Written by Emma MacLennan-Nobrega
To me, the coolest part of The Arboretum is the diversity of trees and shrubs seen throughout each collection. Plants originating from around the world can be found in just a few acres of land. It is as if you are walking through a living plant museum! Each plant is carefully recorded in our database as it is planted. Species tags are displayed on the tree indicate the tree’s scientific name, the year it was planted and where it originated.
Plants are not as easily controlled as one may think. To make sure that we know the exact species and origin of each tree at The Arboretum, we aim as much as possible to track the source of the seed and to grow and plant it ourselves. To ensure our collection trees are well-established use various methods to control competing plants. Often the long grass will be cut to reduce competition and remove unwanted seedlings along with invasive or aggressive plant species. Invasive species can wreak havoc on native trees, so it is very important to limit their numbers in our natural spaces. These activities help to keep each tree organized and identifiable.
Emma MacLennan-Nobrega is a undergraduate student studying Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph