The Brenton Arboretum: A Personal Story

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The Brenton Arboretum, view from the northwest towards the Vista
Room.

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The Brenton Arboretum aerial view captured by drone November 2017.
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View to the west from the cottonwood (Populus deltoides) collection.
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I feel a need to briefly describe the evolutionary
process involved in bringing about a public
institution — in this case an arboretum — if ever so
humble. It would never have happened without the
encouragement and guidance of my wife, Sue.
As I think back over my life, I value this experience most highly, for it has
given me an opportunity to learn, grow, be of service and use, and (selfishly) be
able to spend my days doing what I like best: being out of doors with my dog,
walking the land, and helping out with the work. There is no other activity I can
think of which gives me such satisfaction daily, year round.
The seasons energize me. Being in the elements both soothes and
sensitizes me. The sense of what is going on out there has given me a second,
very real life right along with my more conventional life. I have lived in two
worlds, separate but joined, dependent on each other. Boredom, which has
always been a shadow in the corner for me, has been pretty well kept at bay.
But the real value here is what this arboretum can do for others. It is
nothing without this. That lives on.
From time to time I receive comments from visitors about having more
features or attractions or things to do. This, I remind myself, is not that sort of a
place to any great extent, not up to now anyway. This is a place for being outside
with majestic growing life all around and the opportunity to contemplate the
symbiotic relationship between man and nature, without which man often
stumbles and loses his way. This is probably more true for all of us as we become
increasingly urbanized.
Perhaps we have aided these processes a bit here at the Brenton
Arboretum. I have been very fortunate!
Sue and Buz Brenton at the Arboretum, June 2016.
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I should make one thing clear before we begin. Growing up, I had little interest in trees or the
outdoors. This was even true into my thirties. At summer camp, I avoided the nature study field
trips, which took us into the woods. My interest was athletics. But later on, the woods did have an
appeal as a place to meet friends, smoke, and even drink beer. What a start!
One day at a Saturday afternoon movie matinee I saw a short documentary about Florida’s
Cypress Gardens 1 . I was drawn to it. I was perhaps twelve. It was marvelous to see the way two
people with a shared vision could create a recreation area out of wetlands. The tandem waterskiing
was fascinating. People were drawn there. Somehow, even at a young age, this had appeal to me.
Time went on. I grew and went away to college. In 1960, my wife Sue and I moved back to
Des Moines and then to Dallas Center, Iowa after a three-year stint in the Intelligence Corps of the
United States Army, a good portion of which we spent in Korea. Our son, Kenneth, was not quite
two years old. My older brother, Bob Brenton, was running our family farms in Dallas County,
Iowa, which was about 30 minutes from Des Moines. Brenton Brothers Farms, as it was known,
had been in our family since 1853. It started with my great grandfather, William H. Brenton, and
continued with my grandfather Charles Brenton, my father W. Harold Brenton, my brother Bob,
and my nephew Bill Brenton. Like several of my siblings, my first job was working on the farm for
Bob. One day we were out walking the wetlands and marshes at our Ingersoll farm, which is
northeast of Dallas County 2 . Walking this wetland forest area reminded me of what Cypress
Gardens must have looked like before development. Bob thought I was a bit crazy when I
suggested that some day maybe we could develop this area as a public space, with waterways, grass
areas, and amenities for visitors. Just where all of this interest in wetlands and green spaces had
come from, I don’t know. But I do know it was a beginning.
In 1963, my father, Harold, was president of our family’s other growing business, Brenton
Banks, Inc. Dad asked me to consider leaving Des Moines to move to Davenport, Iowa, where we
were organizing a new bank, the First National Bank of Davenport. Dean Duben, who had been the
head of our South Des Moines National Bank for several years, was in charge. I liked being with
Dean and learned a lot from him. Our family lived in Davenport for about six years until the latter
part of 1969 when Dad died that September from a heart attack. He was 69 years old. Bob wanted
me to return to the Des Moines area to help him and brother, Bill, manage the banks 3 .
