The Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church is situated on the church campus. The campus is a place of deep history.  With an existing treescape that serves as a sanctuary for anyone who walks its paths or sits among the trees, establishing a State Certified Arboretum is condusive to cultivate trees for educational, scientific, or aesthetic purpose.  

Efforts to establish the grounds as an arboretum began in November 2006 as a means to preserve, enhance and perpetuate the
grounds of First Presbyterian Church.  As a community point of interest, visitors to the Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church wil
find a place of beauty and peace and encounter God’s grace and love.

In an effort to establish a State Certified Arboretum, three members of Boy Scout Troop (102), Chirag Odhav, Alex Crossett (FPC Youth Member), and Price McKnight, gathered on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 to install tree plaques on the grounds of First Presbyterian Church. Alex Crossett selected assisting with the arboretum plaque installation as his Eagle Scout Merit project.	On Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, Boy Scout Troop (102) members,  Alex Cossett (FPC Youth Member), Chirag Odhav and Price McKnight assisted with establishing an arboretum at First Presbyterian Church by installing tree identification plaques. By completing the project, Alex Crossett earned his Eagle Scout Merit.

SITE

The Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church is located in the midtown area of Jackson, Tennessee. The site encompasses 9.5 acres.
The property faces East to West. The East entrance point is Highland Ave. The West entrance point is Coatsland Dr.

Categorized as a Nature Trail/Garden Arboretum, the site meets criteria for a Level 1 Arboretum (a minimum of 30 trees).  Trees
included in the arboretum demonstrate a variety of of species and maturity. As an outdoor classroom, the site is open to the public
and the tour is self-guided. 

The site consists of a flat topography, with a spacious lawn, some grassy and slightly wooded areas. The site is manicured,
beautified and improved through building, land and tree care by the Property Committee. 

The main driveway provides accessible viewing to arboretum points of interest. Trees included in the arboretum are visibly marked
with a plaque. 

In an effort to provide a public place for education and aesthtic beauty, please help keep the First Presbyterian Church site Litter-free.

ARBORETUM DEVELOPMENT and TREE SUCCESSION PLAN

In November 2006, First Presbyterain Church Members volunteered to inventory the existing trees, develop a planting plan for the
grounds and create a tree succession plan. These church members affiliated with such groups as Keep Jackson Beautiful
(Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful), the University of Tennessee- Jackson Extention Office, and Master Gardener program also
discovered common friendship and unity in their interest in environmental stewardship. 

In conjunction with the Property Committee, the grounds have been inventoried for the existing trees and a tree succession plan (TSP)
has been established to anticipate the long term tree replacement and maintenance plan.  The planting plan includes use of the
entire campus, aiming to keep the middle ground a green space and the treescape along the periphery of the property.
Goals of the TSP include:

A healthy, sustainable and ecologically-appropriate tree community is planned that  incorporates an economically feasible and
practical maintenance plan. To the extent possible, native species will be included while maintaining the aesthetic qualities
of the grounds.

DEVELOPMENT GUIDED BY PROPERTY COMMITTEE

The Property Committee is responsible for the care and development of the real property. Advice and oversight in the maintenance
and development of the property includes the Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church.

The Arboretum architecture and landscape design respond to the cultural traditions and natural forces rooted within Jackson,
Tennessee’s environment, its people, climate, and resources.  Designs for the Arboretum emphasize cultivated collections,
stewardship (educational and resources), demonstration of environmentally responsible landscape design and restoration of
degraded landscapes.

The arboretum is uniquely located within the city among church property and  creates a harmonious composition of elements
along the human/nature continuum, from the most clearly human-controlled zones that border the site along the Highland Ave.
Skyline Dr., and Coatsland Dr. to the nature-controlled demonstrations of natural systems among the 9.5 acres of site property.

Development within the Arboretum is grounded in exemplary practices of stewardship, conservation, and, where appropriate,
preservation. The arboretum is designed to enhance and contribute to the stewardship, educational and outreach missions
of the First Presbyterian Church.

EXISITNG TREES

The Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church is a peaceful welcoming area that beckons visitors to walk among azaleas,
trees, other shrubs and ground cover, along with the sound of birds singing. All of the seasons share most beautiful sites;
trees flower in spring, large trees give a grand feeling and the refuge of shade in summer, the leaves are painted with
glorious color in fall and the dormant trees of winter build our faith and hope for those things yet unseen.

Trees included in the arboretum are easily identified with a 5” x 8” plaque.

TREES

American Elm Ulmus americana	Emily Brunner Holly Ilex x 'Emily Brunner' (I. carnuta 'Burfordii' x I. latifolia}	Rose of Sharon, Althea Hibiscus syriacus
American Holly Ilex opaca	Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida	Shumard Oak Quercus shumardii
American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Foster Holly Ilex x attenuata 'Fosterii'	Silver Maple Acer saccharinum
American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba	Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum
Black Cherry Prunus serotina	Goldenraintree Koelreuteria paniculata	Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
Blackjack Oak Quercus marilandica	Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Star Magnolia Magnolia stellata
Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Japanese Maple Acer palmatum	Sugar Maple Acer saccharum
Black Walnut Juglans nigra	Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa	Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana
Bradford Pear Pyrus calleryana	Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda	Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera
Burford Holly Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'	Nellie R. Stevens Holly Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens'	Water Oak Quercus nigra
Cherrybark Oak Quercus pagoda	Oriental Cherry Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan'	Weeping Cherry Prunussubhirtella 'Pendula'
Common Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum	Paperbark Maple Acer griseum	White Ash Fraxinus americana
Crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia indica	Pecan Carya illinoinensis	White Mulberry Morus alba
Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Pin Oak Quercus palustris	White Oak Quercus alba
Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis	Red Maple Acer rubrum	White Poplar Populus alba
Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana	Redtip Photinia Photinia x fraseri	Willow Oak Quercus phellos
Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus	River Birch Betula nigra

 

SHRUBS

English Boxwood Buxus sempervirens	Japanese, Little Leaf Boxwood Buxux microphylla
Dwarf Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'	Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia	Fuzzy Deutzia Deutzia scabra
Annabelle Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

 

Oriental Cherry

 

 

 

Southern Magnolias along N. Highland Avenue.

 

Foster Holly

 

 

How can I contribute to the Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church?

Gifts to the arboretum may be made any time of year specifically for trees, other plants, or for the upkeep of the Arboretum.
Gifts may be given in honor or in memory of special people, or special events. A certificate will be given to note a monetary
donation made, a tree planted or the placement of a bench.  While gifts may be celebrated all year, trees will be planted one
time a year, according to the discretion of the property committee.  

Plant a Tree

Contact the church office (731.422.1591) to request and choose a tree from the Tree Selection Plan List.

Give a Monetary Donation
(A General Donation or In Memory or In Honor of Someone or an Event)

Checks should be designated ‘Arboretum’ and mailed to:
 First Presbyterian Church
1573 North Highland Ave.
Jackson, TN 38301
731.422.1591