Reasons to Give by the Numbers

• 93 acres of public gardens, collections, trails, habitats, and ecosystems right in your 'backyard.'

• 13 gardens – including an herb, vegetable, sensory, three perennial, conifer, witches’-brooms, pinetum, tropical, ericaceous, native, and fern – grace the property.  Many trees on the property were grown from seed acquired by the Arboretum’s founder, from far-off places, to determine whether they would thrive in the New England climate and be of use for home landscaping or commercial purposes. As a result, the gardens exhibit beautiful, diverse plant collections for garden hobbyists and horticulturalists alike. 

• 7 Champion trees and 17 Notable trees flourish at the Bartlett. In the 1880s, much of Connecticut was cleared for agricultural purposes making it hard to find trees older than 130 years in the region. Our Champion trees are the largest of their species and are more than 100 years old. Donations help preserve our Champion and notable trees, such as our descendant of Connecticut’s Charter Oak. 

• 10 trails spreading over 5 miles are mapped so that visitors can “lose” themselves in the natural forested areas.  Docents provide expert information and describe historical features, habitat, geology, watershed, and plant life along the trails. A free touring app is also available for download on cell phones (BartlettArb). 

• 8 weeks of environmental camp programs connect children with the natural world and offer courses from wetland ecology to edible gardening. With donor support, we can open these programs to children at risk, through organizations like Inspirica, to ensure all children have the opportunity to experience nature and the carefree fun of summer camp. 

• 5,000 school children visit each year including second graders from all 13 Stamford public elementary schools who visit the Bartlett twice per year for STEAM-based instruction by our two environmental and botanical educators. In the fall, they learn about seeds and their distribution. In the spring, they learn about flowering plants. Donations help the Arboretum serve these children who visit each year as part of their curriculum and through after-school programs, private school field trips, scout programs, and summer camp. 

• 2,000 native plants are propagated by volunteers in our greenhouse and are distributed to area parks or sold at our annual plant sale. For the past 14 years, the Arboretum has graduated scores of  Master Gardeners who provide education outreach in the community.  These students complete a rigorous certification through the University of Connecticut’s Extension Master Gardener Program and help keep the Arboretum gardens in tiptop condition so visitors can appreciate native plants grown in conditions much like those in their yards.