Furnas Arboretum Activities Scheduled June 14

June 4, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Furnas Arboretum in Brownville is hosting a full day of activities and tours June 14 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

An informal but informative tour of the Furnas Arboretum and Nature Trail will be led by Master Gardener Jane Andrew, starting from the Schoolhouse Art Gallery at 10 a.m. A box lunch auction, similar to the one in the musical "Oklahoma," will be held at 11:30 a.m. near the gallery.  Fancy box lunches will be prepared, presented and donated by members of the Brownville Fine Arts Association and proceeds will help pay for informational sign posts.

From 1-2 p.m. Graham Herbst of the Nebraska Forest Service will conduct a tour of "Trees along Main Street," starting from the Missouri River and ending at Whiskey Creek Run Winery, which has a good selection of locally grown wines. Herbst said he "loves growing food and trees, both at home and in communities." His work focuses on innovative urban forestry projects for eastern Nebraska.

From 2-4 p.m. Jane Andrew will conduct informal tours of significant trees in Brownville, including some of the oldest or largest red elm, osage orange and pecan trees in the state.

The Furnas Arboretum was designated an affiliate site of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum in 1996, an accreditation acknowledging the Furnas Arboretum's carefully planned and curated collection of more than 100 species of trees and shrubs, plus a good variety of perennials, assembled for the goal of education. A local historic 19th century one-room schoolhouse on the arboretum grounds has been turned into an art gallery, where many of the day's activities will start or end.

For more information about the arboretum or June 14 events, contact arboretum curator John Lauber at 402-825-6637.