BRIDGE LANDSCAPING

    The planting and mulching phase of our historic bridge landscaping project is now completed and all that remains is plant labeling which we will have in place in the spring of 2000.

    During the early fall of 1997, we planted 415 perennials and 92 shrubs around the bridge. Funding for the project came in large part from an 80% cost share grant from the Nebraska Community Enhancement Program and generous memorial donations from Clint and LaVern Heyer in memory of Esther Lowry Childs and from Bill and Joan Chilvers in memory of Bob Chilvers.

ENTRANCE STRUCTURE

   Our new arbor structure at the arboretum's main entrance was completed in 1998.  It was designed by Kate Paul of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the builder was Houska Construction of Pierce.  A large portion of the cost of the structure came from relatives and friends in memory of the late Buck Walmsley.

   Several people have asked when we are going to put the roof on.  The answer is simply that the roof is complete.  It is an arbor structure, not a building.  Picture if you will, future hanging planters along the sides and vines crawling over the roof.

    The entrance area was landscaped in 1999 with shrubs and perennials which provided the finishing touch to the project.

NEW ARBORETUM ADDITIONS

    Our two new gardens were planted on schedule in mid-summer of 1998.   Over 500 perennials and shrubs were planted in the Xeriscape and Wildflower gardens with the volunteer help of several local gardeners.

    Funding for both gardens was provided through a 70% cost share grant from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum's Nebraska Greenspace Stewardship Initiative.   This grant is funded by Nebraska Environmental Trust lottery money to aid Nebraska communities in planting sustainable, environmentally sound landscapes on public land.   The remaining 30% of the xeriscape garden was donated in honor of Dorothy Fogle who was able to see the garden before her death several weeks later.

    The 30% cost share for the wildflower garden was met with donations in honor of Doc & Agnes Schleppenbach's 50th wedding anniversary and a memorial for Margaret Lunz.

BUTTEFLY GARDEN

    A very new addition to Gilman Park Arboretum is a small butterfly garden located in the southwest corner of the area near Pierce Manor.  With the addition of the sidewalk and the relative ease of providing water, this area will be the site for development of future theme gardens for the arboretum. 

    The butterfly garden contains plants for wind protection, food and shelter to attract butterflies.  Funding for the garden came from the Gus Buss family in his memory.  A bench is also present in memory of Elsie Hartman.

PATHWAY PAVING

    An exciting arboretum improvement which occurred in the fall of 1999 was the paving of 1,000 feet of our wood chip path.  The four foot wide sidewalk is from the entrance structure to the historic bridge and continuing in a loop right up to the north door of Pierce Manor.

    This means that a portion of our path will be wheelchair accessible for Manor residents and others to go from the Manor all the way to the new Calvert Gazebo without leaving concrete.  In addition, it passes through the new butterfly garden.

    This project was made possible through a series of surprise events.  First we received a $1,000 grant from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum as part of their new Affiliate Excellence Program which helps fund worthwhile projects at affiliate sites.  Then, after reading about the idea in the Pierce County Leader, local contractor Ken Hoffmann offered to donate all of the labor and Gerhold Concrete of Norfolk generously reduced the concrete cost to the City of Pierce to help get the project going.

    Now, with only about 100 feet remaining to be finished, a former Pierce resident in California has offered his financial assistance upon completion and receipt of all bills.  Watch this website for updates. 

    A huge thank-you goes out to al involved in this project.  We hope to add more concrete each year if money is available.

MEMORIAL UPDATE

    We are adding some new trees and gardens to the arboretum this spring and we hope to get memorial pledges from our waiting list to cover the costs.  Since the start of our arboretum project we have had 146 trees, seven garden plots, the entrance structure, and a bench purchased as memorials amounting to $13,962.86.  If anyone wishes to have their name placed on our waiting list for memorials, please contact the address on our homepage.

TRAIL GUIDE FOR 2000

    A new arboretum project which should be very helpful to anyone using the arboretum for educational reasons is currently being developed. Hopefully, we will have a 24-page trail guide available by summer to be used as a self-guided tour through the area. The guide will detail items such as the mature size of the tree, soil and moisture requirements, pest problems, landscape uses, etc.

    The Alice Abel Arboretum on the Nebraska Wesleyan University campus in Lincoln has an excellent trail guide which we hope to us as a base model for our guide.

    We have received a Community Forestry Incentive Program grant from the Lower Elkhorn NRD which will pay 65% of the cost of the booklet.

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since 1/19/00