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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.

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