You are required to wear your mask if you are within six feet of someone outside your household.

Because our trails are less than six feet wide, we have placed signs indicating the direction of traffic flow. Following these signs will make it possible for guests to walk trails unmasked. Please maintain at least six feet distance between yourself and others on the trails.

Athletics recently gave us a number of picnic tables that were no longer being used at Bryant Denny Stadium. These tables have been placed on the grounds for socially distanced picnicking!

If you are interested in volunteering, virtually or in-person, please email us at arbor@ua.edu or sign up through BamaPulse/givepulse.

Thank you for your support during this challenging time. Roll Tide!

Arboretum Reopens to Public

  • November 14th, 2020
  • in News

The Arboretum is open to the public starting TODAY, November 14! Our hours have been reduced to Tuesdays–Saturdays, 9 am–3:45 pm. 

Because of the shared entrance, Harry Pritchett Running Park (former golf course) will be open when the Arboretum is open. The front gate will close at 3:45 pm. If you are locked in after closing, please call UAPD at (205) 348-5454 for assistance.

The health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and guests remains our priority. The greenhouses, pavilion, and restrooms remain closed to the public; however, The University has provided a portable restroom that is available to our guests. It is located in the gravel parking lot at the Arboretum.

UA COVID-19 policies and government mandates are in effect at the Arboretum and on the grounds at Harry Pritchett Running Park. You are required to wear your mask if you are within 6 feet of someone outside your household.

Because our trails are less than 6 feet wide, we have placed signs indicating the direction of traffic flow. Following these signs will make it possible for guests to walk trails unmasked. Please maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and others on the trails.

Athletics recently gave us a number of picnic tables that were no longer being used at Bryant Denny Stadium. These tables have been placed on the grounds for socially distanced picnicking!

If you are interested in volunteering, virtually or in-person, please email us at arbor@ua.edu or sign up through BamaPulse/givepulse.

Thank you for your support during this challenging time. Roll Tide!

Afternoon at the ArBOOretum

The University of Alabama ArBOOretumThe Afternoon at the ArBOOretum — the annual Halloween-themed celebration of Alabama biodiversity — will be held as a drive-through/online event this year. Scientists from the University of Alabama will be producing videos highlighting biodiversity and demonstrating activites families can complete at home.

Families will be able to pick up bags of supplies for these activities and candy from 1–3 pm on October 24 or 25 at the Harry Pritchett Running Park parking lot next to the UA Arboretum.

More information is available through the UA Arboretum Facebook page and the UA Department of Biological Sciences website.

Please use this link to register for the event.

Butterfly shaped garden bed with flowers in foreground with weathered shed and fence in background.

Nick’s Kids donation to fund nature play improvements to the Children’s Garden

The Arboretum received a donation from Nick’s Kids to enhance the children’s garden with accessible picnic tables and play elements for our youngest visitors! We are excited to begin work on this project with the West Alabama Woodworkers Association this winter. This project will provide more opportunities for families to use the children’s garden and be used in future outreach programs being developed for local preschools. Thank you to the Nick’s Kids Foundation!

Weed Warriors Grant from Legacy, Inc.

The Arboretum received a grant from Legacy, Inc. Partners in Environmental Education for the project “Weed Warriors: Removing Invasive Plants to Benefit Native Plants and Pollinators.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person events and education programs, this program is provided as a series of video lessons on YouTube.   If you are interested in learning how to identify and remove invasive plants on your property or property you help maintain, please visit the Weed Warriors page on this website to participate.

Educational signs have been posted near the Children’s Garden to identify areas where we are working to remove invasive plants.  Hopefully this spring and summer we will see more wildflowers and pollinators return as we remove invasive plants!

Logo reads Legacy Partners in Environmental Education with seedling growning through the letter "a" in Legacy.

Tuscaloosa Nature Challenge April 27, 2019

  • February 21st, 2019
  • in News

The Arboretum will partner with UA Museums to host the Tuscaloosa Nature Challenge on Saturday, April 27, 2019.  Expert scientists and naturalists will lead tours and teach the community to identify organisms.  There will be special tours geared to children and families!  Data collected will be uploaded using the iNaturalist app to compete with other groups in the Birmingham area and across the country.  More information to follow soon!

Update: We’re open! Inclement weather closing: January 29, 2019

  • January 28th, 2019
  • in News

Update! The Arboretum is open Tuesday, January 29, due to better than expected weather conditions. Nothing to do with your “snow” day? Come visit the Arboretum!

The Arboretum will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday January 29, due to expected inclement weather. Unless otherwise announced, we will follow the UA closing schedule. At this time, UA plans to resume operations at 11 pm on Tuesday, January 29, and the Arboretum will reopen at 8 am Wednesday, January 30. We will continue to monitor weather conditions and update as needed.