The WAKY Blog

In previous newsletters, I described my ongoing project of photographing various aspects of The Arboretum’s outstanding collection of Kentucky native tree and shrub species. Their colorful autumn leaves are falling at this time of year, as temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten. 

When each leaf releases its hold on a twig, a “fingerprint” of it remains behind. Botanists refer to...

We are pleased to share an update related to the Dorotha Smith Oatts Visitor Center at The Arboretum. Over the past few months, momentum has been building related to our philanthropic efforts to renovate and expand the Visitor Center. The timing is important, given the increase in the number of visitors and programs offered annually and the need for additional space. The firm of Lord Aeck...

The Arboretum is proud to be a vital part of the Urban Forest Initiative’s sixth annual celebration of Tree Week, from October 6 to 14, 2023, in communities across Kentucky.

The Arboretum will offer the following programs during Tree Week:

Saturday, October 7 – Arbor Day (see previous article)

Sunday, October 8 – Woody Plant Propagation with Dr. Bob Geneve and Shari Dutton...

With the recent winter storm that just hit Central Kentucky, we thought it would only be appropriate to compare this event to other ice-storm events of the past, and see how it affected the Arboretum. In short, we got really lucky this year! But before we talk about this most recent event, let’s delve a little more into two of the most extensive ice storm events since 2000; the 2003-Bluegrass...

One of the things that has brought me the greatest joy over the last two months, and especially during these uncertain times, is checking on all our beautiful plants in the greenhouse at the University of Kentucky South Farm. The Walk Across Kentucky (WAKY) native plant collection aims to preserve the genetic diversity and botanical heritage of Kentucky by collecting, growing, and planting...

It seems to be consistently cool in Kentucky and, after the cold snap we had in the middle of November, trees have finally decided it’s time to shut down for the winter. Although some deciduous trees hold on to their leaves in the winter, a trait known as marcescence (the retention of dead plant parts), many trees are now simple skeletons. Although we mourn the loss of lush green leaves and...

The Walk Across Kentucky (WAKY) native plant collection is a unique and ecologically important plant collection. The WAKY represents plants from all seven physiographic regions of Kentucky, and these plants are wild-collected from across the state. The important goals of The WAKY are to preserve the botanical heritage and genetic diversity of Kentucky’s trees and shrubs. This happens through...

An arboretum is defined as a public garden that educates the public and focuses on the study, display, and conservation of woody plants, such as trees, shrubs, and vines. The Walk Across Kentucky (WAKY) began as an effort to conserve and secure the botanical diversity and heritage of Kentucky through the collection and growing of seeds and plants from the wild. Initial collections focused...