Sara Jordan-Heintz
Contributing writer
MADRID After the derecho that hit the Midwest in August destroyed approximately 40% of the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens’ collection of trees, Tyler Johnson, curator of collections and grounds, is launching a “ReLeaf” campaign fundraiser in the form of a webinar series.
Of the Arboretum’s more than 700 trees on its 40-acre main campus, over 275 were destroyed. The goal for this year is to plant 75-85 trees at the cost of $35,000. The cost could go up to $75,000, he said. All the new trees would be planted over a three-year period.
“Across the street, we’ve got probably at least over $100,000 worth of damage and repair to go,” he said.