UPDATE: Sadly, Blandy remains closed to the public and will not reopen on May 15th. We appreciate the understanding and support of the public in this difficult time. The Governor’s new Executive Order (EO-61) provides some hope that we may be able to reopen before too long, and you play an important role in our plans for that reopening. As part of that role, it is extremely important that everyone observe the closure notice. An increasing number of people have chosen to ignore the notices posted at every entrance. This is not helpful and must stop. We cannot reopen unless it is clear that visitors will follow rules and guidelines. Even when we reopen, some restrictions will remain to ensure the safety of our visitors, our employees, and our students. This is certainly a case where a few impatient people can ruin things for the many people who are doing their part. Our entire staff looks forward to seeing all of you at Blandy soon. Please help us get there. Stay safe and healthy, everyone
The State Arboretum of Virginia (also known as the Orland E. White Arboretum) occupies the central 172 acres of Blandy Experimental Farm. Started in the 1930s, it now contains over 5000 woody trees and shrubs from around the world. It is a reference garden for the Southeast Region of the American Conifer Society and includes the American Boxwood Society's Memorial Garden.
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Notable Collections
- Boxwood: 162 kinds
- A 300-tree ginkgo grove
- A 36-tree Cedar of Lebanon allee
Search our database and create your own map to plants in the arboretum.
Visit the Native Plant
Trail
Visit the Herbaceous Gardens
Visitor map to The Arboretum
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The Community Forest
We're planting lots of trees. And "we" means school groups, civic groups, and lots of volunteers. So far we, supported by the Virginia Department of Forestry, have planted 496 trees in the grassy area at the front entrance to the arboretum. As these trees grow, they will transform an expanse of pasture grass and weeds into a diverse eastern forest. Among the many types of trees planted are tulip poplar, white oak, eastern red oak, redbud, pawpaw, black cherry, red maple and serviceberry.
Hands On! The Nysmith school for the Gifted 4th graders got their hands dirty planting trees.
Takes two to tackle a tree. Students from the Nysmith School for the Gifted hoist a tree over the hole it will call home.
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A future pawpaw patch. Volunteers from Saplings Inc. clear vines, dig holes, and plant pawpaw seeds.
Paying their dues. Master Naturalists pay their dues with sweat and hard labor. Blandy Experimental Farm has helped train cohorts of students in the Master Naturalist program and they have come back to volunteer with our programs.
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