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“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.
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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. |
