Ever wondered how the red botanical tags at Viles Arboretum got there? This winter, we set out to update plant records, armed with old maps, handwritten notes, and plenty of patience. What seemed like a simple tagging project quickly became a journey through the history of the Urban and Community Forestry Collection—revealing just how much the landscape has changed since 1992.
I'm a recent graduate of the University of Vermont’s environmental science program. In my program we got used to reviewing the results of biological labs and exploring scientific journals. We focused on current results, not really on history. After graduating I was excited to have the opportunity to continue learning about the environment as a Maine Conservation Corp steward at Viles Arboretum. 
One of the first projects that my fellow steward, Jack and I worked on was cataloging the Urban and Community Forestry Collection. This involved updating the Arboretum's accessioning system, Hortis, with current information about the plants in the collection, and then replacing old or missing botanical tags. In addition to improving the Arboretum's plant records, this work will help to better track the health of trees. It will also make botanical information more accessible to visitors. So, armed with a box of shiny, new red tags and a spool of wire, we set out to locate each tree or shrub. How hard could it be, right?
I have to be honest; history has never been my forte. Every history textbook I've ever tried to read has put me right to sleep - a full REM cycle, drooling-out-of-your-mouth type sleep. But this project has required us to embrace history, to dig deep, and make helpful discoveries.
For some plants, it was easy work: simply reading the old tag, finding the corresponding new tag in the stack, then attaching it to a low hanging branch. For others, though, they proved to be far more elusive. Established in 1992, this collection of trees includes plants that were never tagged or whose tags have fallen off or been damaged due to exposure to the elements. It's been many years since the collection was last cataloged. Some trees may have died, while new flora has naturally filled in around them. So, how did we find a tree without a tag?
We followed the breadcrumbs left for us by those who came before, hoping they'd lead us to the tree's location. First, we checked to see if we had GPS coordinates for the tree in Hortis, which, for most of them, we didn't. Then we used the notes that were made at the time of the trees planting, some more helpful than others, along with original plans and maps from when the Arboretum was first established. There we were, one sunny January morning, with poster-sized maps sprawled out in the Austin Wilkins Room - a hand-drawn plan of the Urban and Community Forestry Collection and a map with a grid system overlaying the Arboretum property marking the location of each plant. Following breadcrumbs.
Using the records in Hortis along with the maps, we started making connections. The notes for each plant varied from being fairly descriptive, like “1st off SE corner of DEP parking lot”, or providing the grid where the plant was located, while others were much more vague, like “3rd from stream,” “near boardwalk,” or simply “1st of 3.”
This breadcrumb trail didn't lead to a yummy treat - just really cold fingers. In the end, though, we were able to track down every plant, place their new tag, and update Hortis with their GPS coordinates and other important information.
Working on this project gave me a glimpse into the way this section of the Arboretum has changed over time. The landscape looks a little different than it does on the map from 1992. Plants are thriving, some are dying or have died. One tree somehow went missing in 1996 (but that's a story for another time)! Some trees have spread, giving rise to new, thriving groves. Every plant we tagged helps preserve a piece of Arboretum history and ensures that future visitors and stewards can learn from the past.
I may not have loved history in the classroom, but seeing it unfold in the landscape has given me a whole new appreciation for its role in shaping the future. I am excited to see what other stories the Arboretum holds!
