The Plainsman Press - South Plains College

Jacob Tucker, feature editor

Spring is the time of year when flowers begin to come into bloom and Mother Nature finally breaks winter's curse over the land.

The warm sunshine makes it perfect to get out of the house and enjoy a day with nature. What better place to go to enjoy nature's splendor than the Lubbock Arboretum.

An arboretum is a place where trees and other plants are preserved within their natural state. Visitors can walk on the grounds, looking at and learning about the different plants that have been grown, or are in the process of being planted.

The idea of an arboretum in Lubbock began in the 1950s, when many people within the community got together to push the city for a garden center.

“These people had very little luck at convincing the city to do this,” said Arthur Elliot, president of the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, Inc. “They were just too small in number.”

When the group was turned down, they asked local artisans, such as musicians and artists to join their cause. Together the group convinced the city to give up a portion of land on the corner of 44^th Street and University Avenue. A building was erected and called the Garden and Arts Center.

In 1962, the arboretum began to function. The first tree was planted on Arbor Day, Jan. 22, 1962.

“It was dedicated and marked by a large granite boulder, which can be seen in front of the Garden and Arts Center,” said Elliot.

In 1964, the group was recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization. This is when the name Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation was first used.

The first project for the fledgling group was to begin construction on the gardens. They began close to the building with a Japanese Garden. This garden included many Japanese shrubs and statues. They later constructed what is known as the Tea Terrace and the Garden of the Senses.

“The Garden of the Senses was originally known as the Garden for the Blind,” said Elliot, “but over the years, its name was lost and the garden was 'unknown.'”

The Garden of the Senses is utilized primarily for the physically impaired. The Foundation has planted many plants that appeal to the senses. There are many plants that are soft to the touch, that rustle in the wind, some that have succulent odors, and some that are bright, with vibrant colors.

“Sometimes, we even plant a few vegetables in there just for the heck of it,” said Elliot.

According to Elliot, thousands of trees have been planted on the grounds of the Arboretum, which encompasses more than 95 acres. The reason that the thousands of trees cannot be seen is because the majority of those thousands have died because of a lack of water.

“The watering system that we had out here in the beginning years prevented much of the growth,” said Elliot.

Finally, 10 years after the Arboretum had been opened, a formal watering system was installed.

“In the beginning, the water was controlled by a quick coupler system,” said Elliot, “but now we have drip irrigation and even automatic sprinklers.”

The trees that have been planted are set up into groups. This enables the visitor to view the 150 different types of trees, shrubs, and other greenery within the garden with ease. Another thing that helps the visitor identify the plants are the different plaques that have been attached to the trees or placed in the ground.

“We have been having a hard time keeping the plaques on the trees or in the ground due to vandalism,” said Elliot.

Another part of the Arboretum is the Rose Garden, where the Foundation houses 150 different types of roses and boasts a collection of 350 rose bushes.

“Right now we are in the pruning and fertilization process in the Rose Garden,” said Elliot. “Fertilization should last throughout September, and the roses should come into full bloom at the end of this month.”

In 1993, the little red brick house that was on the grounds became the main office for the Foundation. It also served as the house of Georgia Booker, former director of the Garden and Arts Center.

“She lived here for 27 years,” said Elliot. “Before she died, Georgia pushed for a green and white garden here on the grounds.”

When the city decided to move St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church onto the grounds, the Foundation was given a chance to build a green and white garden.

The church is the oldest public building in the city. It came to the Arboretum in very good condition, according to Elliot.

“The majority of the church is completely original,” said Elliot.

The chapel serves as the centerpiece of the memorial garden. To coincide with the name of the garden, the Foundation planted white flowers all around the chapel.

The Foundation is continuously adding to the collection of trees and flowers at the Arboretum. Plenty of volunteers help share the workload. A group of master gardeners known as the Wednesday Wonders help out every Wednesday.

“This group has been a blessing to the Foundation and the Arboretum,” said Elliot. “They do indeed work wonders!”

The Lubbock Memorial Arboretum offers plenty of activities for the community to participate in. The 2nd Saturday program is held on the second Saturday of every month to help inform the community about many different aspects of gardening and provide information on plants.

“They begin at about 10 a.m. and end at about 11:30 a.m.,” said Elliot. “Refreshments are provided for all of those who come.”

On April 22, the Foundation will host its annual Plant Sale and Swap.

“This activity is exactly what it is called,” said Elliot. “People are invited to come and sell their plants to the other gardeners from around the city, or swap plants with fellow gardeners or even with the Foundation.”

The Arboretum also offers special garden tours and water garden tours to the public.

The Lubbock Memorial Arboretum offers plenty of beautiful views and activities for the public. Center hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call (806) 797-4520, or visit the website at www.lubbockarboretum.org.