28. March 2026

History of the Arboretum-2025

By Paul Kammerdiner

This year we are approaching a terrific milestone. Planning to create the Arboretum began 30 years ago.

I have visited Public Gardens from coast to coast and loved them all, each one inspiring and beautiful in its own way. Tranquility is the thing that describes them all. That most certainly is a main element of our very own space.

Tranquility does not mean that we are static and unchanging, trees grow, plant displays evolve and we constantly work to improve our infrastructure to offer our visitors an opportunity to relax and bask in the glories of the natural world. Due to some reassignment of duties, we are a bit late with this year’s documentation. Time to trot out the old cliché; better late than never.

MARCH

Not only does our space change but sometimes the faces behind the scenes are different. Obviously, I have returned as chronicler for our story, and we have a new leader for now.

It is early in the month and it is time to prune the trees in the Master Gardener Orchard.

As this month draws to a close the Forget Me Not Pond is still frozen and the Welcome Center looks relatively drab. The Cairn is still wearing its protective shroud and the Koi Pond is still covered. We know that early Spring is just a prelude to the outstanding beauty to come and we can see the signs. Plants are budding, a few Tulips are peaking out of the ground and as I take these pictures bird song is all around me and flocks of Robins glide through the air seeking nesting places.

APRIL

To me this year seems like a more conventional Spring unlike the last few years. The pace is not as frenetic as it has been. This never gets old for me. Spectacular conifers, emerging Tulips and Daffodils, and the stately landscape of a classic Cairn.

We have a new Office Coordinator this year

Our events coordinator Cathy Niebergall and board member Keerthi Kalivarapuis are out and about in the community already as we drum up interest in the Arboretum.

April is the month for our Annual Meeting and of course there is food

We welcomed nine new Board members for their first three- year terms. Juniper Bowen-Maria Elder-Grace Fee-Cyndie Franklin-Keerthi Kalivarapu-Theresa Livingstone-Laura Trueg-Gina Whippie The executive committee this year will be President; Cindy Wells-Vise President; Lindsay Buehler; Secretary-Pam Flanders; Treasurer-Laura Trueg We bid a rousing farewell to Board member Bonnie Wetzel who has finished her 6- year term; we will be seeing her in the gardens. It was a great time and very well attended.

The gold finch magnolia in the Welcome Center patio garden is magnificent and the daffodils and tulips are coming on.

As we approach our official season opening day; we have a special event

There was a huge turnout-the Mayor’s Tree got planted and we are able to display that we are ready for another spectacular-tranquil time in this special space.

MAY

We are open for the season and we have a new Executive Director; she has been serving as our interim director for a while.

I always look forward to the official start of another year here with the anticipation of new educational activities and watching the ever-changing landscape.

There is some clean-up to do first and we are fortunate to have our own group of loyal volunteers and once again our great friends from Agri-pro.

In this month’s newsletter we showcased one of our most steadfast helpers.

Also, this month we are joined by a new gardening intern.

As expected, the place is shaping up for a spectacular Summer.

Insert photos #17-19

Let’s pause a moment and remember that there is lots of work going on behind the scenes.

Cindy and Eliz at the Community Foundation learning all they can on how to make us a more sustainable organization.

This month we added a new staff member;

We are thrilled to welcome Waren Graeve as our new Garden and Operations Manager at the Arboretum! Waren holds a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Geology, and brings a wealth of experience and passion for the natural world to our community.
Her background includes hands-on work at her university’s Botanical Center and a valuable internship with the Black Hawk County Natural Resources Conservation Service. These experiences have shaped her thoughtful, creative approach to land stewardship and garden design.

We have reached the end of May and the Tulips are over and the beds have been replanted with our annual displays. More work to do but the space is shaping up for another glorious season, and it is looking spectacular.

We have reached the end of May and the Tulips are over and the beds have been replanted with our annual displays. More work to do but the space is shaping up for another glorious season and it is looking spectacular.

JUNE

We kicked off this month with an interesting event

And have some great ones coming up

I always have known that the Arboretum is a great place for a lot of activities but this is a new one for me. A Girl Scout Troop came out to earn their gardener badge-that works.

The lush beauty is beginning to show.

What better way to kick off this year’s addition of story time in the Children’s Garden than with Ann Ginther and her butterfly’s.

JULY

Summer is in full swing and we are having fun on the patio and story time is going strong.

We have chosen to highlight the Stout Prize Daylily collection this year on our social media account with individual pictures of various year’s winner, but when you are actually on site and take it in, the view is breath-taking.

This is the time of year when the gardens are at their gorgeous best.

AUGUST

Story time is going strong and we had the actual author of the book as our guest reader; Ashley Kay Andy

We are always grateful when businesses and groups come out for a work day. We had two this month, a big thankyou to Talk to me Technologies

Also, to UNI students for sharing a day with us

Time for the harvest; this year the Master Gardener orchard provided apples for the food bank

Another opportunity this month to show the community who we are.

SEPTEMBER

Entering my favorite time of year and the gardens are looking spectacular. Today was all about shadows and light.

I never tire of watching the Koi dance.

OCTOBER

A focus this year, maybe more than ever before, we want to engage with the community. Cathy and Eliz are on hand to do just that at the annual Hospice butterfly release.

Autumn at the Arboretum has begun with some fun activities

Our trees are putting on their annual show

Our end of the month Witch's Dance has become a real favorite.

A really lovely month

NOVEMBER

This is usually when we are closed for the season but this year, we are trying something very different for us

The light show was spectacular and garnered rave reviews from everyone who came out.

DECEMBER:

The end of December is fast approaching and 2025 will soon officially be history. One last trip for me around the grounds to marvel at the beauty of a Winter landscape and the wonder of light and shadow with a backdrop of snow