Close behind the inception of the University of Illinois in 1867 came the dream of building an area of ornamental grounds, orchards and forest plantations for use by the University and the citizens of Illinois. Although the vision for developing these ornamental grounds was present from the early years of the University, it was not until the later part of the 20th century that generous donations from alumni and friends began to bring the ideas of the University’s founders to fruition.
Made possible by a gift from the family of alumnus and faculty member Miles C Hartley, the garden offers hundreds of different flowering plants and is the home of the University of Illinois All American Selections Trial Garden. The Hartley Selections Garden, dedicated in the fall 1994, was the first stage in the Arboretum's development.
The result of a generous gift of the Noel family, the Welcome Garden is dedicated to the grandchildren of Roseanne Noel. The Noel Welcome Garden provides a friendly gathering place and the invitation to contemplate the beauty of the outdoors. The pergola, benches, and crabapple hedges provide a sense of shelter and welcome for visitors.
The Idea Garden is an ongoing project of the Master Gardeners of the Champaign County Extension Unit. The garden showcases the latest in borders, ornamentals, and vegetables. In addition, there is a special section of the garden for children. Detailed resource information on plants and design ideas is available for each section of the Idea Garden, making it an ideal learning environment for both novices and more advanced gardeners.
The House is comprised of three rooms which were originally constructed in Japan, then shipped to the University and reassembled by Japanese carpenters. These rooms provide formal, semiformal and informal settings, and showcase furnishings provided by the Urusenke Tea School, the premier tea school in Japan. Tranquil gardens surround the House, typical of the Japanese style designed for harmony—tea, dry (raked gravel) and strolling. Japan House is used as a classroom and a cultural center, with regularly scheduled classes teaching Japanese tea ceremony class, calligraphy class, and Japanese art forms.
The Hosta Garden is accented nicely by gentle slopes and stone – perfectly nestled under the cypress trees, providing an extremely pleasing view for those who stroll from the parking lot south to the Japan House.
