FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 27, 2007

Kathleen McPartland
530-898-4260
Gary Vercruse,
Facilities Management Services
530-898-6472

Arboretum Tours Begin March 7

Bidwell Mansion State Park and California State University, Chico are jointly offering four tours of the arboretum they share this spring on Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28. The easy and informative walks will begin in front of Bidwell Mansion at 10 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m.

Each tour will cover a different group of plants on the mansion and University grounds and will be led by horticulturists and botanists from the University and State Parks. Included will be the magnificent southern magnolia, located in front of the mansion, which was planted by General John Bidwell in 1863 preparatory to the building of the mansion some years later. South of the mansion, along Sowilleno Avenue, the Bidwells planted American chestnuts, some of which remain and still produce delicious nuts. Other noteworthy specimens to be seen are monkey puzzle tree (from Chile), bunya bunya (from Australia), dawn redwood (from China) and water oak (southern U.S.).

Along the south side of Chico Creek, Bidwell planted various oaks that still survive. In 1887, when the State Normal School was established in Chico, California incense cedars and London plane (sycamore) were planted on the west and south sides of the original administration building; a half dozen of these remain, including the striking plane tree in front of Kendall Hall, sometimes referred to as the "Founders' Tree."

Recent tree plantings include red chestnut, black tupelo, cutleaf zelkova and many others. Unusual old shrubs include several in front of the mansion: cockspur coral from Brazil, a white-flowered magnolia from China, and strawberry bush from southern France.

The trip leaders will discuss current horticultural and pruning practices as well as make suggestions as to selection of plants for Chico yards. Participants are encouraged to bring in leaves from plants they wish to have identified or talk about problems they are having with insects or diseases.

A map and guide to the mansion and the University trees and shrubs titled "Campus Trees" and a guide titled "Campus Creekside Nature Walk" are available at the Mansion Information Center. These can also be purchased at the A.S. Bookstore and at the Department of Biological Sciences office in Holt 279.

The arboretum was dedicated in 1982 and includes all the woody plants on campus, about 225 species of shrubs and vines as well as trees. John Bidwell planted some of the cultivated trees about 1870 around the Bidwell Mansion and along both sides of Chico Creek. Others date from the founding of the Normal School in 1887 and still exist in front of Kendall Hall.

Further information about the tours can be obtained from the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park at 895-6144 or from Gary Vercruse, manager of the grounds, at 898-6222. Leaders of the first tours will be Vercruse and Wes Dempsey, professor emeritus, Biological Sciences.

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