The Brenton Arboretum is a 141-acre

arboretum An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...

and public garden in

Dallas Center, Iowa Dallas Center is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,901 during the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Dallas Center got its start in the year 1869, fo ...

, United States, established in 1997. The arboretum displays 175 native Iowa trees and shrubs suitable to the site, as well as many other tree species which can grow in central Iowa. The non-profit arboretum is open to the public from 9 am to sunset on Tuesday through Sunday, featuring a collection of over 2,600 trees and shrubs on display. The arboretum was founded by Sue and J.C. (Buz) Brenton and their children, on land which was part of the original Home Farm acquired by Dr. James Brenton and his son, William Henry, soon after they arrived from Indiana in 1853 by covered wagon. Its first trees were planted in 1997. The master plan was created by Anthony Tyznik of

Batavia, Illinois Batavia () is a city mainly in Kane County and partly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in the Chicago metropolitan area, it was founded in 1833 and is the oldest city in Kane County. Per the 2020 census, the population w ...

, who for many years was the landscape architect for the Morton Arboretum in Chicago, Illinois. The arboretum has a lake, pond, wetlands, several streams, walking paths, bridges, prairies, wildflowers and a small library. Natural prairie was established to restore the land to a pre-agricultural setting.

See also