Sue’s parents also lived in Des Moines, so it made sense for us to move back to our
hometown with our three children, Kenneth, Lockie, and Julie. It was Christmas 1969. It was the
right thing to do, but in truth, I was a little disappointed. Our family liked Davenport and its
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in autumn.
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location along the Mississippi River. It was a wonderful place to both work and live. While there, I
had formed a habit of going out along the great Mississippi River to tromp and look around with
my regal Labrador dog, Chaser, and any of the kids who would come along. This was a Sunday
afternoon activity. Sue also came along occasionally. Now I found myself in Des Moines without
much to do on weekends. Often Sue and I did take our children to our Dallas County farm on
Sunday and walk back in the woods and sloughs on the before mentioned Ingersoll Farm, but
somehow I wanted to be out more.
Many of us can look back at our lives and identify a significant moment that points us, often
unwittingly, in a new direction. That was the case when my sister, Jane Eddy, now deceased, gave
me a marvelous tree identification book, The Book of Trees, by William Grimm. It included very
skillful and precise drawings of leaves, twigs, fruit, and flowers related to nearly every commonly
known Eastern North American tree. The book had a wonderful key that outlined various tree
characteristics, and helped me begin the process of identifying all that was around me both in
summer and winter.
This was exciting. I really started to differentiate between the species and for the first time
began noticing their manifold characteristics and differences that separated one tree from another:
the bark, the twig, the leaf, the structure, the size. It was fascinating. I was learning the common
names of the native trees. I gained confidence. I wanted to know more. I took a semester course at
Drake University focused on woody plant identification. As I proceeded to learn more about each
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species, they became acquaintances, friends. There they were, and I was often with them. Always
silent but so alive! They were both majestic and modest, but sometimes exuberant, always attached
to place. I admired their character, their permanency.
One day, walking through the countryside with The Book of Trees, I began to notice all of
the bottles and cans that littered the land. It bothered me. Soon after, I came across a Boston
Federal Reserve analysis of a recent bottle bill 4 passed by the Massachusetts legislature. Contrary
to what bottlers and grocery store owners were saying, the report indicated that giving people an
incentive to recycle their bottles and cans was actually a boon for the economy and the
environment.
At about this time, the state of Iowa was starting an initiative called Iowa 2000 5 . Governor
Robert D. Ray and University of Iowa President Willard “Sandy” Boyd led the initiative to look at
the future of Iowa's economics, resources, and society. The governor asked me to get involved. The
more I thought about the bottle bill, the more I was convinced this was something that could make a
difference in Iowa. I took the idea to the governor and told him that, in my opinion, if he wanted to
do something significant under Iowa 2000, he should consider getting rid of the litter from bottles
and cans. I handed him the study by the Federal Reserve and told him he might find it interesting. I
was pleasantly surprised when he included the bottle bill as part of his legislative agenda and made
it a priority to get it passed into law.
This was an exciting thing to be part of. And through this process, I was learning there were
others like me who cared deeply about the land. People in the Sierra Club, my first environmental
organization, taught me the ecological importance of trees and forests. I learned from their
publications and also those of the National Arbor Day Foundation and the Audubon Society. This
was a whole new world to me. It all fit so well together: soil, moisture, air, woody plants, all
connected and influencing one another, and needing one another for healthy existence. My appetite
to learn more continued to build. Here I was, a banker by day but taking a course in cellular biology
at Des Moines Area Community College. The class helped me understand the processes of
photosynthesis and respiration.
This knowledge and these feelings about trees slowly grew. I was now doing a lot of
reading about the natural world and environmentalism and became concerned for the health of our
planet. Walking, looking, and identifying strengthened all of this early knowledge and these early
feelings. I wanted to do something, but what? It was the early 1990s. I told my brothers, Bill and
Bob, that I wanted to retire from the day-to-day business of banking in order to devote more of my
time to other matters. I was 58 years old and my energy was abundant. Things were starting to
come together in my mind.
I had read earlier about a man in Missouri who bought woodlands, lots of woodlands, just in
order to preserve them. This affected me, but as I thought about it, I realized that his scope was
beyond my resources. However, I began to think that I could buy some land somewhere. I started to
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look around central Iowa. I wanted land to plant the trees I had come to know in my wonderings:
native trees.
