Magens Bay Arboretum
Encyclopedia
The Magens Bay Arboretum (5 acres) is an arboretum
located just inland of Magens Bay
, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
. It is operated by the Magens Bay Authority and open to the public.
The arboretum was planted in the 1920's under the direction of Arthur Fairchild who in 1947 deeded Magens Bay
to the people of the Virgin Islands. Established as a private arboretum on his estate, it was said to contain 200 species representing 71 plant families, including 20 species local to the Virgin Islands
and Puerto Rico
. The arboretum was neglected after his death, but in 1974 the University of the Virgin Islands
began to provide technical assistance, starting with the labeling of rare trees. The Charlotte Amalie Rotary Club aided in its restoration.
The arboretum reopened in 1995 only to be destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn
three months later. However in 1997, another 160 trees were purchased and planted. Several are extremely rare native species, such as the small tree, Solanum
conocarpum, known from only one location in the dry forest of St. John. Other acquisitions included five plumeria
varieties from the Honolulu Botanical Gardens
.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
located just inland of Magens Bay
Magens Bay
Magens Bay is a bay on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean.Located on the North side of the island, Magens Bay features a well-protected white sand beach stretching for nearly a mile...
, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
. It is operated by the Magens Bay Authority and open to the public.
The arboretum was planted in the 1920's under the direction of Arthur Fairchild who in 1947 deeded Magens Bay
Magens Bay
Magens Bay is a bay on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean.Located on the North side of the island, Magens Bay features a well-protected white sand beach stretching for nearly a mile...
to the people of the Virgin Islands. Established as a private arboretum on his estate, it was said to contain 200 species representing 71 plant families, including 20 species local to the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The arboretum was neglected after his death, but in 1974 the University of the Virgin Islands
University of the Virgin Islands
The University of the Virgin Islands is a public university located in the United States Virgin Islands.-Academics:The university has five academic divisions: Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, and Science and Mathematics. UVI offers several graduate degree programs and...
began to provide technical assistance, starting with the labeling of rare trees. The Charlotte Amalie Rotary Club aided in its restoration.
The arboretum reopened in 1995 only to be destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn
Hurricane Marilyn
Hurricane Marilyn was the fifteenth tropical depression and thirteenth named storm of the unusually busy 1995 Atlantic hurricane season, following closely on the heels of Hurricane Luis. Hurricane Marilyn was the most powerful storm to hit the Virgin Islands since Hurricane Hugo of 1989.Marilyn...
three months later. However in 1997, another 160 trees were purchased and planted. Several are extremely rare native species, such as the small tree, Solanum
Solanum
Solanum, the nightshades, horsenettles and relatives, is a large and diverse genus of annual and perennial plants. They grow as forbs, vines, subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees, and often have attractive fruit and flowers. Many formerly independent genera like Lycopersicon or Cyphomandra are...
conocarpum, known from only one location in the dry forest of St. John. Other acquisitions included five plumeria
Plumeria
Plumeria is a genus of flowering plants of the family that includes Dogbane: the Apocynaceae. It contains 7-8 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small trees...
varieties from the Honolulu Botanical Gardens
Honolulu Botanical Gardens
The Honolulu Botanical Gardens are botanical gardens located in Honolulu County, Oahu, Hawaii, and operated under the county's auspices. The gardens are open daily except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day....
.