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The Palmer Arboretum behind the Woodstock Historical Society building, off Rt. 169. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
WOODSTOCK --- Once an impenetrable jungle, the Palmer Arboretum is turning into an emerald.
Bill Brower, chairman of the arboretum's board, will proudly lead two free tours at 10 a.m. and at 12:30 p.m. May 11. And he has much to show off.
When the arboretum was rediscovered in the 1970s, a machete was more likely the gardening tool of choice. The arboretum, founded by Minnie Palmer Dean in 1914, has come a long way.
The volunteer group has gotten a master plan from a UConn Landscape Design Department class and has implemented the first part of the design with an observation platform completed last fall by Eagle Scout Ben Gormley.
Clearing of the wild spring section, which is almost a quarter of the arboretum's area, was done by Matthew Sheldon, Brower said. Leaving nothing to waste, Sheldon also created seating at the arboretum from some of the tree trunks.
Arboretum officials also fixed a long-standing drainage problem with the installation of a state-of-the art rain garden, using a grant supervised by the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District. Jean Pillo of the district and David Faist of Faist Engineering designed the garden which draws rainwater and runoff from the parking lot and nearby hilly land into a larger drainage system. Judith Gries and Marian Hallowell picked the native plants for the garden. The project was implemented with hardscape and manpower from the Woodstock Town Highway Department under John Navarro, Brower said.
The arboretum has also benefitted by the volunteer work of three arborists who donate their time and expertise to prune, diagnose and treat the 100-year-old original plantings. Brower thanked Hart's Tree Service, Lindon's Tree Service and Dennis Panu Arborists and Sheldon's Tree Service.
But the arboretum isn't resting on its laurels. Brower said the group is working with Deborah Lee, the head of the Master Gardener program at UConn, to help implement additional parts of the master plan. That involves the expansion and design of the shade garden of native wildflowers and helping to choose a variety of groundcovers to eventually eliminate some weeding. The Woodstock Area Garden Club has also been generous, he said, with plants and memorial donations.
Brower said the arboretum is a town of Woodstock property and depends on the kindness of volunteers.
If you would like to lend a hand, call Brower at 860-974-2770. Donations may also be made to the Friends of the Arboretum c/o of the Woodstock Town Hall.