Arboretum

What is an Arboretum, you say?

An arboretum is a botanical garden that primarily features trees and other woody plants. For-Mar Arboretum was established in 1970 in honor of Martha Merkley who was passionate about gardening and serving the community. Within our 116 acres, we showcase over 1800 woody specimens representing 157 species. Many of them can be found all over the globe as well as numerous species that thrive in this area and are suitable for home landscapes. For-Mar’s vision of our arboretum is education and promotion of our natural resources. Visitors can explore botanical collections including maple sugar bush forests, crabapples and conifers spots, herbaceous plants, native wildflower and grasses.

Our Arboretum is a Level II Accredited by ArbNet—learn more about arboretum accreditation here.

You can explore our Arboretum anytime the park is open. Use this map and example tree tag to help you navigate the park!

Maple Walk

Planted in the early 70s, this unique landscape is the heart and soul of the Arboretum. Lined with mature maple trees, it represents the generosity of the community in establishing one of Genesee County Parks main attractions.

For-Mar Arboretum Adventure Lab

Adventure Lab is an app and platform that allows individuals to create, play and share unique outdoor scavenger hunts, experiences, and games. The Adventure Lab app guides players through the process of finding clues, solving puzzles, and completing Adventures on location at a time.

For-Mar has an adventure lab in our arboretum! Find it here!