Cofrin Memorial Arboretum

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The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum 290 acres (120 hectares) surrounds the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Its six miles (10 km) of trails are open to the public.

Today's Arboretum began in 1971, when a long-range campus plan was drawn up, recommending the creation of a park-like arboretum and trail system. In 1975, a major contribution in honor of John and Austin Cofrin enabled development of the trails, additional property, and improvements in the botanical plantings. At present the Arboretum contains the following areas:

  • Keith White Prairie - 8.5 acres (3.4) maintained through prescribed burns. Grasses include big bluestem, Indian grass, and switch grass. Flower species include yellow cone flower, prairie dock, lupin, black-eyed Susan, spiderwort, and false indigo.
  • Mahon Woods - a remnant of the indigenous forests, with 59 species of trees and shrubs including oaks (Quercus alba, Quercus rubra), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), White Pines (Pinus strobus). Other species include Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum, E. albidum), Violets (Viola sororia, V. pubescens), and Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata, D. diphylla).
  • Niagara escarpment - white cedar trees.
  • Northern Barrens - An artificially developed sandy habitat for plant species that cannot flourish in the clay soils of the campus.
  • Oak Savanna - scattered oak trees within fields of grasses and herbs.
  • Paul Sager Tract - 20 acres (8 hectares) including small natural springs, 2 ponds, and associated wetlands.
  • Succession Plots - 13 experimental plots ranging in age from 2 to 17 years of natural succession. At present, its plants include, in rough order of succession: Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album), Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Foxtail Grass (Setaria glauca), Bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Quackgrass (Agropyron repens), Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis), Goldenrods (Solidago canadensis, S. graminifolia) Asters (Aster novae-angliae, A. ericoides), Box Elder (Acer negundo), Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), American Beech (Fagus grandiflora), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis).

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