Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens

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The Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens contains 91 acres (37 hectares) of parkland, gardens, and landscapes that focus on the regional plants, ecology and character of Southwestern New England. The Arboretum is open and accessible to the public every day of the year. It is located at 151 Brookdale Road in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.

The Arboretum started in 1913, when Dr. Francis A. Bartlett, an eminent dendrologist and founder of the F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, acquired "30 acres [12 hectares] more or less" of North Stamford woodland to use as his residence, training school and research laboratory for his company. Over the years he assembled a large number of plant specimens on the property from all over the world. In 1965, when the research laboratory moved to North Carolina, the Stamford site, then covering more than 60 acres (24 hectares), was purchased by the State of Connecticut and designated the Connecticut State Arboretum. In 1993, the land and overall operation of the Arboretum were transferred to the University of Connecticut at Stamford.

In January 2007, the Arboretum started offering a landscaping class for Spanish-speaking landscapers. Although taught in English, key words and expressions are translated into spanish. The landscapers are taught subjects such as proper planting, mulching and pruning, and safety rules, and they receive a certificate at the end of the course.^[1]

[edit] Collections

The Arboretum contains the following collections:

The Conifer Garden is a collection of conifers, including: Tsuga (hemlock), Pinus (pine), Picea (spruce), Abies (fir), Thuja (arborvitae), Chamaecyparis (false cypress), Juniperus (juniper), Cryptomeria (Japanese temple pine) and Taxus (yew).

The Mehlquist Garden is a unique collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas of native, Japanese, Korean and European origins: established by Dr. Gustav A.L. Mehlquist, Professor Emeritus of Plant Science at the University of Connecticut.

The Nut Tree Collection is a grove planted by Frances Bartlett which includes Carya illinoiensis (pecans), Juglans sp. (walnuts), heartnuts, filberts, "hicans", and a hardy Chestnut hybrid.