Starhill Forest Arboretum
Encyclopedia
Starhill Forest Arboretum (48 acres) is a private arboretum
located at 12000 Boy Scout Trail, Petersburg, Illinois
.
The arboretum has been owned and operated by the Sternberg family (Edie Sternberg and Guy Sternberg
) since 1976. Old trees in the forested areas date to about 1850, and the oldest planted trees were started from seed in 1964 and transplanted from another location.
The arboretum's primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak
collection) comprising one of the most comprehensive living reference collections for the genus in North America. Approximately 150 other genera of woody plants are also available for study, as well as herb
and perennial landscapes, a native prairie
garden, several provenance tests, aquatic areas, and conifer plantations. The arboretum contains approximately 1800 accessioned woody taxa and 60 species of spontaneous woody plants.
Permanent records include provenance information, propagation method and year, and mapped location within the arboretum.
In 2008, Starhill Forest became the official arboretum of Illinois College
.
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 at 12000 Boy Scout Trail, Petersburg, Illinois
Petersburg, Illinois
Petersburg is a city in Menard County, Illinois, on the bluffs and part of the floodplain overlooking the Sangamon River. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,299 at the 2000 census, and 2,185 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Menard...
.
The arboretum has been owned and operated by the Sternberg family (Edie Sternberg and Guy Sternberg
Guy Sternberg
Guy Sternberg is the owner and operator of Starhill Forest Arboretum in Petersburg, Illinois. He is an arborist, author of books on oaks and is a founding member of the International Oak Society, tree consultant, and lecturer.-Biography:...
) since 1976. Old trees in the forested areas date to about 1850, and the oldest planted trees were started from seed in 1964 and transplanted from another location.
The arboretum's primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
collection) comprising one of the most comprehensive living reference collections for the genus in North America. Approximately 150 other genera of woody plants are also available for study, as well as herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
and perennial landscapes, a native prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
garden, several provenance tests, aquatic areas, and conifer plantations. The arboretum contains approximately 1800 accessioned woody taxa and 60 species of spontaneous woody plants.
Permanent records include provenance information, propagation method and year, and mapped location within the arboretum.
In 2008, Starhill Forest became the official arboretum of Illinois College
Illinois College
Illinois College is a private, liberal arts college, affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church , and located in Jacksonville, Illinois. It was the second college founded in Illinois, but the first to grant a degree . It was founded in 1829 by the Illinois Band,...
.