| The Wooster Arboretum was established in 1908 by Edmund Secrest on a 75-acre area at the Experiment Station. A few plantings of hardwood species were made as early as 1901, but the development of the Arboretum and a more planned planting of the acreage began in earnest in 1908. The arboretum has historically integrated forestry and horticulture in such a way as to permit studies in plantation management, wood utilization, forest genetics, and the testing of ornamentals<ref>"Tribute to a Man and Trees," <i>Wayne County Topics</i>, October 1954, p.6</ref>. The Arboretum was dedicated as the Secrest Arboretum in 1950 in memory of Secrest, known as the "father of forestry" in Ohio. | | The Wooster Arboretum was established in 1908 by Edmund Secrest on a 75-acre area at the Experiment Station. A few plantings of hardwood species were made as early as 1901, but the development of the Arboretum and a more planned planting of the acreage began in earnest in 1908. The arboretum has historically integrated forestry and horticulture in such a way as to permit studies in plantation management, wood utilization, forest genetics, and the testing of ornamentals<ref>"Tribute to a Man and Trees," <i>Wayne County Topics</i>, October 1954, p.6</ref>. The Arboretum was dedicated as the Secrest Arboretum in 1950 in memory of Secrest, known as the "father of forestry" in Ohio. |
− | In 1970, the Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance was established at the Arboretum near the [[Barnhart Rice House, Wooster, Ohio]]. Mrs. Samuel Forbes of Cleveland donated the funding for its creation, and the roses were a gift of Mr. Joseph Kern, a well-known rose nurseryman<ref>Robert E. Whitmoyer, <i>The View From the Tower</i>, p.39.</ref>. The garden reached a peak of about 1500 rose bushes, but the bloom declined throughout the 2010s due to an incurable disease called rose rosette. In 2019-2020, all of the roses were removed and the space cleared for an experimental space, starting with trial plantings of coneflower varieties, hydrangeas, and native honeysuckles<ref>Linda Hall, "Secrest Arboretum replacing its acclaimed rose garden," Akron Beacon Journal, March 18 2019</ref>. | + | In 1970, the Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance was established at the Arboretum near the [[Barnhart Rice House, Wooster, Ohio]]. Mrs. Samuel Forbes of Cleveland donated the funding for its creation, and the roses were a gift of Mr. Joseph Kern, a well-known rose nurseryman<ref>Robert E. Whitmoyer, <i>The View From the Tower</i>, p.39.</ref>. The 2.7-acre garden reached a peak of about 1500 rose bushes representing 500 varieties, some of which were rare when the garden began<ref>Melissa Green, "Roses are for show at research center," Akron Beacon Journal, 24 July 1994</ref>. The rose garden declined throughout the 2010s due to an incurable disease called rose rosette, and in 2019-2020, all of the roses were removed and the space cleared for an experimental space, starting with trial plantings of coneflower varieties, hydrangeas, and native honeysuckles<ref>Linda Hall, "Secrest Arboretum replacing its acclaimed rose garden," Akron Beacon Journal, March 18 2019</ref>. |