Botanical Gardens at University of Michigan

Historic Arboretum: Like botanical gardens, arboretums are also historic places. The Nichols Arboretum, for example, dates back to the 1920s.

People have always looked at gardens and arboretums to plan their own gardens. This is because these locations plant species that can survive in Michigan's climate during the summer or year-round.

This article is from the Detroit Free Press's June 17, 1923 issue. It encourages readers to look to the arboretum to find ideas for their own gardens. (Source)

Question: Look at the plants shown in the article above, which plants would put in your garden? 

Botanical Gardens and nature sanctuaries like the Nichols Arboretum are constantly changing. This collection of birds-eye-view photographs were taken throughout the Arboretum's history.

Question: Look at each photograph. Can you describe how the Nichols Arboretum's landscape has changed over time? (Source)

One of the missions of modern-day botanical gardens and nature sanctuaries is to be home to native and non-native species. In 2016, the Nichols Arboretum was given funds to create maps of this area. These maps can help describe facts and findings that can be useful to scientists, students, and people who come to enjoy the Arboretum ("Arboretum Tree and Shrub Data").

One of the maps created during that 2016 project shows that there are many more native species of trees in the Arboretum compared to non-native species. This helps scientists and students to study local plant life close to the University. Having local species can also show everyone just how many different species make up the world around us. (Source)

Another Map created because of the 2016 grant shows where the "biggest" trees in the Arboretum are located. Scientists measured their diameter (DBH) by wrapping a tape measure around the tree's trunk.

Activity: When you look at the map, you can see that some species of trees are larger than others. Can you measure the distance around a tree trunk in your area? How does the tree in your area compare to those in the Nichols Arboretum?  (Source)

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. deltoides)

Question: If you look at the "Nichols Arboretum: The 'Big' 10" map, how big is the diameter of the Eastern Cottonwood at the Nichols Arboretum? (Source)

Another one of the largest trees in the Nichols Arboretum is the White Oak (Quercus Alba)

Question: If you look at the "Nichols Arboretum: The 'Big' 10" map, how big is the biggest White Oak at the Nichols Arboretum?