A building with three large glass doors

The West Propagation Center is the heart of our activities, and will be the base for our operations pending construction of the Nature Center. This project was generously sponsored by the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation of Manitowoc.

As the Arboretum develops, so do the requirements for on-site plant propagation, maintenance, and equipment storage.

This building will be the operational heart of the Arboretum. The extensive sheltered porch area allows volunteers and visiting groups to meet and organize activities—we will hold grafting classes in the building this spring. We will have several mobility carts arriving this year for those who find our extensive trail network a bit too strenuous. These will be charged and stored in the building.

Many of the trees we hope to plant are not grown by local nurseries. We have created a fenced area where we can raise trees from seed and whips to the size required for survival on the grounds. The extensive glazing creates a good environment for propagating and transplanting plant material.

The Center is located at the northeast portion of the Arboretum, a short walk from the parking lot, as designated by the Masterplan and the Conservation Easement. The installation of utilities and final painting will complete the job when weather warms.

Related articles:

Propagation Progress

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