The Gateway to Tree Science
Research you can walk through
Last year about this time, during one of a stretch of days that started to feel like fall, I ventured over to the Arboretum and drove the road on the East Side, stopping when I came across a rather large gravel parking lot next to a rather impressive wooden pavilion. My curiosity piqued by a conversation with Julie Jansoki, of the Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic, I had set out seeking this specific destination.
One of the central tenets of the Arboretum, since the time when my grandfather was working there, is education. Whether through lectures, as were extraordinarily prevalent during my grandpa’s career, or classes taught by Arboretum staff, or the Bulletins of Popular Information my grandfather and his colleagues worked to publish, the Arboretum has always had an eye toward spreading useful information for public consumption far and wide. Nowadays, departments like the Plant Clinic offer help to thousands of gardeners with planting questions, and educational opportunities for kids and adults are offered at the Arboretum throughout the year. A newer example of research undergirding the Arboretum’s collections is the Gateway to Tree Science, a walkable display showcasing science and best practices of planting and caring for trees—aimed at arborists and homeowners alike.
While not a homeowner myself, I was still intrigued by the explanatory displays that followed the trail. Actually seeing how trees with different heights and growth patterns interacted with power lines was fascinating, and rather than just reading about the science and expertise that goes into uncovering these best practices this exhibit allows you to witness for yourself.
One area of the Gateway to Tree Science that I found particularly interesting was focused on street trees. The stretch of trail had trees planted in and around various media that one might find in an urban or suburban area. Seeing and reading about the research the Arboretum has done to improve how we choose and care for street trees was illuminating! It certainly changed how I see the trees that border our roads and sidewalks.
When I met with Julie Janoski of the Plant Clinic, she mentioned that a graphic my grandfather had created in 1948 was used in the Gateway to Tree Science exhibit, so naturally I kept an eye out for it and sure enough:
I loved seeing an educational illustration that he had made decades ago still being used for its intended purpose. It’s evident from everything I’ve learned about him thus far that Grandpa Kammerer loved sharing his knowledge of trees and plants with anyone who was seeking to learn. I’m sure he’d be thrilled that his graphic depiction of various plant heights was still serving to educate the public.
At one point in the trail, there was a circle of pavers in the ground, and upon closer inspection I discovered that it was a mosaic depicting the phylogenetic tree of Oaks.
This melding of science, education, and aesthetics felt right in line with how my grandfather seemed to view his work. Understanding that people want to learn about the natural world around them, that the science under the surface of the trees and plants in our world can be communicated not only through research papers but also through art and beauty. This mindset continues to be reflected at the Arboretum, and whenever I come across an intersection of aesthetics and research, like this phylogenetic patio, I feel my grandfather’s influence on the Arboretum.
If you have topics you’re interested to hear more about or feedback for me, please feel free to let me know in the comments.
If you like what you’ve read so far, sharing Bulletin of Remarkable Trees with your friends would help a whole lot!
I love a good information panel, and how fantastic that we can still see your grandfather's influence on education at the Arboretum!