Tucked between two Catskill Mountain peaks and characterized by varied terrain, this 200-acre arboretum includes meadows, wetlands, and woodlands. The property was established in 1977 on seven acres by Peter and Bonnie Ahrens, who imported topsoil and planted native and exotic species to study their winter hardiness. In 2011 the arboretum grew with the acquisition of 156 acres and in 2024 expanded to its current size.
From Maude Adams Road, which forms the site’s central spine, trails branch to traverse four sections: West Meadow, East Meadow, Woodland Walk, and Spruce Glen. The site’s main entrance is distinguished by an educational center (2018) designed by architect Jack Sobon and constructed from 21 species of timber harvested on site. The building meets interconnected rain gardens, designed by landscape architect Jamie Purinton, who also laid out organically shaped gardens in the West Meadow and an outdoor classroom in the Woodland Walk in 2018.
The West Meadow, characterized by rolling hills, exposed bedrock, a pond, and a stream, offers borrowed views of the surrounding mountainscape. A spiral path to the east is edged by grasses and perennials and includes a central stone and turf bench. Continuing along the central spine, the East Meadow section includes a footpath that navigates a grove of white pine trees, leading to a wetland traversed by a low boardwalk. The densely canopied Spruce Glen encompasses 177 acres south of Maude Adams Road and is navigated by a network of trails and boardwalks that lead through groves of spruce and hemlock, a bog, and a fen bordered by hummocks populated with alders and birch.
