GOVERNOR’S OAK GROVE
With the first oak planting ceremony taking place in 1972 with Governor Robert D. Ray, the first major collections project at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens was born, kickstarting Arbor Week celebrations in Iowa.
In 1971, Iowa’s Governor Ray sought to offer Iowans the opportunity to minimize environmental pressures in the landscape. An Environmental Action Program (EAP) was launched to encourage people to beautify, conserve, and become soil stewards of the Iowan landscape. Due to the interrelationship of these and other environmental programs, Governor Ray sponsored a similar program in 1972, which established the Governor’s Arbor Week segment of the EAP, and the ceremonial tree plantings that have occurred thereafter. Governor Robert D. Ray had the honor of planting the first Arbor Day, Governors’ Grove oak in 1972, which is a respectable, mature Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinia) still living today.
Title I – STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND MANAGEMENT
Chapter 1C – PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND RECOGNITION DAYS
Section 1C.10 – Arbor Day and Week.
Universal Citation:
IA Code § 1C.10
Arbor Day and Week.
The last Friday in April in each year shall be observed in Iowa as Arbor Day and the week in which this Friday falls shall be observed as Arbor Week. This day and week shall be designated annually by the governor with suitable proclamation urging that schools, civic organizations, governmental departments and all citizens and groups give serious thought to and appreciation of the contribution of trees to the beauty and economic welfare of Iowa.
Among the dozens of oaks are several native trees and individuals transplanted from the arboretum’s own woodlands. Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is native to Iowa and planted in this collection. Several oak specimens originated as transplants from the native 80-acre woodlands across Peach Avenue, including many red (Quercus rubra) and white oaks (Quercus alba).
Many oak species are native to Iowa, and thus, have been planted in the Governors’ Grove to honor of those in public service at the state level. Honorariums for Iowa’s past Governors, First Ladies, and Lieutenant Governors fill the grove, all being dedicated at past Iowa Arboretum Arbor Day celebrations.
The original planting was developed by Neal Franson, Professor Robert Dyas, and Iowa State University students. The construction of the Hughes Education Center in 1999 lead to a large transplanting project of several honorarium oaks. Therefore, the collection was relocated to the southeast portion of the 40-acre site. While this is our most concentrated planting of oaks, over two dozen species of oaks and oak hybrids are represented throughout the 40-acre arboretum grounds.
Today nearly every past Iowa governor is honored in this grove. The lasting legacy of Iowa’s Arbor Week and Day live on in this grove, with additions to the collection happening still.
Several trees were lost to the 2020 derecho but trees to replace those lost have been planned to be planted in honor of the yet unrepresented governors. However, in light of the spread of Oak Wilt (Bretziella fagacearum) they will be planted a safe distance from the remainder of the grove.
A Garden in Transition:
With a mature tree canopy overhead, this grove is beginning a transition. Much of Iowa was once blanketed in oak savanna, an ecosystem dominated by large mature oaks with an understory made up of transitional species. An ecosystem managed by fire, prairie species and woodland species mix to create a patchwork of plant diversity. Native species once present across the state are being introduced to this area. Over time, the understory of the grove will begin to resemble that of a woodland edge into open savanna, providing ample habitat and resources for surrounding wildlife. Plants like woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum), bloodroot (Sanguinarea canadensis), common blue violet (Viola sororia) and sedges (Carex spp.) have already been introduced to begin the hard work of filling up the soil surface.
Back to Our Plants hompage
Plant List:
Oaks:
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 1st Territorial Governor, Robert Lucas, Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 1990
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 1st Governor Ansel Briggs 1846- 1850, Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 1989.
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 2nd Governor Stephen Hempstead 1850-1854, Planted by First Lady Chris Branstad Arbor Day 1991.
Quercus velutina – Black oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 3rd Governor James W. Grimes 1854-1858 Planted by Lt. Governor Joy Corning Arbor Day 1994.
Quercus imbricaria – Shingle oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 4th Governor Ralph P. Lowe 1858-1860.
Quercus x saulii – Saul oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 5th and 9th Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 1996
Quercus x saulii – Saul oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 6th Governor, William Stone (1864-68), Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 1998
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 7th Governor Samuel Merrill 1868-1872, Dedicated by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 2005.
Quercus muehlenbergii – Chinkapin oak – In Honor of the 8th Governor of Iowa Cyrus C. Carpenter, Dedicated Arbor Day 2006
Quercus x saulii – Saul oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 5th and 9th Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood, Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff, Arbor Day 1996
Quercus macrocarpa – Bur oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 10th Governor Joshua G. Newbold 1877-1878 Dedicated by Iowa Arboretum Staff Arbor Day 2007
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 14th Governor Horace Boies 1890-1894.
Quercus bicolor – Swamp white oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 16th Governor Francis M. Drake 1896-1898 Planted by Iowa Arboretum Staff Arbor Day 2004
Quercus x runcinata – Logue oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 17th Governor Leslie M. Shaw 1898-1902 Dedicated by First Lady Chrisie Vilsack Arbor Day 2000.
Quercus macrocarpa – Bur oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 20th Governor Beryl F. Carroll 1909-1913, Planted by Governor Terry Branstad Arbor Day 1993
Quercus muehlenbergii – Chinkapin oak – Dedicated by the 35th Governor of Iowa, Norman Erbe, Arbor Day 1983
Quercus x exacta – Laurelpin oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 36th Governor Harold E. Hughes
Quercus coccinea – Scarlet oak – Arbor Day 1972, Dedicated By Governor Robert D. Ray, In His Honor
Quercus macrocarpa – Bur oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 38th Governor, Robert D. Ray, Dedicated Arbor Day 2003
Quercus x ‘Long’ – Regal prince oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 39th and 42nd Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, Gifted by Hughes Nursery and Landscaping, Arbor Day 2012
Quercus x ‘Long’ – Regal prince oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 39th and 42nd Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, Gifted by Hughes Nursery and Landscaping, Arbor Day 2012
Quercus macrocarpa ‘Urban Pinnacle’ – Urban pinnacle bur oak – In Honor of Iowa’s 43rd Governor Kim Reynolds Planted on Arbor Day April 27th 2019
Savanna:
Ageratina altissima – White snakeroot
Carex sp. – Sedge species
Cornus alternifolia – Pagoda dogwood
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’ – Gold heart bleeding heart
Galanthus x ‘Hippolyta’ – Hippolyta snowdrop
Hepatica nobilis var. acutiloba – Liverwort
Mertensia virginiana – Virginia bluebells
Phlox divaricata – Woodland phlox
Podophyllum peltatum – Mayapple
Sanguinaria canadensis ‘Propeller’ – Propeller bloodroot
Viola pubescens – Downy yellow violet
Viola sororia – Common blue violet