Pacific Union Home | Arboretum Home | Contact Information Activities Introduction | Habitats | Photo Tours | Plant List | Arboretum Curriculum   Pacific Union Native Plant Arboretum Definitions arboretum (pronounce ar bor EE tum) -- a place where plants are grown for display and study native plant -- a species that was growing here before Europeans came, bringing many other species with them. Native plants are what the native American people lived with, ate, and used. Geography Pacific Union School is in Arcata, California, on Humboldt Bay, 280 miles north of San Francisco. The climate is Mediterranean, with alost all its rainfall in winter, however summer fog off the cool ocean can add significant moisture. Temperatures are moderate, rarely above 70 degrees F in summer, occasionally frosty in winter. The Arboretum grows in rich but heavy alluvial soil. Arcata is a town of 20,000 people. Pacific Union is a one-school district, grades K through 8th, with about 500 students. History In the spring of 1994 a group of inspired volunteers undertook to transform a portion of the playing field behind Pacific Union School into a patch of native habitat. They wanted a place for students, teachers, and community members to become familiar with local, native plants, to observe things in nature, and to enjoy a natural setting for relaxation or inspiration. Guided by the expertise, vision, and aesthetically pleasing plan of Tom Stafford, we sculpted hills of topsoil donated by Miller Farms, lay a winding path of pea gravel donated by Redwood Empire Aggregates, and installed native plants donated by and bought and collected from various sources. In a triumph of organization and coordination, students did the planting during school time. From fragile, little plants the arboretum has grown to be a real thicket with substantial profile. The triangular area, with sides about 120 ft., hosts about 120 native plant species. The rich habitat hosts an increasing abundance and diversity of wildlife: pocket gophers, moles, voles, garter snakes, tree frogs, and over 30 species of birds, to mention just the vertebrates. Thanks to a suggestion from local CNPS member Bob Wunner after the initial planting, we started to group plants by habitat, all found in Humboldt County. Each habitat has developed somewhat serendipitously depending on what species became available and which species survived in the soil, climate, and high snail population we provide. For more information about the arboretum please contact Carol Ralph at theralphs at humboldt1.com.