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Beekman Arboretum to bloom again Monday Jan 16, 2017 at 12:01 AM Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Restoration of the 20-year-old Beekman Arboretum will continue this year with an emphasis on plants that exist in the Jacksonville area. When it was created, the arboretum contained plants from around Southern Oregon, but the arboretum fell into disrepair. “Our plan and goal is to have native plants that can eventually exist on their own,” said Kandee McClain with the Friends of the Beekman Arboretum. Jacksonville Woodlands Association member Alan Horobin established the arboretum in 1997 behind the historic Beekman House and at the entrance to the one-mile loop through Beekman Woods. Cornelius Beekman was a pioneer banker and businessman instrumental in the development of Jacksonville. A recycling waterfall on the property was restored about 18 months ago and served as impetus to do other work, said McClain. The revised area is planned to include a maintainable collection of native species, including trees, wildflowers and edible plants. “We started with pulling out dead plants, trimming and pruning, and getting the water system going again,” said McClain. Work sessions last year repaired the drip-irrigation system, installed decomposed granite paths to replace muddy trails, and placed large rocks and plantings around the water feature. Drip irrigation is needed to nurture new plantings but won’t be used regularly, although it could see service to help plants survive in drought years. “We won’t end up with the original eight areas. Still, many of Alan’s plants are still alive. We have been pruning them,” said McClain. Areas that won’t receive much attention will include the subalpine, high-elevation forest, serpentine and high desert. McClain estimates the restoration will take about five years. On the list for this year is installation of new signage and more plantings. The Friends group would like to see the area become a site for horticultural education, including edible and medicinal plants. Individuals have expressed interest in teaching classes, McClain said. Creation of an outdoor teaching space is planned. “We have a bog that we are restoring. We have a creekbed that would have native plants. It’s been kind of overcome by sediment. In the summer it looks like a dry creek bed, but now it is flowing really well,” said McClain. Assistance for the project has come from JWA, the Jacksonville Boosters, the Native Plant Society of Oregon and the city. Expenditures have been minimal thanks to donations and volunteer labor. The 22-acre Beekman Woods was the first parcel preserved by JWA when it formed in the late 1980s. The city purchased the land from the University of Oregon, which had received it from the Beekman family, said JWA Executive Director Larry Smith. “(The arboretum) was all overgrown with blackberries. Horobin planted over 200 varieties of plants,” said Smith. Horobin’s efforts resulted in a ditch and water features that kept water from running through the basement of the Beekman House. “It’s a trailhead. There’s parking, there’s a waterfall to greet you, and two very easy paths,” said Smith. “It's really kid-friendly.” A workday is scheduled March 25 beginning at 9 a.m. Additional work days will be held monthly. JWA's annual Hike-A-Thon April 15 will include a tour of the trails in the Beekman Woods and the arboretum. — Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]