Published September 19, 2024
At Franklin Park Conservatory, each visit offers you a chance to experience nature’s beauty up close. Central to that beauty is our extensive tree collection, cared for through the dedicated efforts of our Horticulture Team in collaboration with Ahlum & Arbor Tree Preservation. Together, they ensure that over 1,593 trees, representing 169 species, thrive across our grounds.
To deepen connections with this living collection, the new Tree Collection webpage offers detailed insights into each tree. From majestic oaks to delicate maples, the webpage provides interactive tools that allow you to explore the trees’ characteristics, learn about their care and discover how they contribute to our ecosystem.
This informational project is the result of a close and cherished partnership between the Conservatory and Ahlum & Arbor Tree Preservation, a respected local company known for its expertise in arboriculture and tree preservation. For years, Ahlum & Arbor has played a role in the Conservatory’s efforts to maintain and preserve its tree collection. Their team of skilled arborists, easily recognizable in their bright orange shirts and hard hats, can often be seen on-site, working diligently to ensure the health and longevity of the Conservatory’s trees.
“Our partnership with Ahlum & Arbor has been instrumental in helping care for and preserve our trees. Their expertise and dedication, along with our Horticulture Team, has helped us maintain the health and beauty of our collection,” Karin Noecker, Director of Horticulture and Exhibitions, shared.
A few years ago, the Conservatory’s Horticulture Team collaborated with Ahlum & Arbor to create an extensive inventory map of the trees located on our property. This map, used daily by our Horticulture Team, laid the groundwork for the Tree Collection webpage, allowing us to significantly advance our care and educational efforts. Our Horticulture Team uses information to prioritize which trees to care for on an annual basis, enabling us to use our budget responsibly. It is a valuable tool for our staff to confirm tree identification in the field using a phone or tablet. Additionally, our plant collections program relies on this information to maintain accurate plant records, create tree signage for the public and work towards receiving arboretum accreditation through Arbnet.
The Tree Collection webpage provides comprehensive details about each tree within the Conservatory’s paid visitor experience and stretches to the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus. When exploring the site, visitors can access specific information for each tree, including its common and scientific names, family classification and the tree’s condition. The webpage also provides an overview of each tree’s economic and environmental contributions—such as stormwater management, air quality improvement and carbon emissions—while also totaling the combined impact of the entire collection, highlighting the essential role our trees play in sustaining the environment.
In addition to the tree care and tree collection, the Conservatory features a “Tree of the Month” from our collection. This segment discusses the unique characteristics of the tree and provides insights into the specific care it receives.
“Our Tree Collection webpage invites visitors to become active participants in appreciating our diverse tree collection. We hope this webpage inspires everyone who explores it to develop a deeper connection with nature and appreciate the vital role these trees play in our environment and lives,” Noecker shared.
We’re incredibly grateful to Ahlum & Arbor for their partnership. Next time you visit the Conservatory, take a moment to explore our collaborative tree collection.