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One man’s passion for trees more than 50 years ago led to the creation of a nonprofit organization based in Strafford. The Lovett Pinetum works to develop and manage a collection of several hundred species of conifers.
The pinetum encompasses a 108 acre site just east of Springfield and a 43-acre site in Texas. In all, there are more than 500 species, varieties and cultivars of conifers on those acres.
It all began in 1970 when Springfield pathologist, Dr. Bob Lovett, purchased 14 acres of land with a beautiful, lush spring on it. At the time, though, the spring had been used as a dumping ground for trash by people who lived nearby. Lovett spent a lot of time cleaning it up. That spring, another on the more newly-acquired property and two others nearby are the headwaters for Pearson Creek, which has been listed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a polluted waterway, most recently in 2020.
Holden Forests & Gardens staff are still assessing damage from a winter storm that walloped the area on Dec. 1.
Two feet of heavy snow broke more than 350 specimens in Holden Arboretumâs âgreenâ museum like a bull in a China shop.
About 100 are so damaged they need to be removed. In addition, 26 trees and shrubs were harmed at sister property Cleveland Botanical Garden.
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Holden Forests & Gardens staff discuss the initial Holden Arboretum tree damage assessment from a Dec. 1 snowstorm. Pictured, from left, are Collections Director Roger Gettig, Plant Records Curator Ethan Johnson and Plant Records Recorder Margeaux Apple.