Louisiana State Arboretum

The Louisiana State Arboretum 600 acres (240 ha), is an arboretum located on Louisiana Highway 3042, approximately 13 km (eight miles) north of Ville Platte, Louisiana inside of Chicot State Park, United States, and bordering a branch of Lake Chicot. Established in 1961, it is the oldest state-supported arboretum in the United States.

Louisiana State Arboretum
Map of Louisiana, United States of America
LocationEvangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States of America
Coordinates30°48′14″N 92°17′17″W[1]
Area600 acres (2.4 km2; 0.94 sq mi)[2]
Established1961 (1961)
Governing bodyLouisiana Office of State Parks
Official website

History

Initial efforts to establish a Louisiana Arboretum in the 1950s were led by Caroline Dormon, A. G. Lawton, and J. D. Lafleur Sr.[3] The majority of these efforts were near Ville Platte and included Magnolia Garden Club, the Rotary Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.[3] In spring of 1961, the State Parks and Recreation Commission ordered the creation of the Louisiana State Arboretum.[3]

Description

The Arboretum contains over 150 species of plant life native to Louisiana, on a varied topography suitable for nearly all Louisiana vegetation except those of the prairies and coastal marshes. The Arboretum is a mature Beech-Magnolia forest containing centuries-old giant beech, magnolia, oak, and ash trees, as well as ferns, hickories, maples, sycamores, and crane fly orchids. Wildlife includes white-tail deer, fox, opossum, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, wild turkey, and numerous other bird species.

See also

References
  1. "Louisiana State Arboretum State Preservation Area". Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism. Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
  2. Haberfeld, Caroline V. (1994-10-04). USA '95: The Complete Guide to the Best of Everything in All 50 States. Fodor's Travel Publications. p. 426. ISBN 978-0-679-02769-0.
  3. Peak, Myra F. (ed.). Louisiana Arboretum. Governor's Office of Federal Affairs and Special Projects.


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