President’ s Corner
sweet auburn | 2026 volume i
President’ s Corner
S ummer is upon us at Mount Auburn and our landscape is once again transformed by the fullness of leaf canopy casting welcome shade and reminding us of the quiet power of trees to shape both place and experience.
As an accredited Level III arboretum, Mount Auburn’ s tree collection is among our most treasured resources. The trees are more than a defining feature of our historic landscape; they are living infrastructure that supports biodiversity, improves air quality, and offers moments of reflection and tranquility for our neighbors in Cambridge, Watertown, and beyond. For nearly two centuries, this extraordinary collection has served as both sanctuary and classroom, deepening our understanding of the natural world and our place within it.
Many thanks to W. John Kress for contributing text from his remarkable book Smithsonian Trees of North America( p. 2), which helps us contextualize the environment and conditions relevant to our tree collection. I am deeply grateful to John for sharing his expertise and helping illuminate the profound ways in which trees shape our landscapes, our communities, and our lives. His contribution is a fitting tribute to Mount Auburn’ s ongoing commitment to the stewardship of these
Mount Auburn Becomes First Cemetery in the U. S. to Earn AGZA Green Zone ® Certification
By transitioning landscaping equipment from gas to electric, Mount Auburn reduces noise and pollution while cutting carbon emissions by 16 tons annually. Thanks to AGZA, Quiet Communities, and to our dedicated Horticulture & Landscape staff for making this accomplishment a reality! Learn more about this certification on our website.
We were honored to celebrate the wonder of trees through a lecture by Dr. W. John Kress on May 14— thanks for joining us, John!. Photo by Claire Vail
“ venerable monarchs of the grove,” which were an essential reason why the Cemetery’ s land was initially chosen( p. 24).
These green titans also hold special significance to our birding community, as our migrating avian friends stop at our oasis on their journeys north. It is a pleasure to see how birding brings members of Mount Auburn’ s staff together and gives perspective to their work( p. 12).
Almost five years into my time at Mount Auburn, I remain continually inspired by what our trees teach us: resilience through changing seasons, quiet strength in the face of uncertainty, and the importance of putting down roots that will sustain generations to come.
I hope this issue encourages you to look up, linger beneath the canopy, and experience anew the beauty and wisdom growing all around us.
Matthew Stephens President & CEO