Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden facts for kids
The Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a wonderful place in Rockford, Illinois. It's like a huge outdoor museum for plants! This special garden covers about 63 hectares (that's 155 acres). It's a nonprofit place, which means it's run for the public good, not to make money. Here, you can explore many different kinds of trees and plants. It's a great spot to learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors.
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A Look Back: How Klehm Arboretum Started
This beautiful arboretum has a long history. It first began in 1910 as the Rockford Nursery. A talented landscape architect named William Lincoln Taylor started it. He planted many of the first trees you can still see today.
Later, in 1968, the Klehm family bought the nursery. They took care of the land for many years. Then, in 1985, they made a very generous gift. They donated the entire property to the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. This is how it officially became an arboretum, a place dedicated to trees.
In the early 1990s, people started planning for the arboretum's future. They made a big plan for new gardens and features. New plants began to be added in 1994, making it the amazing place it is today.
Discovering the Plants at Klehm Arboretum
Klehm Arboretum is home to a huge variety of plants. You can find trees and shrubs from all over the world. It's a fantastic place to see how different plants grow.
Ancient Trees: The Bur Oak Grove
One of the most special parts of the arboretum is its Bur Oak grove. This area covers about 5 hectares (12 acres). Some of the largest trees here are incredibly old. Experts believe they are more than 300 years old! Imagine all the history these trees have seen.
Cone-Bearing Trees: Conifers
The arboretum has over 50 different types of Conifers. These are trees that produce cones, like pinecones. They come from places like North America, Europe, and Asia.
You can see many kinds of conifers, including:
Some specific types include Nikko Firs, Meyer's Spruce, and Common Juniper.
Trees from Around the World
Klehm Arboretum has special collections of trees based on where they originally came from.
European Collection
In the European collection, you'll find mature trees like:
- Norway Maple
- Field Maple
- Pedunculate Oak
- English Elm
- European Beech
- Common Horsechestnut
- Mountain Pine
- Scots Pine
You can also see European Larch, European Hornbeam, and Spindle Tree.
East Asian Collection
The East Asian collection features unique plants such as:
- Cork Trees
- Japanese Red and White Magnolia
- Flowering Quince
- Various Honeysuckles
North American Collection
The North American collection showcases trees native to this continent, including:
- American Beech
- Yellow Buckeye
- Cucumbertree Magnolia
- Tulip Tree
- Ponderosa Pine
- Colorado Spruce
- Douglas Fir
Other Interesting Trees and Plants
Beyond the main collections, you can discover many other woody plants. These include:
- Basswood
- Red Buckeye
- Black Cherry
- American Chestnut
- Dogwood
- Fringe Tree
- Hackberry
- Japanese Pagoda Tree
- Shagbark Hickory
- Umbrella Magnolia
- Scarlet Oak
- White Oak
- Redbud
- Carolina Silverbell
- Sourwood
- Sweetgum
- Viburnum
- Black Walnut
- Wisteria
Special Gardens to Explore
Klehm Arboretum has several themed gardens, each offering a unique experience.
- Butterfly Garden: A colorful garden designed to attract beautiful butterflies.
- Daylily Garden: Filled with many varieties of daylilies, known for their vibrant blooms.
- Demonstration Gardens: These gardens show different ways to plant and care for plants.
- Fountain Garden: A peaceful spot with a lovely water feature.
- Grass Garden: Features many types of ornamental grasses.
- Hosta Garden: Home to a wide range of hosta plants, known for their beautiful leaves.
- Nancy Olson Children's Garden: A fun and interactive garden designed especially for kids.
- Ethel Johnson Lilac Garden: A fragrant garden showcasing many kinds of lilacs.
- Prehistoric Garden: This unique garden takes you back in time! It features plants that existed millions of years ago, like Cycads, Baldcypress, Ferns, Ginkgo, Horsetails, Mosses, Bristlecone Pine, and Dawn Redwood.
See also
In Spanish: Jardín botánico y arboreto Klehm para niños
