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Trees & Flowers

Specimen Trees

Growing and maintaining specimen trees is our primary objective and it is the main purpose of an Arboretum. We also wish to help visitors to the Arboretum make knowledgeable decisions about trees they may choose to plant on their own property.

Currently, all commemorative trees (which are also specimen trees) are labelled. We are working on ways to permanently label all specimen trees. Visitors can look at the tree, identify it, and consider if such a tree would fit their plans for their own property.

You can also visit Connon Nurseries where we source some of our specimen trees. Their online data is usually extensive and may help in selecting an appropriate tree specimen for your property.

The Sesquicentennial Tree

Having a very old and very beautiful Bur Oak that has been growing here for almost 200 years is a great joy. It gave us the opportunity to participate in Aurora’s Sesquicentennial (150 years) celebrations in a way that is meaningful for the Arboretum.

On July 1, 2017, during Aurora’s traditional celebration of Canada’s birthday, a sign was unveiled declaring this Bur Oak as “Aurora’s Sesquicentennial Tree”. The participants were: Mayor Geoff Dawe, Arboretum Chair Irene Clement, and Bob Willson, representing the Willson family that included Lambert Willson, after whom Lambert Willson Park was named.