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Attendees walking the rail trail after the ribbon-cutting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Arboretum at Penn State . . . an outreach, teaching, and research facility dedicated to preserving the beauty and ecological functions of vegetated landscapes in an urbanizing society.”


Click here to see a full-page plan of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens.

Welcome

The long-awaited construction of the first phase of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens in The Arboretum at Penn State is under way. The project site, a tract of approximately 35 acres fronting on Park Avenue, has become a rapidly changing landscape, and many people have been wanting to know what, exactly, is being built.

I would like to share with you some highlights from the project schedule so that you can join us in the countdown to our grand opening. (The planting schedule will be a fluid process and could begin as early as fall 2008. Visit our Webcam frequently to check our progress.)

• September 2007 through July 2008 – A contractor removed and stockpiled topsoil to install utilities, and did bulk grading to prepare the site for construction. We also moved a great deal of fill from the Dickinson Law School site to the Arboretum, at a great savings to both projects. Fine grading and spreading the topsoil will continue through October.

• August and September, 2008 – The foundations will be laid for the walled gardens and the overlook pavilion, and concrete will be formed and poured for the lotus pool.

A drawing featuring the view towards the overlook pavilion from the event lawn. The Bald Eagle Ridge is in the distance.

• October, 2008 – Work will begin on stone and stucco for the garden walls, masonry and steel for the pavilion’s portico and two wings, and plumbing for the fountain.

• November, 2008 –The rose arbor, a major structure, will be built and the fountain will be completed. Work will commence on the irrigation system and on the roof of overlook facilities.

• December, 2008 – Garden structures, event lawn irrigation, and aggregate walkways will be finished, and planting beds prepared. The roof and windows of the pavilion will be installed and work will begin on interior walls.

• January, 2009 – Light fixtures for the event lawn walkway will be installed and interior work in the pavilion’s two wings will continue.

• February and March, 2009 – Work on the pavilion structures will be finished.

• April, 2009 – The parking lot’s final bituminous surface will be laid.

• May, 2009 – Planting will be completed.

Concurrently with these activities, we intend to begin planning and fund-raising for the Children's Garden.

Bald Eagle Ridge will be part of the vista from the overlook pavilion in the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens.

Please visit our planning pages to learn more about the construction of the gardens, and browse our site to learn about projects or endeavors elsewhere in the Arboretum:

  • Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center - Outdoor teaching facility about monitoring air pollution in "Happy Valley"

  • Arboretum Woodland Restoration Corps - Volunteers who are trained to recognize and remove invasive, nonnative plants to restore natural areas in the Arboretum

  • Bellefonte Central Rail Trail - Crushed limestone trail (approximately one mile) that officially opened in 2006 and is currently being extended another 3/10 of a mile

  • Hosler Oak - First official tree planted in the Arboretum to honor meteorologist Charles L. Hosler

  • Hybrid Chestnut Seed Orchard - A cooperative initiative between Penn State and The American Chestnut Foundation dedicated to developing a blight-resistant chestnut to re-introduce this species to American forests

I hope that you return regularly to find out the latest news, and encourage others to visit us, as well! You may share suggestions or comments about the site by e-mailing me or Kate Reeder.

Kim C. Steiner, Director
The Arboretum at Penn State

Frequently asked Questions

Project manager, Judy Larkin (center), discussing the site plan for the overlook pavilion with Katie Rountree, construction administration specialist.

 

The plant illustrated in the banner at the top of this Web site's pages, Panex quiquefolius L. (ginseng) is an herb that bears greenish flowers in May and red fruit from September to October. Although it was once encountered frequently in Pennsylvania's woodlands, its abundance has declined greatly due to excessive collecting. Illustration: Rae Dickson Chambers.

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