Middleton City Park certified as Level One Tennessee Arboretum

Hardeman County Master Gardeners celebrate the certification of the Middleton City Park as a Level One Tennessee Arboretum.  The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council coordinates the Arboretum Certification Program throughout Tennessee.  An arboretum is an area with a significant amount of woody vegetation in the form that is cultivated for educational, scientific, or athletic purposes.  A tree is defined as a woody plant with single or multiple trunks capable of growing to a height of fifteen feet or more.  
Over 40 trees were labeled and mulched in the park with the labels mounted on a post in front of the tree or mounted on the tree.  Each label has the tree’s scientific and common name.  Master Gardeners set out twenty four new trees in the park in developing this arboretum.  This is a great educational resource for the community for youth needing to do a leaf collection and information for the public.

We would like to thank Ronnie Clifft of Middleton, with Modern Woodmen of America, for financial support with their community grant.  We appreciate the support of Jackie Cox, Mayor of Middleton, councilmen and city staff in working with the Master Gardeners in developing this arboretum.

The Master Gardener program is a volunteer service program for University of Tennessee Extension.  For more information about the Middleton Arboretum or the Master Gardener program, please contact Lee Sammons, UT Extension Agent, at 731-658-2421.