The History of the Glenn Viehmeyer Arboretum

In September 1981, the Glenn Viehmeyer Arboretum (GVA), located on the grounds of the University of Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center (WCREC) was officially dedicated as an affiliate site of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) is an organization with multiple sites across the state of Nebraska that promotes the appreciation and use of a wide variety of plant materials.

The mission of the Glenn Viehmeyer Arboretum is to provide a site for research, extension, service, teaching and demonstration activities for forestry and horticultural crops. The Research Center’s arboretum is named in honor of Glenn Viehmeyer, who was the horticulturist from 1943 to 1966 at the Center. Glenn was a colorful character who contributed greatly to research with Chrysanthemums and Penstemons. He was responsible for the planting of many of the unusual woody plant specimens located at the Arboretum, as well as across the West Central district.

The WCREC is home to over 7,000 trees and shrubs representing more than 60 species. Some of the more unusual trees include Turkish filbert (Corylus colurna), Amur cork tree (Philodendron amurense), butternut (Juglans cinerea), limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata). Unusual shrubs include a rarely seen legume from Indochina, Flueggea suffruticosa, and several dwarf lilacs developed through radiation experiments. Especially noteworthy are many mature bur oaks, an English oak, hackberries, elms, evergreens and other trees scattered throughout the arboretum area. The many mature trees, including several large windbreaks, provide an arboreal character, not typical to the area. These trees, planted with forethought many years ago, give a sense of maturity to the site and offer much-needed protection for people and plants at the Center. A tree-lined roadway on the west side of the WCREC property is a well-known local landmark and a much-photographed scene throughout the year.

A hiking, biking trail was constructed through the Arboretum grounds and has become an important link between several significant landscape areas along State Farm Road. A nature trail loop has also been developed at the Glenn Viehmeyer Arboretum.

Several projects have provided funding for the improvement of the plantings at this site. These include the Nebraska Community Enhancement Program grants in 1999, 2001 and 2003; the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Affiliate Excellence Program grant in 1999 and the Nebraska Tree Recovery Program grants in 1999 and 2000. These programs have provided funds to develop and enhance landscape areas at the Arboretum’s entrance and along the U.S. Highway 83 transportation corridor. A brochure was developed as well, listing the labeled plant material at the Arboretum site. Additionally, the Tree Recovery funds were used to remove storm-damaged trees leading to potential risk situations, which were increasing from several large over mature trees in the Arboretum. Combined, these programs have provided nearly $34,000 in funds for the Arboretum.

Curators for the GVA include Dale Lindgren (1981 to 1998), Rachel Allison (1999-2001) and Daniel Schaaf (2001-present). Trees have been planted to honor and to remember several faculty and GVA supporters. Others who have been active contributors to the management and improvement of the site include Roger Uhlinger, Jon Wilson, Jim Goeke, Dalene Skates, Pat Cotton and several Boy Scouts, who have conducted their Eagle Scout projects on the grounds of the GVA and WCREC. Many others have given their time and financial assistance to the Glenn Viehmeyer Arboretum as well.