CSC benefits from Nebraska State Arboretum donation

Bob Henricksen and Justin Evertson, with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, delivered the plants to CSC, helped plant them near the Coffee Agriculture Pavilion and presented a program about new plant release from the NSA.

According to Lucinda Mays, CSC horticulturist, 16 different types of plants delivered to CSC including pale purple coneflower, ‘My Antonia’ aster and “Comanche Campfire’ primrose were grown by Henricksen, horticulture program coordinator with the Nebraska State Arboretum.

Henricksen said the goal of the NSA is to bring more ornamentals to the western part of the state, increase the diversity of the plant base in the Panhandle and provide homeowners and landowners with more xeric species.

“We have attractive plants that are tolerant of the heat and cold and easy to care for,” Henricksen said.

The event was made possible through the “Great Plants for the Great Plains” initiative. The cost of the plants was covered by a grant written by Henricksen and Evertson, green infrstructure coordinator.

Mays said Nebraska, in contrast with other states where a single arboretum is based in the capital or other large city, has several affiliated sites like CSC which showcase the variety of plants that can be grown in different regions of the state.

"As an affiliate site of the Statewide Arboretum, we feel CSC is a perfect example of the value for sustainable, low input landscapes that beautify the campus and help in recruiting students, faculty and staff. The campus looks great and I know a lot of that credit belongs with the work of Blair Brennan and Lucinda," Henricksen said.

During the afternoon program, Evertson presented a plaque to Mays as a representative of the Chadron Greener Nebraska Towns Committee which administered a two-and-a-half year grant that provided vouchers for about 600 trees and other plants throughout the Chadron area.

The Chadron GNT committee includes representatives from the City of Chadron, the Nebraska Forest Service, the Chadron Community Foundation, Chadron State College, the U.S. Forest Service, and local nurseries.