Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens (48 acres) is a nonprofit botanical garden located at 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, Pennsylvania. The grounds are open to the public daily with free admission. Hours change seasonally and are listed on the Arboretum' website
History
The Arboretum was established by H. Lawrence Jenkins in 1968 as a living memorial to his wife
Elisabeth Phillippe Jenkins
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...
. In his will, Jenkins designated that the 20-acre property become a "public
park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
, arboretum, and wildlife sanctuary for use by the public and responsible organizations engaged in the study of arboriculture, horticulture, and wildlife for educational and scientific purposes". In 1972 Louisa P. Browning donated of adjoining property to the Arboretum, more than doubling its size.
Early surveys of the property determined that the best plants to grow in the rocky, acidic soil would be those in the heath family ( Ericaceae).
Rhododendron
''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...
s and
azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus ''Rhododendron'', particularly the former sections ''Tsutsusi'' (evergreen) and '' Pentanthera'' (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, and Octob ...
s were chosen as the primary collection. The Arboretum officially opened to the public in 1976 and today has one of the most significant collections of azaleas and rhododendrons in the country.
In addition to the ''Rhododendron'' collection, the Arboretum features numerous native trees, shrubs, ferns, and wildflowers that can be found in several different garden areas. The botanical diversity of the site also supports many varieties of wildlife. Foxes, turtles, hawks, small mammals, and nearly 100 species of songbirds frequent the Arboretum.
In 2009, the Arboretum completed construction of the John J. Willaman Education Center, which is a
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a
green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...
Gold Certified building that serves as an activity hub for staff, volunteers, and visitors.“History.” Jenkins Arboretum. Retrieved July 8, 2020. https://www.jenkinsarboretum.org/about/history/