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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.”
Relaxing at the Lotus Pool in
the Oasis Garden before the 2009 football season
gets under way.
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. (Descriptions of major elements in the H. O.
Smith Botanic Gardens are available here.)
I would like to share with you some highlights
from the project schedule so that you can join us in the countdown
to the dedication of the gardens in April 2010. Planting will
be a fluid process, beginning in fall 2008 and continuing through
fall 2009. 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 continued
through October.
• August and September, 2008 –
The foundations were laid for the walled gardens and the overlook
pavilion, and concrete was formed and poured for the lotus pool.
Shrubs
in bloom in the hedge that flanks the Kathryn Bower Smith Strolling
Garden
in the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
Planting is under way in the
H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. Visible in the distance is the East
Sub-Campus at University Park. Click here
to see a full-page plan of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
• October, 2008 –
Work began on stone and stucco for the garden walls, masonry
and steel for the pavilion’s portico and two wings, and
plumbing for the fountain on the terrace facing Park Avenue.
• November, 2008 – Work commenced
on the irrigation system, the fountain, and the overlook facilities.
•December, 2008 – Work on
garden structures (including the rose arbor), event lawn irrigation,
and aggregate walkways proceeded, and preparation for the planting
beds began.
• January, 2009 – As weather
permitted, installation of the roof and windows of the pavilion
and work on the interior walls proceeded. Light fixtures for
the event lawn walkway were installed and interior work in the
pavilion’s two wings continued.
• February and March, 2009 –
Work on the pavilion structures continued.
• April, May, and June, 2009 –
Interior work on the two wings of the overlook pavilion commenced,
the contractor laid the parking lot’s final bituminous
surface, and planting proceeded as weather permitted.
• July, 2009 – Final inspection
of the hardscape is being conducted and plantings continue.
• Specialty gardens will be planted
through the fall, including the Rose and Fragrance Garden, Oasis
Garden, and garden beds surrounding the North Terrace.
Concurrently with these activities, we
intend to begin planning and fund-raising for the Children's
Garden.
A grand opening for Phase I of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens
will occur in April 2010.
Looking
toward the Katz Building (Penn State Dickinson School of Law)
from the site of the North Terrace 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
Source: MTR
A drawing featuring the view
towards the overlook pavilion from the event lawn. The Bald
Eagle Ridge is in the distance. Click here
to see a full-page plan of the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
Frequently
asked Questions
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. |
