Ask a psychiatrist about someone who wants to start an arboretum and they might tell you such a person should schedule some time with a mental health professional to "work through some issues." After all, an arboretum requires time, physical effort and financial resources to get started and then demands an ongoing commitment of time and money to be maintained at a high level. And even when the arboretum is well established, there is always an emotional toll when favorite trees die for no apparent reason or succumb to weather events, animal damage and vandalism. You'd have to be crazy to want to start an arboretum. Thankfully, Nebraska is home to many such people. Incredibly, over 100 arboretums have already been established across the state and several more are in the planning and development stage. Any wise psychiatrist would be smart to relocate their practice here.
     Developing an arboretum seems almost second nature in this place known as the "Tree Planter's State." Nebraskans take their tree planting seriously and it shows in their tree-filled communities and by the fact that more arboretums can be found in Nebraska than in nearly any other state in the country. Arboretums add great value to a community and they serve as one of the best ways to bring people and plants together. There is no doubt that a community could do worse than starting an arboretum.
     Although there are many great reasons for developing an arboretum, two basic purposes are behind most such undertakings. The first is based on people's love for trees and in our desire to let others know about all the great things trees do. We love to show off the way they grow, how big they can get, how much shade they cast, how they block the wind, the amazing range of colors and fragrances they produce, their wonderful array of bark textures, their widely variable fruit, how they are useful to wildlife and how they benefit the economic vitality of a community. We like to show how awe-inspiring trees can be!
     The other common purpose of an arboretum is tied to people's stubborn desire to prove that more species and types can be grown in a certain area than are already occurring naturally. Because people want to collect the unusual, we have learned that species such as baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) and tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) can be grown throughout much of central and eastern Nebraska, while pinyon pine (Pinus cembroides), gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) have proven reliable in the western part of the state. Conversely, we have learned that dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) do poorly throughout the state.

The History of Arboretums in Nebraska
     Arboretums in Nebraska have a rich history. Many of the first settlers were tree planting enthusiasts-none more so than J. Sterling Morton. His efforts in the late 1800s resulted in the establishment of more than 100 tree and shrub species at his home known now as Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. Mr. Morton was the first to plant white pine, catalpa, chestnut, several types of oak and many different maples in Nebraska. His affinity for tree planting was passed on to his children, including Joy, who established the world renowned Morton Arboretum near Chicago, Illinois.
     Robert W. Furnas, a contemporary of Morton's, was also a great tree advocate and was the governor who signed the first Arbor Day proclamation in 1874. Furnas helped plant many thousands of trees in Nebraska and was a tireless promoter of trees during the state's early days. Today there is even an arboretum named in his honor in his hometown of Brownville.
     Largely because of Morton's and Furnas's efforts, tree-planting fever took hold in Nebraska and people in many communities sought to plant a great variety of species. Over time, several diverse plantings that could be considered as arboretums evolved. Today, there are 55 arboretums in Nebraska that are affiliated with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Many other sites are considering affiliation or are working toward it. Affiliate sites of NSA have joined together to share resources, ideas and plant testing information. It is an association of like-minded people working hard to improve the landscape resources of greater Nebraska.

