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Von Gimborn Arboretum

(major update of Von Gimborn Arboretum)

The Von Gimborn Arboretum is a large arboretum, a living collection of woody plants, in the Netherlands. The arboretum is situated in Doorn, province of Utrecht, about 25 km to the east from the city of Utrecht, and occupies an area of 27 ha. It is named after its founder, German ink manufacturer Max Th. Von Gimborn (1872–1964), which started it in 1924 as a private collection of conifers and ericaceous plants.

History

The Von Gimborn Arboretum was founded by Max Von Gimborn in 1924. In 1966, after Von Gimborn had passed away, the arboretum became part of the Botanic Gardens of the State University of Utrecht. In 20... the arboretum became an independent organisation again.

Von Gimborn

The Von Gimborn Arboretum in Doorn wasn't the first arboretum that was founded by Max Von Gimborn. When he established his ink-factory in Zevenaar, close to the German border, in the beginning of the 20th century, he created an arboretum of 5 ha. there. His main interest being conifers, he found out that the clayish soil of Zevenaar was not perfectly suitable for growing conifers. He therefore bought a terrain of 47 ha. at Doorn, at the Vossensteinsesteeg, in 1924. The terrain lies on the boundary of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug (a range of hills) and the Kromme Rijn area (a river basin). Landscape architect Gerard Bleeker (1852-1956) drew a design for the complete area, including a residence, in the style of the English landscape garden. The residence was never built. Of the original plan only 23 ha. were realized.^[1]

During the construction a large number of people were employed. Ditches were dug by hand and on several places the terrain was raised. The variation that was already present was used, whenever possible. Large numbers of douglas firs Pseudotsuga menziesii and sitka spruces Picea sitchensis were planted as shelterbelt. Several hundred large conifers were transplanted from the garden at Zevenaar. Trees of the original collection are still present and have developed into very large trees. ^[2]

The arboretum had a nursery, in which botanical species and cultivated varieties were grown. Several interesting selections were nursed, that drew the attention of plantsmen and that were put upon the market, for instance Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Gimbornii', Pinus leucodermis 'Satellit', Pinus parviflora 'Gimborn's Ideal', Pinus parviflora 'Gimborn's Pyramid' and Pinus parviflora 'Tempelhof', Pinus pumila 'Globe', Tsuga heterophylla 'Conica' and Tsuga mertensiana 'Blue Star'.^[3]

Von Gimborn also had an interest in ericaceous plants. The center of the arboretum has a large heather-garden. In 1936 already 60 species and cultivars were held here.

Utrecht University

In 1966 the Botanic Gardens of the State University of Utrecht took over the Von Gimborn Arboretum.Cite error: The <ref> tag name cannot be a simple integer (see the help page). By that time the Botanic Gardens of the University were spread over five locations: the Cantonspark in Baarn, Fort Hoofddijk at the University campus The Uithof in Utrecht, the (old) Hortus Botanicus in the centre of Utrecht, Sandwijck in De Bilt, and finally the Von Gimborn Arboretum. In 1987 Cantonspark and Sandwijck were abandoned. In 1990 the old Hortus was no longer in use as University Botanic Garden. By that time only the main site Fort Hoofddijk and the Von Gimborn Arboretum were parts of the University Botanic Gardens.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

after 20...

Collections

Important collections of the Von Gimborn Arboretum are^[4]

Coniferae
Aceraceae
Betulaceae
Ericaceae
Euonymus
Laburnum
Magnolia
Oleaceae

Footnotes

^ de Jong et al 1989, p. 6; see also Baas 2002, p. 59
^ de Jong et al 1989, p. 6/7
^ de Jong et al 1989, p. 7
^ De Jong et al 1986, p. 10; see also Baas 2002, p. 66 check

Literature

(in Dutch) Baas, Miranda (2002) - Botanische Tuinen Universiteit Utrecht. Amsterdam / Gent: Ludion. ISBN 90-76588-43-0.
De Jong, dr. P.C., drs. Vijko P.A. Lukkien & Jan Tolsma (1986) - Catalogue of Plant Collections, University Botanic Gardens Utrecht, The Netherlands. Utrecht: University Botanic Gardens Utrecht, Netherlands. 470 pgs. WorldCat entry
De Jong, P.C., J. Tolsma, L.J.W. van den Wollenberg (1989) - Guide to the Von Gimbornarboretum at Doorn. 2nd revised edition. Utrecht : Utrecht University Botanic Gardens. WorldCat entry

External links

(in Dutch) the official website of the Von Gimborn Arboretum

[foundation-1] Jong et al 1989, p. 6; see also Baas 2002, p. 59

[planting-2] Jong et al 1989, p. 6/7

[cultivars-3] Jong et al 1989, p. 7

[collec1-4] De Jong et al 1986, p. 10; see also Baas 2002, p. 66 check

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