Dear Friends,  “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit in.” While we don’t know the author, nor perhaps the true intent of these thoughtful words, I am reminded of the countless volunteers who give of their time and talents to support our mission. While their efforts … Read More

Dear Friends,  In recent days, my inbox, social media feeds, and local gardening publications have all started to come alive with the latest news about the awakening of spring. There is no shortage of inspiring quotes, garden prep ideas, products that the gardener cannot live without, and stunning photos of the earliest spring flowers making … Read More

  Chair’s Corner Dear Friends, It’s a cold and snowy day as I pen my February Chair’s Corner message—makes for a nice break from shoveling the driveway. Last fall, with the goal of enjoying some early spring color, I started the process of forcing bulbs to bloom in the house. To start, I placed a couple of pots … Read More

Chair’s Corner Summer’s End at the ArboretumAlas, summer is winding down and the kids are already back at school. But as the temperatures moderate to something more pleasant, now is a perfect time to come out to the Arb! Walk the trails, delight in the gardens still in full bloom, and enjoy these upcoming events … Read More

Chair’s Corner Meet the Arboretum’s Hard Working Volunteer Coordinators! Q: How many hours have volunteers worked at the Arboretum in the first 6 months of 2019?A: Approximately 13,125 hours. Q: How many Arboretum volunteers are registered and active?A: About 400, of whom 100 are Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners who work on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Q: Who are the talented people … Read More

Chair’s Corner We Need Your Help to Get to the Finish Line!Excitement is building at the Arboretum as the pieces are falling into place for our new Visitor Center! We’re hopeful that groundbreaking can take place before the end of 2019 with the goal of a fully-functioning building in 2021. As of this writing, we’re … Read More

Chair’s Corner The Overland Park Arboretum: Nature That Nurtures Two members of the Arts & Recreation Foundation Board – Phil Bressler and Wendy Blackburn – recently walked the Arboretum’s marketing committee through a two-months’ long exercise to determine the Arboretum’s “brand essence”. The exercise covered a variety of aspects of the Arboretum to determine why … Read More