Tips for Starting an Arboretum
     There is no single formula for establishment of an arboretum. Such an effort is dependent on the needs of the local community, the constraints of the planting site, the local climatic conditions and the personal desires of the people involved. Regardless of the shape an arboretum takes, the most important thing is that it is properly maintained. Individual plants will come and go but as long as an arboretum is well cared for, people will continue to come and learn and be inspired.
     For anyone looking to develop an arboretum, we offer the suggestions that follow. These are only guidelines; and there are, no doubt, many other ingredients that have led to successful efforts elsewhere.
1. If possible, use an existing group of trees as the backbone for an arboretum. A park, campus, school grounds or other public property is often already planted with many trees and makes a great starting point for an arboretum. Such sites usually have the added advantage of having dedicated maintenance personnel already in place.
2. Planning and design is critical. Take the time to think ahead about what species to include and how to arrange them. Hiring a professional landscape designer/architect is money well spent on such an endeavor.
3. The design should balance important landscape design concepts (massing, repetition, mass/void, etc.) with species diversity. It is important to have a backbone of reliable species repeated throughout the collection. Such trees will help insure longevity for much of the tree mass and will help give protection to the marginally hardy species.
4. The needs of the intended audience are important. Try to judge what it is that most visitors would gain from such a planting and develop the collection accordingly.
5. Be careful not to exceed maintenance abilities. Start small and add a little bit more every year.
6. Maintain the site first and foremost for the trees and other landscape plants and secondly for turfgrass. Damage caused by mowers, string trimmers and misuse of lawn herbicides is perhaps the single greatest cause of tree mortality and decline across the state.
7. There is no minimum number of species or types of woody plants required for a site to be called an arboretum. Individual site constraints, goals and common sense will indicate when enough diversity has been reached to warrant the title. Sites within the NSA system range in diversity from a few dozen types to more than 500.
8. Resist the temptation to collect one of everything. Instead try to concentrate on groups or types of plantings that make sense to the local needs and conditions.
9. Think about giving the arboretum a signature collection-something that is unique in the state or region. There are many possibilities, including a collection of evergreens, nut trees, tall canopy shade trees, species for windbreaks, uncommon shrubs, trees suitable for planting along streets, shrubs for homeowners, trees with showy flowers, trees for small spaces, etc. Genus collections such as oak (Quercus), maple (Acer), pine (Pinus), viburnum, etc. can also be a good way to help focus a collection.
10. Keep good records. The best thing about an arboretum is that it serves as a living reminder of what will and will not grow in a certain location. Good record-keeping helps prevent retrying plant types that have proven unsuitable.
11. Make sure the site is used as an educational resource. Let people know about it. Label plants. Develop brochures. The arboretum will not be worth the effort if no one uses it.
12. Talk to others who have done it. Nothing beats the insight, recommendations and cautions that are conveyed from people who have already established arboretums.
13. Have fun with it!

Help in Getting Started
     A great thing about developing an arboretum in Nebraska is that the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum is available to assist with the effort. This nationally-unique organization is devoted to helping communities across the state develop arboretums and improve their public landscapes.
     The professional staff of NSA is available to offer guidance in several areas of arboretum development including planning and design, plant selection, educational assistance and funding opportunities. Anyone is welcome to contact the NSA office for advice and feedback. For assistance beyond basic advice, prospective sites are encouraged to join NSA as Associate Members. The $65 annual membership dues signify that a site is serious about its efforts which will in turn garner a greater commitment from NSA.

Affiliation with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
     Once an arboretum has been established (a planned collection of plants has been assembled to carry out an identified mission), then such a site may be ready to join the family of affiliate sites that make up the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. To become affiliated with NSA, an arboretum must meet high standards for planning, maintenance and education/outreach. The basic requirements for affiliation with NSA are:
1. An organized support association (Arboretum Committee) comprised of at least five members and representing a broad spectrum of the community.
2. A written master plan that identifies the mission and guides the design, management, educational program and future development of the arboretum.
3. An information/promotion program consisting of labeling, orientation brochure, entry sign and at least one public event per year featuring the arboretum.
4. Approval of affiliation by the NSA Executive Board.
     The benefits of affiliation are many. They include technical assistance from NSA staff; statewide and regional recognition and exposure; assistance with plant labeling; possible financial support for development activities; professional development opportunities for the curator and others involved with helping to maintain the arboretum; and full benefits of regular membership in NSA including subscriptions to the organizational newsletter and horticultural magazines, discounts on hard-to-find horticultural books and discounts on special events and programs. Perhaps the best benefit of affiliation is the opportunity to associate and share ideas with like-minded people working to improve landscapes all across Nebraska.
     Contact the NSA office at 402/472-2971 for more information about affiliation and about the Associate Member program.