I came close to bidding on an 80-acre piece of scrub farmland south of Indianola, Iowa. I
also talked to the head of the Warren County Conservation Board, which had just established a
nature center on considerable land there. This was less than 30 minutes from my home, and I
thought I could possibly use this land, but in the end I decided against it.
About this time, in 1993, Bob and I decided to divide our farmland into two separate
corporations: one for his family and one for mine. This was all very amicable. Given Bob’s
background, his family was interested in farmland as a business. This was our common family
history. But my family wished to own farmland as an investment and not operate it. And so we
divided: his as Brenton Brothers, the historic name, and ours, as Brenton Farms.
Part of Brenton Farms is a 200-acre parcel located about 1.5 miles southwest of Dallas
Center on what had historically been called our family’s Home Farm. This was ancestral land and
close to where our family first settled in 1853. It was the area where the family wagon, coming
from Indiana, came to rest and where the first rude cabin was built. The exact area can be seen from
the present Brenton Arboretum, located in a grove of black locust a quarter mile south of the
arboretum.
I was only slightly familiar with this land and had never considered it for tree planting. I
thought I would buy land elsewhere. However, my wife, Sue, who guided me in many matters,
suggested that I give it serious consideration as a tree-planting site, particularly the non-crop part
that had been used for grazing. She was eager to see me proceed. Without her enthusiasm, all of
this never would have happened.
It was winter of 1995. The snow was deep. I drove onto the land and immediately got stuck
in a low area. Neighbor Dave Burkett, whose family had been farming this land for a long time,
took mercy on me and pulled me out. This land had topography. It formed a natural bowl. Much of
it was not suitable for row crops. It was pasture. It was open. It had two streams running through it,
one old but very sturdy cement bridge and an old, but deep farm pond. My mind was racing. Could
this be the place? I needed to spend time walking and thinking.
1. Cypress Gardens was a botanical garden and theme park near Winter Haven, Florida open from 1936 to 2009,
planted by Dick Pope Sr. and his wife, Julie. It was billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park.
2. The land that now forms Dallas County, and our family property, was ceded by the Sac and Fox nation to the
United States in a treaty signed on October 11, 1842. The Brenton family acquired the land in 1853.
3. In 2001, Brenton Banks was sold to Wells Fargo. At the time of the sale, it was the largest Iowa-based bank
holding company.
4. Under the bottle bill, beverage retailers assessed a deposit fee on consumers, typically a nickel. That deposit was
then refunded when the beverage container was returned to a retailer.
5. Iowa 2000 was a series of planning conferences proposed by then-U.S. Representative John C. Culver in 1972.
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Aerial and satellite
photos of Brenton
farmland September
1996 and October 2017.
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After becoming quite familiar with the more or less 120 acres of non-crop land that my family
owned, I decided it was almost perfect. This was the place: close to Des Moines, in the path of
westward development, and with topography and water, little clearing needed, good soils, and
historic family value.
It did have a couple of negatives. A stream with no bridge almost equally bisected the land.
A nephew, Charlie Brandt, owned 40 of the 120 acres. These issues could be overcome. The more
pressing problem was the matter of trying to figure out specifically what I wanted to do. My ideas
were not well formed.
I first thought I would concentrate on several dozen native species and plants each in
differing designed groupings. If well done, this could lead to artistic displays that people could
walk through, enjoy, and learn from. I liked this idea very much and still do. I would call it a “tree
garden.” But I needed to talk to people who knew something about arboreta and planting trees. I
needed guidance.
Bob and Ann Fleming lived about 20 minutes south of Des Moines in Norwalk, Iowa, on an
acreage named Danamere Farm. Ann, a member of the well-known Wallace family 6 of Des
Moines, had started a nursery business specializing in trees she loved. Gardening and agriculture
were in her blood. Ann was a landscape designer who propagated, grew, and sold shade trees and
ornamental shrubs. Her particular interest was to introduce unusual or under-represented plants to
Iowa gardens. Her husband, Bob, was a very capable businessman and a tree man, and I knew him
well. They would give me honest advice.
