Dawes Arboretum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Dawes Arboretum |
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The All Seasons Garden
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| Location | Newark, Ohio |
| Area | 1,910 acres |
| Created | June 1, 1929 |
| Visitors | 267,000 |
| Open | All year (except New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) |
| Plants | 16,828 |
| Website | https://dawesarb.org/ |
The Dawes Arboretum is a special place in Newark, Ohio. It's a nonprofit arboretum, which means it's like a huge outdoor museum for trees and plants. With almost 2,000 acres, it has lots of different plants, beautiful gardens, and natural areas. You can explore about 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails or take a four-mile (6 km) driving tour to see everything.
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Discovering the History of Dawes Arboretum
The Dawes Arboretum was created by Beman and Bertie Dawes. Beman was born in 1870 and grew up in Marietta, Ohio. Bertie was born in 1872 in Lincoln, Nebraska. They got married in 1894 and had five children.
Around 1917, the couple bought a 140-acre farm. They called it "Daweswood." This farm was a peaceful getaway for their family. It was also a place where they could grow trees and plants. These plants came from all over the world.
How the Arboretum Started
The arboretum grew to twice its size before it officially opened in 1929. Beman and Bertie Dawes wanted to create a foundation. Their goal was "to encourage the planting of forest and ornamental trees." They also wanted to "give pleasure to the public and education to the youth."
The Dawes Arboretum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's a very important historical site. About 270,000 people visit the park every year. Starting in 2019, the arboretum began charging a small fee for visitors. This helps them keep the park amazing for everyone.
Exploring the Features of Dawes Arboretum
The Dawes Arboretum has more than 15,000 living trees, shrubs, and flowers. It also has many other types of plants. There are several different gardens and natural areas to explore.
Beautiful Gardens and Natural Areas
The Japanese Garden is a peaceful spot. It was designed in 1963 by Dr. Makoto Nakamura. This garden has a calm reflecting pond and a quiet area for meditation. It's a great place to relax.
The arboretum also has a unique bald-cypress swamp. This is one of the northernmost swamps of its kind in North America. You can walk through it on a special boardwalk. You might even see Jefferson salamanders and spotted salamanders there. They live in the swamp from late winter through spring.
The Dutch Fork Wetlands
The Dutch Fork Wetlands is a large area of 70 acres. It's a mix of wetlands and grasslands. This area was once farmland, which changed its natural habitats. But it has been restored to be a diverse ecosystem.
Many different animals now call the wetlands home. You can find mammals, birds, and insects living there. Visitors can explore the wetlands on their own. You can also take a guided tour to learn more about this special place.
Amazing Plant Collections
The Dawes Arboretum is home to many different kinds of trees. These include buckeyes, chestnuts, conifers, holly, and oaks. It also has three nationally recognized tree collections. These are approved by the Plant Collections Network.
Nationally Recognized Tree Collections
- Acer multisite (maples)
- Aesculus (buckeyes and horse-chestnuts)
- Hamamelis (witch-hazel)
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood)
Since 1927, the arboretum has honored more than 100 people by dedicating trees to them. Some famous Ohioans have trees dedicated in their name. These include athlete Jesse Owens and astronaut John Glenn. The inventors Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright also have trees. Author Julie Zickefoose is another person honored here.
