Let Nature Challenge You

The Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy.

From the trailhead next to the parking lot, a stabilized walkway encircles a beautiful two-acre lake. This trail gently descends about 25 feet to the foot of the lake and then returns up a gentle slope on the opposite side to the trailhead. Interpretive signs and over 100 labeled plants enhance the loop.

In addition, over three miles of rustic hiking trails wind quietly through a series of distinct ecological habitats. Along the trails, benches invite you either to pause and enjoy the view or to get in a good stretch during a vigorous walk.

The Arboretum is developed and managed by the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, Inc., a non-profit entity that leases the land from the City. Except for special events, there is no admission fee. $3 non-member visitor donation requested to help pay operations.

News – April 2019

Thanks to Your Help we met the Delores Barr Weaver Fund Challenge 

With your help, the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens surpassed a $9,000 Challenge Grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Fund – which means the Weaver Fund will provide a one-to-one match up to $9,000 for money raised through Feb. 28, 2019 . The monies raised are designated for enhancements to include paving of the southside of lake loop this summer, the addition of new garden areas, expansion of some of our existing gardens and other improvements to enhance the Arboretum in 2019.

By extending our annual appeal campaign to the end of February to coincide with the Delores Barr Weaver Fund Match, we also matched a $25,000 challenge grant provided by Marcia Medores, long-time volunteer and supporter. We are incredibly grateful for our generous benefactors.

We appreciate your generosity as we continue our work to improve the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens for the 40,000-plus people who visit us each year.

If you would like to sponsor a project, a garden or other amenity at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, please call Executive Director Diane Machaby at (904) 318-4342 or email Diane at dmachaby@jacksonvillearboretum.org.

Meet Our New Board Member 

Photo: Andrea McNally

Andrea McNally, an active volunteer, was recently elected to the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens (JAG) Board of Directors.

Andrea McNally (née Dezso) is the Social Media & Public Relations Manager for the Children’s Home Society of Florida, the state’s largest provider of services to children and families. McNally joined the Board in January 2019. Before that, she served on the JAG development committee from 2016 to 2018 with a brief hiatus to plan her wedding. McNally was encouraged to volunteer with JAG by former longtime board member, Willis Jones. She has served in many capacities including work days, awareness campaigns, event planning and grant strategy. It was Willis’ hope that she would one day join the board and McNally says she is honored to see that through.

McNally completed her Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Communications and Media Studies at the University of North Florida in 2013.

A Brush with Nature
Plein Air Artist’s Event Success

Our annual A Brush with Nature plein air painting event was a tremendous success. Thank you to everyone who came out for the event. The weather was perfect. We had so many visitors; cars were parked along the road. The artists from First Coast Plein Air Painters spent weeks creating art work to gear up for the event.

Photo: Artist Marilyn Antram

The Children’s Art Activities are always a hit at the event. Many thanks to our volunteers, the artists, and the families that came to enjoy the weekend.

We could not do it without our sponsors: “Cypress” sponsor bestbet, “Hickory” sponsors Office Environments & Services (OE&S) and the “Press On” Foundation, along with “Azalea” sponsor JM Family Enterprises. In-kind sponsors include Arbus Magazine, AB Signs, Citi, Hartley Press, Warrior Defense Lab, Panera Bread and PRI Productions along with David and Janet English, Stephen and Bernice Dunn and Randy Pitts.
 

Two New Gardens Join the Reciprocal Admission Program

Welcome Durango Botanic Gardens of Durango, Colo. and Connecticut College Arboretum of New London, Conn new members of the Reciprocal Admission Program (RAP). The ability to visit gardens around the country for reduced rates, and in cases free, is one of the many benefits of becoming a member of the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. 2019 RAP guides are available for purchase at www.ahsgardening.org/rap. For a complete list of all the gardens by state, go to this link.

Wanted Volunteer Facilities Coordinator

The arboretum is primarily operated and maintained by an amazing group of volunteers and we can always use more. We are looking for a Volunteer Facilities Coordinator, someone who can work in coordination with the executive director to field inquiries and resolve issues relating to arboretum operations. – Not including the gardens and trail areas. If you are interested, contact Diane Machaby at (904) 318-4342 or email Diane at dmachaby@jacksonvillearboretum.org.

Meet our Amazing Volunteers

Trudy Barker – Webmaster
Mary E. Belet –  Membership Assistant
Gail Beveridge – Fundraising Chair, A Brush With Nature
Nichole Butterman – Children’s Program Coordinator
Matthew Butterworth – Conservation/Trails/Saturday Work Days
Penny Butterworth – E-magazine
Bill Cooke – Bookkeeper
Randy Didier – On-site volunteer (2-3 days a week).
Chris Edmondson – Conservation/Trails/Saturday Work Days
Doug Gayno – Nature Walks
Chuck Hubbuch – Horticulturalist/Plants and Trees
Ellen Lowman – Membership, E-magazine, Merchandise, Honey
Bonnie Nackino – Nature Walks
Alice Shinkos – Discovering Nature Nearby
Sarah Rose – Stewart Program Manager
Rob Storm – Nature Walks
Merrill Varn – Conservation/Trails/Saturday Work Days
Alex Wolf – Daily on-site volunteer (M-F)
Marilyn Young – Beekeeper

Show the World You Love the Arboretum

Show the world you love us, by posting your Arboretum photographs at #jacksonvillearboretum and Facebook www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleArboretumGardens . We appreciate it!