California State University, Chico will host a series of five campus tree tours on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. beginning March 3. The tours start in front of Kendall Hall and last about one hour.
The first tour is guided by retired CSU, Chico botanist Wes Dempsey and will feature medicinal plants used in cancer therapy. In addition to historical and geographical information about the trees, there will be discussions of pruning and general care of woody plants.
The series is held by members of the Campus Arboretum Committee, Associated Students Arboretum Committee and the University Buildings and Grounds Department. Future walks are scheduled for March 17 and 31 as well as April 14 and 28.
The arboretum at CSU, Chico was officially dedicated on Arbor Day in 1982 and includes all the woody plants on campus. Many of the trees can be traced back to the time of General Bidwell. An arboretum map, showing the locations of over 200 plant species, is available at the Alumni House and the Department of Biology office in Holt Hall.
For further information, call Dempsey at 530-342-2293 or CSU, Chico Facilities Management and Services at 530-898-6222.
KB