Staff, faculty, and students and their friends and family can learn about the River Campus landscaping and then stay and enjoy music on the grounds during a special "Tree Tour" sponsored by the University of Rochester Arboretum.
"We want to introduce the arboretum and inform the University community about the variety of trees and shrubs on campus and our plans to increase that diversity," said Daniel Schied, manager of horticulture and grounds.
The tour starts at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, on the entrance steps of Wilson Commons and will be led by Schied. The tour will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by a concert featuring singer/guitarists Paul Swiatek and Connie Deming, local musicians who each have produced their own CDs and tapes. Tour-takers are encouraged to bring a picnic basket, blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy the performance on the front steps of Wilson Commons. The program will proceed rain or shine. In case of rain, the concert by Swiatek and Deming will move indoors and will be held in Wilson Commons.
In 2000, portions of the River Campus were designated an arboretum to preserve and promote the beauty of the campus and celebrate the horticultural heritage of the region. A map notes the 61 species of deciduous trees and 12 types of conifers growing along Wilson Boulevard, as well as the many other types of trees-some dating back to the 1920s-found on the River Campus. The map is available to the public and can also be found online at http://www.facilities.rochester.edu/arboretum/photos/map.jpg.
For more information, contact Schied at x3-5815.