Holden Arboretum

THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE HOLDEN ARBORETUM IS A 3,500-ACRE OUTDOOR LIVING MUSEUM THAT PROMOTES THE BEAUTY AND IMPORTANCE OF TREES AND PLANTS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION. IN ADDITION, THE ARBORETUM HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,634 ACRES IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 29 ACRES AT THE LEACH RESEARCH STATION IN MADISON, OH. THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM IS INTEGRATED WITH THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN AS HOLDEN FORESTS & GARDENS ("HF&G"). THE CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN IS AN URBAN BOTANICAL GARDEN LOCATED 25 MILES FROM HOLDEN ARBORETUM IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND. TOGETHER, THE INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS AND REPRESENT ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC GARDENS IN THE COUNTRY. THE MISSION OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE WONDER, BEAUTY, AND VALUE OF TREES AND PLANTS, TO INSPIRE ACTION FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM FULFILS THIS MISSION THROUGH CORE PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION, EDUCATION, HORTICULTURE, AND GUEST EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 (FY21), HF&G BEGAN TO REBOUND FROM THE PRIOR YEAR'S LIMITATIONS CREATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DELIVERY OF KEY PROGRAMS CONTINUED AMIDST REQUIRED CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS, WHILE NEW PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED DURING THE PANDEMIC GAINED POPULARITY. HF&G ALSO COMMENCED A COMPREHENSIVE SITE PLANNING PROCESS FOR BOTH CAMPUSES WITH THE GOALS OF CREATING WELCOMING, YEAR-ROUND DESTINATIONS FOR ALL GUESTS THAT MODEL AND CATALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SCIENCE & CONSERVATION: ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE STUDIES ON BEECH LEAF DISEASE; BEECH BARK DISEASE; HEMLOCK WOOLY ADELGID; PLANT PHYSIOLOGY; PLANT PHENOLOGY; SOIL ECOLOGY; FOREST ECOLOGY; AND GENETICS. THE RESEARCH STAFF ANNUALLY SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREERS, INCLUDING 13 INTERNS AND SEVEN GRADUATE STUDENTS IN FY21. THE RESEARCH STAFF SHARES ITS LEARNING BY PUBLISHING PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS IN INDUSTRY JOURNALS (12 PUBLICATIONS IN FY21) AND GIVING PRESENTATIONS TO PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCES (24 IN FY21). THE RESEARCH TEAM RECEIVES GRANTS TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, TOTALING OVER $280K IN FY21. THE LEACH RESEARCH STATION SUBMITS APPLICATIONS FOR PLANT PATENTS FOR NEW HOLDEN RHODODENDRON, INCLUDING FOUR APPLICATIONS AND THE RECEIPT OF ONE PATENT IN FY21. THE COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION TEAM MANAGES WORKING WOODS, A UNIQUE DEMONSTRATION SITE FOR LANDOWNERS. OFF CAMPUS, THE GROUP WORKS CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES IN HEALTHY, THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS. THE COMMUNITY FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION STAFF PLANTS AND GIVES AWAY TREES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS (600 IN FY21); CREATES AND PUBLISHES TREE RESOURCES (10 IN FY21); AND GIVES PRESENTATIONS (15) AND TREE WALKS (5) TO THE PUBLIC. THROUGH THE USFS, A FOREST HEALTH COORDINATOR EMBEDDED WITH THE CONSERVATION TEAM AT THE ARBORETUM IS ESTABLISHING A FOREST HEALTH COLLABORATIVE FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THE COLLABORATIVE IS COORDINATING REGIONAL EFFORTS RELATED TO PEST AND DISEASE-RESISTANT TREE BREEDING. THE COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM ALSO LEADS THE TREE CORPS CREW PROGRAM, RE-LAUNCHED IN FY21 WITH A FOCUS ON HANDS-ON ARBORICULTURE SKILLS TO GROW THE GREEN INDUSTRY WORKFORCE IN NORTHEAST OHIO. THE GROUP RECEIVES GRANTS TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, TOTALING $250K IN FY21, AND PARTNERS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON GRANTS, INCLUDING FIVE IN FY21. HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS: THE HORTICULTURE & COLLECTIONS STAFF MAINTAINS, CULTIVATES, AND CARES FOR OVER 16,000 ACCESSIONED PLANTS IN THE LIVING COLLECTION AT THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RESEARCH STAFF, THEY MANAGE ANOTHER 3,100 PRESERVED RESEARCH SPECIMENS AND ASSOCIATED DATA, AND NEARLY 5,700 TREES AND PLANTS IN TEMPORARY RESEARCH COLLECTIONS. THE HORTICULTURE TEAM MAINTAINS THE 233 ACRES OF DEVELOPED GROUNDS IN THE "CORE" VISITOR AREA OF THE ARBORETUM, ENSURING THAT GUESTS ENJOY A SENSE OF WONDER AND BEAUTY EVERY TIME THEY VISIT. ADDITIONAL WORK IN FY21 INCLUDES PHASED REFRESH AND REDESIGN OF SIGNATURE GARDENS AT THE ARBORETUM. THE HORTICULTURE TEAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES AND GUEST SERVICES STAFFS TO DEVELOP INTERPRETATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT INFORMAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS COLLABORATE ON SPECIAL EVENTS. THE RHODODENDRON COLLECTION PLAN, WRITTEN IN FY21 FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT POLICY, SUPPORTS THIS GOAL AND GUIDES STAFF WORK. THE HORTICULTURE TEAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EXHIBITS & EXPERIENCES TEAM TO PRODUCE PLANT SALES (THREE ONLINE SALES GROSSED $18K IN FY21). GUEST EXPERIENCE: IN FY21, THE ARBORETUM SERVED 166,214 TOTAL VISITORS, ENGAGING THEM IN THE WONDER AND BEAUTY OF PLANTS AND SHARING THEIR GREAT VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. STICKWORK, THE OUTDOOR SCULPTURE BY ARTIST PATRICK DOUGHERTY THAT DEBUTED IN 2020, REMAINS A VISITOR ATTRACTION. IN SUMMER 2021, THE ARBORETUM AND GARDEN HOSTED THE FIRST EXHIBIT ACROSS BOTH CAMPUSES, FAIRY DOORS: MAGICAL GARDEN GATEWAYS (JULY 9 AUGUST 29). TOGETHER WITH THE ARBORETUM'S SIGNATURE MURCH CANOPY WALK AND KALBERER EMERGENT TOWER EXPERIENCES, THESE SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND OTHER EVENTS INCREASE PAID VISITATION, HELPING TO SUSTAIN THE ORGANIZATION'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHILE ALSO DRAWING VISITORS, PIQUING INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR WORLD. THESE EXHIBITS HELP MAINTAIN BOTH ATTENDANCE AND REVENUE, SUSTAINING THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH CONTINUED PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS. EDUCATION: THE ARBORETUM PROVIDES A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DIGGING EVEN DEEPER, FROM YOUTH AND CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS TO ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. THE EDUCATION TEAM CONTINUES THE SUCCESSFUL SUITE OF ONLINE PROGRAMMING DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, EDUCATING 2,210 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH 106 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS IN FY21. ADAPTING TO ONGOING PANDEMIC CONDITIONS, THE EDUCATION STAFF OFFERS ARBORETUM-BASED CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS GROWING STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, VIRTUALLY. NATURE-BASED SCHOOL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LIMITED ON-SITE AND OFFSITE PROGRAMMING, ADULT CLASSES, AND ONLINE LEARNING ACROSS EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND CONSERVATION SERVE 17,898 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS. THE WORK OF THE EDUCATION TEAM IS GUIDED BY A THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN COMPLETED IN FY21.