Stop 5 - The Tanger Arboretum

This is Stop #5. All around you is the Tanger Arboretum.

A large portion of Mr. Buchanan’s former estate is home to the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum. Jeffrey Hazlett, Chair of the Friends of the Arboretum, explains it was founded in 1956…

“Neighbor and naturalist Louise Tanger felt the landscape could use some improvement. So, from her home across the street Mrs. Tanger offered to plant trees on the barren grounds surrounding the new building. Together with landscape designer Gustaf Malmborg, Mrs. Tanger worked to design arboretum populated by trees from around the world. Soon, they had planted more than 100 individual species, most of which survive today. Mrs. Tanger took charge of the grounds until her death in ’59, after which her son Charles took over and then served as the arboretum’s naturalist until his own death in 1991. Then a group known as The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum was established to care for the trees, as it does today.”

Maps of the Arboretum are available at the Lancaster-History front desk or in a map holder outside the front doors on the east side of the main entrance to the museum.

Standing with the pine needle path on your right, look to your left along the street you will see the Pollinator Garden.

It’s a joint project of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and the Muhlenberg Botanical Society. Each bed contains plants that attract birds, bees, and other pollinators, providing nutrients and respite for these important critters. You’ll find a variety of things here, including scarlet beebalm, sweet smooth Oxeye, Foxglove, Blue Lobelia, Purple Cornflowers, Asters, Goldenrod, and many more. Pollinators are critical to the development and success of many local crops including tomatoes, melons, and strawberries. Pollinators are at risk from a variety of factors, including insecticides, habitat loss, and climate change. This garden is a great example of what you can do at home to help support local pollinators.

Use the pine needle path to enter the Beech Grove. Or, go the sidewalk and turn right to see it from there.