The Connecticut College Arboretum is located in southeastern Connecticut, about 5 miles inland from Long Island Sound. Established in 1931 on 60 acres, today the Arboretum’s diverse 770 acres include the landscaped grounds of the College campus as well as the surrounding plant collections, natural areas and managed landscapes. The forests include a wide range of native trees including oaks, huckleberry, maples, tulip tree, ash, beech, and black birch. Located on the coast, within the Arboretum there are many wetland types, including forested wetlands, bogs and tidal marshes.
From the outset, 60 acres was aside to create the Connecticut College Arboretum. Twenty acres of the original allotment were dedicated as the Native Plant Collection. Expanding over time, the Native Plant Collection now includes 30 acres of woody plants and wildflowers indigenous to eastern North America, demonstrating the long-standing commitment to native plants at the Arboretum.
The Native Plant Collection contains 1,021 trees, 1,255 shrubs and 22 woody vines native to eastern North America and hardy in southeastern Connecticut. Accessioned plants are from both wild and cultivated origins. The various species take turns displaying their beauty throughout all the seasons: shadbush in April; dogwood and azaleas in May; mountain laurel in June; giant rhododendron, sourwood and sweet pepperbush in July; brilliant autumn foliage in October; evergreens and conifers year-round.
Some of the points of interest include:
The Laurel Walk, a long, sloping trail lined with mountain laurel.
An oak and hemlock-forested Bolleswood natural area.
The grassy outdoor theater overlooking the Arboretum Pond.
Plant collections including: holly, viburnum and azalea.
The Native Plant Checklist provides more information about the native plants on display.
The Ecological Landscape Alliance will sponsor a tour on Thursday, June 9 from 10 – noon. Maggie Redfern is the Arboretum Assistant Director, responsible for coordinating the design and implementation of education programs for the College and community. Maggie brings several years of experience in the field of visitor services from the Arnold Arboretum to this position. She also managed a successful grant application and traveling exhibition entitled Palaces for the People: Guastavino and the Art of Structural Tile. Maggie received a certificate in landscape preservation from the Landscape Institute of the Boston Architectural College and a bachelor of architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
$23 for ELA members, $33 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/eco-tour-spring-splendor-the-native-plants-at-connecticut-college-arboretum/#sthash.GebEKzMM.dpuf
