Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
Harrisonburg,
Virginia
Located
on the campus of James Madison University, this 125-acre
arboretum was established in 1985.
Highlights include several differently themed Azalea
gardens, a natural patch of mixed oak-hickory forest, a bog
garden and a daffodil garden.
The garden I find most intriguing is the rock garden, a
man-made shale barren.
Shale barrens are uncommon natural plant communities that
feature a unique flora including many endemic species. I
like to see public gardens highlight unique features of
their local environment rather than just displaying what
everyone else displays. Almost everyone has a rock garden
and they’re all beautiful, but it’s nice to see a garden
trying something different.
I have not yet been able to visit this garden. The photos
are courtesy of Edith J Carrier Arboretum.
Click here to visit the
arboretum's website.