Our Collections
About Our Collections
The Joan Vermeulen Arboretum maintains a documented living collection of native, heritage, and educational plantings. All accessions are recorded following ArbNet and BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) living collections standards, ensuring scientific rigor and long-term stewardship.
Our collection reflects four layers of the property's history: pre-colonial Mohawk territory, Revolutionary War era significance, mid-20th century horticultural stewardship, and six decades of conservation management.
Collection Categories
Native & Regionally Indigenous Species
The core of our collection, prioritizing trees and woody plants native to the Mohawk Valley and Northeastern hardwood forest, including species historically significant to the Mohawk people.
Examples: Eastern White Pine, Sugar Maple, American Beech, Hemlock, Shagbark Hickory
Heritage & Historically Documented Cultivars
Remnants of mid-20th century gardens preserved and interpreted as a record of regional horticultural history. Propagation efforts are ongoing for historically significant specimens.
Examples: Japanese Lilies, Garden Peonies, Garden Phlox
Educational & Interpretive Plantings
Curated selections chosen to illustrate ecological concepts, historical connections, and sensory accessibility, concentrated along primary trail corridors.
Examples: Species demonstrating forest succession, trees with mast production cycles, plants highlighting watershed function
Gallery
Explore our living collections through images of the landscape, seasonal changes, and detailed plant specimens.
Collection Management & Succession
The Joan Vermeulen Arboretum is committed to the long-term health and diversity of its collections. Our approach includes:
- Forest Stewardship Plan: Developed in partnership with NY DEC Region 4, guiding sustainable management and maintenance practices
- Succession Planning: Establishing protocols for propagation, regeneration, and renewal of the collection
- Research Partnerships: Collaborating with academic institutions to document, study, and conserve our collections
- Community Engagement: Inviting visitors to participate in restoration and interpretive activities
Plant Identification & Digital Access
We're developing a comprehensive digital plant directory and interactive map to support both on-site and remote exploration of our collections.
Coming soon: A searchable database of our plant accessions, including scientific names, locations, historical notes, and ecological significance.
3D Tree Mapping Initiative
As part of our commitment to scientific documentation and global tree biodiversity, we're working toward creating detailed 3D point cloud models of our collection using drone lidar technology.
Our Vision
High-resolution 3D scans of our trees will serve multiple purposes:
- Scientific documentation: Baseline records of tree structure and health for long-term monitoring and research
- Heritage preservation: Permanent 3D records of rare cultivars and historically significant specimens
- Education: Interactive models helping visitors and students understand tree anatomy and species identification
- Global contribution: Sharing our data with 3dtrees.earth, an open platform for tree biodiversity documentation
- Growth tracking: Periodic re-scanning to document how our young arboretum develops over decades
We're Seeking Partners
If you or your organization have expertise or equipment in drone lidar services, we'd love to discuss a partnership or donation opportunity. Contact us to learn more about how you can support this initiative.
Interested in Our Collections?
Whether you're a researcher, educator, horticulturist, or simply curious about trees, we'd love to connect with you.