Habitats: Meadow

The Arboretum’s meadow is a managed habitat.  During the early twentieth century, abandoned farm fields became wildflower meadows rich in birds, bees, and butterflies.  When tree seedlings in these meadows grew into forests, the wildflower meadows and wildlife that depended on them became scarce.  The Arboretum established this meadow in 2000 as an example of a sustainable landscape that provides needed habitat and esthetic beauty.  Depending on the time of year, you can see wildflowers such as Coreopsis, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis), Goblet Aster (Aster lateriflorus), Blue-eyed Grass (Sysrinchium sp.), Lupine (Lupinussp.) and Spiderwort (Tradescantia sp.) as well as many others.  It is mowed annually in early April to prevent it from returning to forest.