Brenton Arboretum

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The Brenton Arboretum 121 acres (490,000 m²) is a new arboretum and botanical garden in early stages of development, located at 2629 Palo Circle, Dallas Center, Iowa, USA. The Arboretum aims to display all Iowa native trees and shrubs suitable to the site, as well as many other tree species which can grow in central Iowa, and currently contains over 1,500 trees and shrubs. The Brenton Arboretum is a non-profit organization and open to the public.

The Brenton Arboretum was founded by Sue and J.C. (Buz) Brenton and their children, on land which was part of the original “Home Farm” acquired by Dr. James Brenton and his son, William Henry, soon after they arrived from Indiana in 1853 by covered wagon. Its first trees were planted in 1997. The Master Plan was created by Anthony Tyznik, Batavia, Illinois, who for many years was the landscape architect for the Morton Arboretum.

The Arboretum features a lake, pond, wetlands, several streams, walking paths, bridges, prairies, wildflowers, and a small library. The native grasses Buffalograss, blue grama, little bluestem, and sideoats grama are being planted to bring the land back to its pre-agricultural setting.