Adkins Arboretum

Adkins Arboretum (400 acres) is a native garden and arboretum located within Tuckahoe State Park at 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, Maryland. The facility was developed as a pilot project for the Sustainable Sites Initiative, an interdisciplinary program of the United States Botanic Garden, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the University of Texas. Its gardens contain a "living collection" of over 600 native plant species, used to promote land stewardship practices in the Chesapeake Bay region. [1][2]

About 18,000 people visit the arboretum each year; 5,000 are children.[3] It offers classes to the public in horticulture, ecology and natural history throughout the year and is open daily.[2][4]

The Campaign to Build a Green Legacy

Adkins Arboretum is engaged in a multi-year capital campaign, the Campaign to Build a Green Legacy, to build a new Arboretum Center, create an ecologically sensitive Native Garden Gateway, and provide endowment funds to support new and existing educational programs. As of December 31, 2011, nearly $4 million had been raised toward these objectives.[3]

Funds from the capital campaign will allow expansion of education, meeting and art exhibition space at the Arboretum's visitor center by 6,500 feet. Construction plans also include a stormwater management system to reduce runoff, more gardens and "greener parking alternatives".[5]

The cornerstone of the campaign is the new W. Flaccus and Ruth B. Stifel Center at Adkins Arboretum, which will contribute to the economic vitality and quality of life of the Eastern Shore. Upon its completion, the Arboretum will be able to broaden its educational offerings and research inintiatives to accommodate a growing visitorship.[3]

History

The Arboretum was originally established in 1972 to be the Maryland state arboretum on the grounds of Tuckahoe State Park. It first opened in the 1980s as a result of a major donation from Leon Andrus, a native of Queen Anne's County. The arboretum derives its name from the Adkins family, an Eastern Shore family of conservationists who were friends with Andrus. When Andrus died in 1989, he left a bequest to the arboretum's endowment.[6]

Its original mission was to display all of Maryland's forest types; however in the 1990s, its mission was revised to emphasize the display and study of the Delmarva Peninsula's indigenous plant communities. In 1998, its operations were converted to a public/private partnership, with Maryland granting a 50-year lease to the Friends of Adkins Arboretum. The arboretum is supported by grants and donations.[6][1]

Adkins Arboretum features over 600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers and grasses, and contains more than four miles (6 km) of paths through meadows and native plant gardens on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.[2][1]

Events

The Arboretum hosts semiannual native plant sales[7] as well as special events[8] to celebrate the seasons. Educational programs for adults and children are offered throughout the year.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Adkins Arboretum". Sustainable Development Strategies. Earthly Ideas LLC. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "About Us: Who We Are". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Campaign to Build a Green Legacy". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mission Statement". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Adkins Arboretum Names Capital Campaign Honorary Chair". ShoreUpdate.com. March 29, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "History of Adkins Arboretum". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Native Plant Resources". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Special Events". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Adult Programs". Adkins Arboretum. Retrieved January 10, 2014.

External links


Coordinates: 38°57′12″N 75°56′00″W / 38.953285°N 75.933444°W