What is an Arboretum?
An Arboretum in a nutshell
Photo by Michael Misanik
For many in the Truckee Meadows, summer is a time for fun in the sun, family BBQs and vacations to faraway places. For many, summer is the time to start up their gardens, filling them with vegetables and flowers. Here in Reno we are home to the Wilbur May Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, a major garden space that is home to hundreds of different species of plants from across the world. The May campus also has a unique story to tell to visitors, but first off, what is an Arboretum and how is it different from a regular garden? An Arboretum is a type of garden devoted primarily to the cultivation and maintenance of trees and shrubs for scientific and educational purposes. A Botanical Garden is a garden dedicated to the collection, cultivation and display of a wide range of plants (from trees to flowers and more) for the purpose of scientific research, conservation and education.
Start of the May Arboretum
Photo By Michael Misanik
The Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden can be found within Rancho San Rafael Park just off of North Sierra Street. It was established over thirty years ago by the Wilbur May Foundation. During it’s early days the Foundations along with local college professor Edgar F. Kleiner developed many of the initial ideas for the gardens that are now thriving today. Through donations both money and plants themselves the gardens expanded over the following decades.Since its inspections the Arboretum has grown from a few young gardens covering 2 acres to an extensive forest expanding 13 acres. Today it is made up of some 23 gardens.More than 100,000 visitors pass through the garden’s gates annually. This hidden green wonder is home to over 4,600 native and adaptive plants including 1,700 trees from 185 different tree species creating a lush oasis in our arid Great Basin climate. The variety and assortment of plants attracts a wide range of local wildlife. It is said that the May Arboretum is one of the most plant diverse areas in northern Nevada.
With some 2 miles worth of winding paths and trails, the gardens offer beleaguered city residents a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For plant enthusiasts it is a living library for expanding their plant knowledge of both native species and those from abroad. For birders both new and experienced it is a menagerie of native species. The Arboretum also serves as an outdoor laboratory for children and adults to learn about the natural world around them. Schools, summer camps as well as local organizations (TMPF, KTMB, and local HOAs) have explored the gardens to learn about the various plants, gardening methods, and work being done at the site. The Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden has been a member of the American Public Garden Association since 2008.
The Gardens Present
Within the May Arboretum’s various gardens there are a few that many local Renonites are a favorite of theirs Spots such as the Rose Garden are popular thanks to their collection of varying rose types. David’s Grove where a range of Nevada native plants can be found. During my explorations of the arboretum there have been a few of the less glamorous ones that have caught my eye.
Burke Garden
Photo By Michael Misanik
Hidden just behind the ranch house and the Arboretum office, a small English garden can be found. Even with its humble size, it tells the story with its landscape. Higgley Piggly style gardening is a style that uses the materials on hand to create the luscious garden beds present. Burke also tells the story of how a hypothetical family, who began a garden, first using the stones pulled out of the earth during its early days with more proper garden beds being made of brickwork, as time went on, the family’s wealth grew. Today it is a shady haven from the summer heat. It also acts as an event space for various events from educational programs and tours to weddings (I should know my sister got married at the nearby ranch house). In the spring and summer this garden is home to a menagerie of various pollinators that enjoy that tapestry of flowers present. Hummingbirds dance among the cardinal flowers.While Bumble bees, skippers, and swallowtail butterflies flutter among the Jupiter’s Beads oxeye daisy, and catnip.
Galaxy Grove
Photo By Michael Misanik
The Galaxy grove honors the passengers who perished in the 1985 Galaxy Airline crash in Reno. The charter flight from Minneapolis to Reno was carrying football fans when it experienced some engine issues during flight before crashing into a Reno field at South Virginia Street and Neil Road shortly after 1am on January 21st 1985. Out of the 71 passengers only one, 17-year-old George Lamson Jr., survived. Today it remains the deadliest aviation accident in Nevada history. Moved by the loss, citizens of Reno and Sparks purchased several Giant Sequoia trees to honor the passengers. These trees stand behind the monument.
Honey’s Garden
Among the most well known portions of the Arboretum, Honey’s Garden is a scenic spot that honors Mrs. Tom May (Anita Keiler) who loved yellow and white flowers. The cascading waterfall, reflecting pond and beautiful landscaping make Honey’s a popular wedding garden situated in a serene setting. Towering oaks, pines and dawn redwoods shade the site with a range of yellow and white themed flowers blooming here during the spring and summer. Honey’s Garden overlooks Evans Creek Wetlands and bridge, and represents an upper elevation setting of the Sierra Range
Evans Creek Wetlands
Photo By Michael Misanik
Stretching from the East entrance of Rancho San Rafael Park up into the foothills of Peavine Peak, Evans Creek is among the few natural riparian areas (an area situated along a stream or river) left within the Truckee Meadows. Here Black willows and Frémont's cottonwood, dominate as they would have in parts of the Truckee Meadows during the pioneer days.Wetland areas, such as those along Evans Creek, place a key role for both the wildlife and people that live nearby. They reduce the impact of floods during major storm events and provide habitat for a range of animals. Wetland areas also filter out harmful pollutants from the water reducing water pollution. These habitat areas in areas such as Nevada, aid in maintaining a continuous flow of water during the driest parts of the year. Due in part to yearound water among other factors, the Evans Creek Wetlands is rich in native wildlife. Nearly 57 species of birds have been spotted in this area. The main location where you can get a sense of the Evans Creek Wetland is the wooden bridge and observation landing on the east side of the arboretum. This site allows visitors to observe the wildlife among the foliage and forest debris.
