Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Grandeur and Serenity of Nature

Nichols Arboretum is a nature preserve in the Ann Arbor area, established in 1907 just a few blocks from the University of Michigan's Central Campus.

Today, the park stretches along one side of the university campus, and has grown to 123 acres, where people come to jog, picnic, stroll, or simply take in one of the most scenic vistas in the region. It is believed that the renowned poet Robert Frost - a resident of Ann Arbor in the 1920s - based his poem "The Road Not Taken'' on this serene area.

The Arboretum features a 10-acre restored prairie, more than a mile of frontage on the Huron River, a lilac collection, and more than 500 wood plant species. There are also micro habitats which include the Peony Garden (which features the oldest peony collection in the country), Magnolia Cove, Appalachian Glen, and extensive stretches of both native and exotic trees and shrubs.

The terrain, carved by glaciers many thousands of years earlier, dips as much as 180 feet as it slopes toward the river, making for a complex topography that includes intimate dales and glens, as well as vast panoramas and broad valleys. Wildlife thrives in the area, and creatures such as woodpeckers, bats and nocturnal flying squirrels make it their home

The "Arb,'' as it's called locally, offers a number of displays, natural areas, trails/pathways, and exhibits to keep visitors entertained. One such trek is the Clean Water Trail - a self-guided tour in School Girls' Glen and throughout Nichols Arboretum. The trail showcases an erosion control project that attempts to reverse water damage and soil erosion that has occurred throughout the years.

Over time, fast-moving water from urban runoff has undercut stream banks, leading to a destabilization of the Glen's slopes. Large trees have been felled and much of the hillside has been washed away with them. It is estimated that an average of one cubic yard of soil has been washed from School Girls' Glen into the Huron River every day for the last 35 years!

The project uses what are known as "biotechnical erosion control methods'' - i.e., natural, strutural materials, such as plants and boulders - to stabilize the slopes and help prevent further erosion.

Another of the Arb's showcase tours follows Laurel Ridge Trail, which provides visitors with both a beautiful experience and a powerful message. That message is a simple one: that azaleas and rhododendrons will thrive if their needs are met.

By allowing an old pine stand to provide the acidic soil such shrubs require, combined with the protection from winter sunburn that the northerly slope provides, a beautiful bloom of colors and fragrances results. The azaleas (deciduous rhododendron) bloom predominantly in May, while the evergreen shrubs, which are also hybrid rhododendrons, bloom in late May to June.

In addition to such natural wonders, the Arb also features visual and performing-art exhibits, combined with creative activities to help visitors perceive, interact with, and understand the artists' messages.

Shakespeare also makes his yearly appearance in the Arb for several weeks every June. During that time, both the players and the audience move throughout the Arb, so that scenes may be acted and viewed in the best settings.

The Arb is truly the "road not taken,'' and a source of nature's grandeur and serenity amid the hustle of city and university life.