History of the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum

The Arboretum celebrated its 40th birthday in 2001.  From its inception, the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, Inc. has been a volunteer organization.  The first paid staff member is a part time office manager and secretary who was hired in 1997.  Since then temporary employees have been hired to help with the two feature gardens: the Rose Garden and the Georgia Williams Green and White Memorial Garden that surrounds the St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Historic Episcopal Church.

Planning for the Lubbock Arboretum started in 1954.  The Arboretum Committee, under the auspices of the Lubbock Council of Garden Clubs, was chaired by Mrs. Nat (Georgia) Williams.  Other members were Mrs. Walter Herrin, Dr. W W Yocum, Randal Kershner, Mrs. Roscoe Wilson, Mrs. Olan Key, Mrs. Odie Hood, and Dr. Ben Hutchinson.  Some of these members were also members of the Garden -Arts Center Board which worked with the City of Lubbock Parks Planning Board and Board of City Commissioners in the development of the Garden-Arts Center in K.N. Clapp Park.  Ground breaking for the Garden and Arts Center building took place in December 1959.

In 1960 Mr. Robert H. Rucker was commissioned to develop an Arboretum and Botanical Garden plan in K.N. Clapp Park with funds provided by the Lubbock Council of Garden Clubs.  This plan was presented and formally approved by the Arboretum Committee on September 15, 196 1. The Rucker plan was formally accepted by the City of Lubbock on February 9, 1962. The Arboretum included all park land of K.N. Clapp Park exclusive of various recreation areas.  The 94 Plus acres included a 20 acre lake and was to have five feature gardens; numerous plantings of trees, shrubs, and vines; and plants ranging from indigenous to exotic.

The first tree planted in the Arboretum was a Western Schley Pecan placed in front of the Garden and Arts Center in an Arbor Day ceremony on January 19, 1962.

The first feature garden was the J,A.  Hodges Rose Garden planted in the spring of 1963, just north of Hodges Community Center and dedicated that fall.  There are more than 150 varieties of roses in this garden that was completely replanted in 1988.        

The Arboretum Committee of the Garden-Arts Center Board became an Incorporated entity by the State of Texas on March 3, 1964 and was acknowledged as a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt foundation by the U.S. Treasury Department on February 23, 1965.  The incorporators were Randal Kershner, WW Yocum, Katie Hood, C.H. Hamilton, Ben B. Hutchinson, Georgia Williams, James A. Ellis, Effie B. Wilson, and Harmon Jenkins.

The first formal agreement between the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum Foundation, Inc. and the City of Lubbock was signed June 4, 1964.  The agreement was renewed for a second time in 1981 and for a third time in 1993.  The major aspects of the agreement were that from monetary gifts as memberships, memorials, honoraria, and donations or gifts in kind the Board of Trustees would supply the trees, shrubs, and other plants and special physical improvements to the Arboretum in K.N. Clapp Park.  The City of Lubbock would provide the watering, mowing, fertilizing, and normal park maintenance and at various times help with planting.

In August 1964, the Iris Society Garden was established.  Later, the Garden was removed and a large granite rock was donated by the Society to the Arboretum as the base for a plaque identifying the first tree planted in the arboretum.

In 1964 the Louthan Japanese Garden, just behind the Garden and Arts Center, was dedicated.

In 1967, the City of Lubbock approved a $30,000 water system.  This was a major development because of the need to keep newly planted trees and shrubs well watered.

The first big membership drive was initiated in 1967.  The Arboretum did then, as now, not only need financial support for planting, but physical support of people to help maintain the plantings.

The Tea Terrace that extends from the southeast corner of the Garden and Arts Center was a donation from the Lubbock Council of Garden Clubs and was dedicated in 1967.  The walk around the Terrace area was donated by various landscape companies to provide examples of the types of materials that could be used by homeowners in patio and garden walks.  Later that same year, the Jean Elwood Chappell Memorial Oak and Elm planting was initiated and funds were received for the Roscoe Wilson Holly and Shrub Garden.

In 1968 a large oak planting was received from the Lubbock Rose Society; Kentucky Coffee trees from Bob Hassell Landscape Company; and the erection of a wrought iron fence around the Japanese garden to prevent further theft of statuary.  The Formal Fragrance Garden was a gift from the Lubbock Garden Club in 1969.

Large additions of hackberry, elm, and oak trees were made to the Chappell planting in 1969 and 1971

On January 22, 1972, an Arbor Day Celebration honored Governor Preston Smith and in 1973 the crabapple planting honoring Mrs. Preston (Ima) Smith was completed.  A pecan tree southeast of the Garden and Arts Center was planted in their honor on Arbor Day 1985.

Many hundreds of trees were planted in the period of 1969 through 1973. In 1980, the Western planting was initiated.  This planting has native plants found within 150 miles of Lubbock.

In 1992 the Arboretum Board, through an agreement with the City, was able to open the Arboretum Interpretive Center at 4111 University Avenue.  It has been wonderful for the first time to have a facility for the development of the educational programs.  The Center was for 27 years the home of Georgia Booker who was for that period of time the Director of the Garden and Arts Center.

In 1993, a portion of the Arboretum was fenced to help reduce severe vandalism.  Although motor vehicle vandalism has been reduced, vandalism continues with destruction of individual trees, branch breakage in shrub plantings, outright theft of roses and other shrubs, and destruction of plant labels and other property.

In 1995 educational programs began that eventually evolved into the current Second Saturday program.  This program presents information on planting and gardening care.

St. Paul's -on-the-Plains Historic Church was moved to the Arboretum in 1997 through an agreement between the city and the Lubbock Heritage Society.  This is the oldest public building in Lubbock and was moved from near the corner of 16th and Avenue 0. The Church was landscaped with the Georgia Williams Green and White Memorial Garden in 1998.  Dr. Gwen Williams Yeo, daughter of Georgia and Nat Williams, attended the dedication ceremony.

In 1999 the Arboretum received a $32,000 grant from the Junior League of Lubbock as a part of a 3 year Lubbock Beautification Program.  The grant money is to be used for arboretum beautification and improvement and extension of the Second Saturday educational programs.  These programs will help educate and inform the public about the Arboretum, a great resource for gardening information and just plain enjoyment.

Arthur Elliot

A Little More History:  Arboretum Watering Systems