For more information on the various gardens at the May Arboretum check out the Society website.
Purpose
Photo by Michael Misanik
The Wilbur May Arboretum has served a key role in the Truckee Meadows Community, providing not only a quick escape from the city but a location where people can connect to the natural world in varying ways. Due to the high desert environment, the individual introduced plant species at the arboretum are an informal research project in phenology. Phenology is the study of plant or animal species in relation to the climate. All new introductions are accession, mapped and monitored throughout the life span they are present in the gardens. Since the first planting in 1984-1985, a number of native and introduced plants have flourished at the May Arboretum due to the dedicated work of staff and volunteers.
The May Arboretum's future goals are to grow colonies of northern Nevada's rare, threatened and endangered plant species. Equipped with the resources to grow plants on site, we hope to begin growing sustainable plants to meet the changing needs of the May Arboretum and the community of northern Nevada. As well as plants native to Nevada the Arboretum is also hoped for a few Giant Sequoia which were donated to the gardens by the California Fire Department. These trees serve as living seed banks for the Giant Sequoia groves of King Canyon National Park in case the groves are lost due to wildfires. As the gardens were expanded in the 1990s Kleiner and his team successfully introduced the exotic Dawn Redwood orignally from south-central China. These ancient trees were once wide spread across the northern hemisphere during the days of the dinosaurs some 150 million years ago. However unlike the dinosaurs the Dawn Redwoods survived the K-Pg Mass Extinction continuing to be common up until the Miocene some 20 million years ago when it appeared this group of ancient trees died out. It was not until the 1940s that living Dawn Redwoods were found in remote mountain valleys of Chongqing Province. Since then live specimens, seeds and cutting have been collected and grown in private and public gardens around the globe.
As a living museum, the garden’s primary mission is to introduce visitors to the world of plants as well as foster an appreciation for this unique group of life. Plants play a critical role in the processes of life on earth from producing oxygen to growing food for humans and animals as well as shaping the various ecosystems across the world. In addition to native plant communities more exotic plant can also be seen in the gardens. At the arboretum various education programs are conducted for a range of age groups from toddlers to seniors with the goal of inspiring them to learn more about nature and explore the wild places across the Truckee Meadows. The progams include but are not limited to, volunteer classes, Olli Birding Tours, Washoe County Library Story Time, Nature Journaling/ Lessons and Little Sprouts. For more information on the programs mentioned check out the Arboretum’s section of the Washoe County Website.
Future developments
As of right now Washoe County plans are underway to see what needs to be done to improve Rancho San Rafael Park with a new phase 2 public survey being available for Truckee Meadow residents to make their voices heard. The last comprehensive plan was unveiled in 1990, with the most recent development plan following in 2002. Over the last 20 some years conditions in the county have changed from the economic downturn in 2008 shutting down the improvement project to the growing community within the Truckee Meadows. The shifts require an update to the framework of the project when it comes to maintenance strategies and overall park management. Most importantly, the updated plan must align to the evolving needs and desires of our vibrant community, with the hope that Rancho San Rafael continues to serve as a cherished recreational space for generations to come.The link to the public survey will be available at the end of the article.For any further information on the Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Gardens check out the links provided below.
About the Author:
Michael Misanik is a lifelong Nevadan, who has received his associate degree in Environmental Science with a Wildlife Technician Certificate. His enjoyment and knowledge of the natural world is only rivaled by his love of history both local and worldwide. This enjoyment of history and the natural world has been fueled by Michael’s many travels across the United States. Michael has visited 84 museums, 41 different zoos/aquariums, and 60 national park areas. He has studied art and enjoys photographing his travels; this has filled his love for travel. Today Michael works at the Wibur May Arboretum as an intern helping with the educational programs and maintenance of the gardens. He is also a volunteer at the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation as a Park Historian where he researches and tells the stories of the various public parks found in the Reno Sparks area. Check out his park histories on the Park Foundation website.
An arboretum is a botanical garden specializing in trees. Arboreta across the globe practice scientific research, promote conservation, and engage in public outreach and education to protect and preserve trees.
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