My town has an arboretum that I’m familiar with mostly because there are several ongoing forest ecology experiments nearby.  I visited the public part once the first year I was here and then again a few weeks ago when my mother was visiting.  I appreciate it a lot more now that I know so much more about the regional climate and flora.

The arboretum is quite small, but it’s got a good representation of the region’s plants and habitats and fantastic demonstration gardens for people who want to use less water and native plants. The arboretum also collaborates with ecologists and botanists at my university on some pretty sweet experiments.

I saw a horned toad for the first time when I visited the arboretum with my mom.  They blend in really well! I definitely didn’t notice it until it was pointed out to me.

Short Horned Lizard

Arboretums are the kind of thing that are really going to lose out as states slash funding in an attempt to make ends meet.  Visiting museums, botanic gardens, arboretums, national and state parks, etc. is often cheaper than a trip to the movies and usually much more interesting. (Has anyone noticed the near complete lack of plot in a lot of new movies?)