A Living Laboratory

NEWARK, Ohio – Arboretums are a valuable asset that provide researchers with a catalog of trees and demonstrate how they adapt within an everchanging environment. 

Dawes Arboretum is located south of Newark on State Route 13. Holly Latteman, its Director of Science and Research described the facility as a living laboratory that is constantly growing and evolving. 

“The arboretum’s ripple effect of research on urban forestry, community tree planting, climate mitigation, all of that really began here at the arboretum,” Latteman said “We have done research on what trees will do well in certain areas and then we love to share that with our local community. Yes, we’ve had some drought. Yes, we’ve had some times of stress in the past few years, but overall, our trees here are doing really well.”

Dawes Arboretum is open to the public and will be celebrating their 33rd annual Free Community Day from 10 to 2, on Saturday, April 25th. The event is in Connection with National Arbor Day that is recognized on the 24th and will feature their spring plant sale. 

“The public can really enjoy the scientific research on our collections, they can see that firsthand,” Latteman said “Folks can also enjoy a lot of the educational pieces that we have, whether that is both passive and interactive education, our discovery center is great to bring the little ones and discover what birds are in the area and learn more about different types of trees, birds, mammals and really engage with nature.”

The visitors center at Dawes Arboretum has backpacks loaded with educational materials that you can sign out, which focus on the variety of species that can be found there, along with a souvenir shop that offers mementos that will fondly remind you of your day of discovery.