Viles Arboretum welcomes thousands of people a year to our sprawling 224 acres in Central Augusta. Those of us in the public land management "industry" would describe this space as "mixed used," meaning that there are many ways that our visitors use this space - from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter to hikers looking for an informative walk through our 20 botanical collections.
Our Community Garden's are a wonderful addition to the property, especially as interest in food security has grown during the pandemic. Community garden plots are available for as little as $35 dollars (our lowest Membership level) and include a number of great benefits.
If you know anything about gardening, you know how important compost is to the fruit and vegetable garden. Compost doesn't just provide the full spectrum of Macro and Micro nutrients needed for a bountiful harvest; it also improves water retention, moderates pH, and improves soil structure.
We are pleased to announce our Spring 2021 Educational Class Series! Starting in January we will be welcoming a group of highly-talented instructors to host a series of educations classes at the Arboretum. All courses offered this spring will be hosted either outdoors, or in our spacious Viles Room to allow for safe, socially distant education opportunities. Some of our instructors even offer hybrid options to allow individuals to participate from the safety and comfort of their own homes!
The Maine Master Naturalist Program, a long-time partner of the arboretum, recently hosted a graduation event on our grounds. Here's a note from their organization:
"The Maine Master Naturalist Program (https://mainemasternaturalist.org/) offers a rigorous, yearlong course where students learn about Maine’s plants, animals, geology, ecological systems, conservation biology, and more. Guided by experienced volunteer naturalists and professionals, the course provides hands-on learning in the classroom and in the field. After graduation, Maine Master Naturalists are required to volunteer to share their knowledge with others.
This winter, explore our beautiful trails by cross-country ski or snowshoe. Rentals will be available in the Visitor Center.
Pricing:
Adults: $5/hour
Under 18 years old: FREE
Guided Tours:
Adults: $14
Children: $8
The Visitor Center is open from 11:00 to 5:00, Wednesday through Saturday. Rentals are first come, first serve!
For those of you who are members, you should have already received our print edition of the 2020 Fall newsletter. We are excited to share what the Arboretum has been up to this year, as there have been many new developments.
We are now happy to offer the 2020 Fall newsletter here for download.
Chestnut Crème Brûlée
By FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE
Rich, luxurious chestnut puree settles toward the bottom of each ramekin, creating a beautiful ombré effect in this Corsican riff on the French classic. Available online, it has a texture that’s a cross between smooth almond butter and pastry filling.
While Maine is known for the incredible leaf peeping opportunities, some of the most dramatic contributions here at Viles Arboretum comes from our Larch Collection.
Our larch collection features three unique species and hybrids between them. Larch are unique as they are one of few deciduous conifers, meaning they drop their needles seasonally. In the weeks prior to leaf drop, larches also exhibit vibrant gold hues.
Rotational Grazing at Viles Arboretum
New Land Management Practices to improve soil quality and control of invasives.
If you have visited Viles Arboretum in the summer you might have noticed a group of sheep grazing our grounds or taking an afternoon nap in the shade of their shelters, equipped with solar-powered fans. Grace Chavis is the shepherdess of Two Feathers Sheep and Fiber and has partnered with Viles Arboretum since 2019. The Two Feathers flock are Icelandic sheep, composed of retired ewes living out their golden years along with fiber wethers who love having fun on a daily basis and entertaining visitors at the Arboretum.
2020 has been an incredibly challenging year. Despite the challenges, it has been wonderful to see how our community can still come together and accomplish great work. The Arboretum is lucky to have a large group of volunteers.
