by Carol Barany, Yakima Master Gardener
The Yakima Area Arboretum, located in the heart of our city, is a vibrant swath of green offering visitors a connection to nearby nature since 1967.
On April 11, from 10am to 2pm, the Arboretum will host a grand celebration of trees and Arbor Day in Yakima. “From Seed to Sapling: 25 Years of Arborfest” is this year’s theme. The event is free.
Our community has reason to be proud. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Yakima’s ArborFest is one of the largest Arbor Day events in the United States.
Arbor Day was originally proclaimed in 1872. Pioneers moving into the forest-less plains of the Nebraska Territory missed the trees they left behind. Nebraska newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton, who eventually became Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, loved trees and encouraged residents and community organizations to plant more of them.
Under Morton’s leadership, prizes were offered to Nebraska counties and individuals for the largest number of trees planted properly in a single day on April 10, 1872. Wildly successful, it’s estimated that one million trees were planted in Nebraska on that first Arbor Day.
Today, Arbor Day has blossomed to a celebration in all 50 states and in communities around the globe.
The simple act of planting a tree represents hope that the tree will live and grow to provide clean air and water, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, natural beauty, and healthier communities. Because of a tree’s long life, the benefits gained from planting one today could well extend beyond our own lifetime into multiple future generations.
The seeds of the Yakima arboretum were planted over 60 years by bold visionaries with an audacious dream.
At that time, the Central District of the Federation of Garden Clubs had 36 active chapters throughout Central Washington. In clubs from Cle Elum to Prosser, conversations were shared about creating an arboretum that would feature trees and demonstration gardens for the public to enjoy.
There were likely plenty of scoffers who thought these women were crazy.
Fate would have it that the site of today’s arboretum was once an old farm. Acquired by the city of Yakima in 1959, there were plans of turning it into a public park. Led by Rose Druse, the garden club federation approached the city about collaborating and building an arboretum at the site. The city agreed.
At first, the city and the garden clubs worked together. Eventually the city found that they didn’t have the resources to build an arboretum but agreed that if the federation could successfully carry to project forward, the city would allow them to use the land.
There would be little looking back.
The clubs founded the non-profit Yakima Area Arboretum and Botanical Garden in 1967 and for the next 20 years managed the grounds with volunteers. Since 1987, the hard work of staff and volunteers continued to build a living tree museum that now holds over 1,000 specimens of trees, forbs, grasses, and shrubs on 46 acres of managed land featuring the Jewett Interpretive Center, plant collections, display gardens, and natural areas.
The Arboretum’s first Arbor Day event was held in 2000 and attracted 100 people. In recent years, over 3,000 have attended the festival.
This year, “From Seed to Sapling” will celebrate Arborfest’s 25th anniversary.
35 – 40 local, state, and federal organizations will host a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, crafts, and displays.
500 families will take home a tree sapling. Since trees don’t come ‘one size fits all’, families will consult with Dr. Tree Riffic regarding the best tree for them. If all you have is a patio, something small like a blueberry might be the right choice. If you have a big space, maybe a Maple tree would work. There are usually about 5 or 6 different types of trees to choose your perfect tree from.
Events like ArborFest make environmental science fun to learn. Magic happens when children catch the science ‘bug’ and from that spark a passion that lasts a lifetime can be generated. Nurture and encourage tomorrow’s caretakers of our environment by bringing them to the Arboretum on April 11.
Bring your own reusable bag to carry home all of your crafts, handouts, and other treasures you’re bound to collect.
ArborFest at the Yakima Area Arboretum is Saturday, April 11. The event is free of charge.
- Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Location: Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima WA 98901
- Theme: “From Seed to Sapling: 25 Years of ArborFest”
- Description: A celebration of Washington State’s Arbor Day, highlighting the arboretum’s dedication to tree education.
- Check the Arboretum’s website www.ahtrees.org for more information