Nestled at the top of a long and winding road in the affluent neighborhood of Indian Hill, Stanley Rowe Arboretum is one of the most secluded and scenic gardens in all of Cincinnati.
The arboretum is owned by the Indian Hill city government and is operated by a non-profit organization. Admission is completely free and you can visit from dawn to dusk during any day of the week.
The arboretum was founded by Stanley M. Rowe, Sr. and his wife Dorothy Snowden Rowe in 1926. At that time they began collecting a variety of trees, plants, and shrubs in an attempt to reforest the area that was previously used for farming and pasture.
The first trees to make their appearance on the grounds were Red Oaks, European Larch, White Pine, and Scotch Pine.
Over time, Stanley and his wife began to experiment to see how many different types of trees and shrubs they could actually grow in this climate.
As time went on, this experimenting lead to the couple accumulating nearly five thousand different types of trees and shrubs. Of all of the types of trees, it is said that Conifers were one of their favorites.
In 1982 The American Horticultural Society honored Rowe with an amateur citation for the arboretum, commending its “remarkable collection of conifers, crabapples, magnolias, oaks, and beeches.”
It is now designated as a Conifer Reference Garden by the American Conifer Society.
Stanley passed away in 1987 at the age of 97, but his passion for gardening along with collecting trees and shrubs carries on through the arboretum.
Today the Stanley Rowe Arboretum covers 8.9 total acres and is filled with around 1,800 different species of trees and shrubs. The arboretum has several well kept intertwining trails to walk along and several open green spaces where it’s not uncommon to see a family enjoying a picnic.
Every tree and shrub on the grounds is labeled with a small sign indicating the species along with its native origin, which is a dream come true for anyone who enjoys botany and the classification of plants.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful outdoor area to go for a leisurely walk, or you’re looking for a quiet place to read a book, or you’re just interested in admiring an incredible selection of trees and shrubs from all over the world, Stanley Rowe Arboretum offers the perfect place to do all of these things.
Visit Stanley Rowe Arboretum
You can visit Stanley Rowe Arboretum at 4600 Muchmore Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45243 from dawn to dusk during any day of the week.
Check out their website if you’re looking for contact information or if you want to keep up with any announcements they make about special events, tours, and volunteer opportunities.
Great place. I thought I saw a rabbit there once.