I called them on September 27, 1996. I told them I wanted to plant trees in some fashion for
public enjoyment on a piece of Brenton land. They were enthusiastic. This meant so much. They
encouraged me to seek species of a hardy nature and go for it. I was thrilled.
They had other good advice. They directed me to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois,
which covers 1,700 acres and is made up of mostly woody plants of various types and extensive
collections of trees. It includes native woodlands and a restored Illinois prairie. They also sent me
to Iowa State University’s Landscape Architecture Department and to Bob Rennebohm, a noted
nurseryman in Des Moines who later became a board member of The Brenton Arboretum. They
also encouraged me to visit other arboreta as much as possible, starting with the Iowa Arboretum
near Boone, Iowa. The 378-acre arboretum was then about 30 years old and displayed many species
of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Somewhere in the past I also remembered reading a Des Moines
Bluebird house in the prairie with black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).
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Register article about the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton, Iowa, which had opened in 1970.
Neither Bob Bickelhaupt, who had been a successful car dealer in Clinton, nor Frances 7 , his wife,
had any formal training in horticulture. As Frances told The Iowan magazine in 1982: “How this
man who once decorated his indoor swimming pool with $200 in artificial plants became the
zealous owner of an arboretum is a story that begins with walking.” It turns out the Bickelhaupts
walked more than 90 miles in their hometown of Clinton to muse over and map the city trees,
which were being destroyed by Dutch elm disease. As a result of the walks, they concluded that the
devastation of the Dutch elm disease and the apparent lack of knowledge about landscaping made
an educational arboretum a worthwhile goal.
Their story and their path struck me as a most worthy model for lives well spent. It
energized me, and they became very important mentors. Bob and Fran were in their early 70s when
I made my first visit to their arboretum. It struck me that they were very fit for their age. They had a
swimming pool in their home, and it was clear they used it. Their home sat on the grounds of the 14
-acre arboretum, which was by then well established. It struck me as a beautiful, hilly place filled
with trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants all mixed in a most artistic, restful and satisfying manner.
A lovely small stream ran through it.
Bickelhaupt Arboretum in
Clinton, IA surrounds the
home where Bob and Fran
Bickelhaupt lived.
Bob and Fran gave me all the time in the world to ask questions and offered much
encouragement and valuable advice. They explained the practical aspects of establishing and
maintaining a public arboretum under the IRS rule governing private operating foundations. This
meant that, while declared for public use, the majority of their monetary support came from one
source: the Bickelhaupts. These outlays could be deductible for income tax purposes. Their
foundation was governed by a board of trustees and managed, with good horticulture help, by Fran
and Bob. They were kind enough to open all of their arboretum financial records to me.
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I told them about my idea of taking a piece of land, now identified as 120 acres of the Home
Farm, and planting various groupings of single species of native trees in an artistic design. I also
told them my thoughts about creating a place where people could learn about the natural world
through a better understanding of trees. I felt that if each tree group, containing only one species,
were set off separate and distinct from other groups, it would increase the awareness and
understanding of that species. The visitor would therefore—so my theory went—be more likely to
come away remembering the salient qualities of that species of tree. He/she would have new,
specific knowledge of a type of tree and might identify with it and know something about it. The
visitor most likely would appreciate its distinctiveness and importance when they knew it
personally.
A grouping of several pin oaks (Quercus palustris) at The Brenton Arboretum helps impress upon guests their distinct
habit and characteristics.
It seemed to me that if one couldn’t identify an object, it was not known and therefore it was
not so important. But it is human nature to assign an object—tree or anything—a higher value if
one is familiar with it and enjoying it. And, if the known object is threatened, a person will feel an
anxiety about its possible loss or injury and be more likely to speak out or act, or at the very least,
feel a significant loss. This fueled my vision to create a tree garden where visitors could get to
know and understand each group, each species. My great hope was that the experience would
prompt visitors to advocate for the natural world of trees and learn more about the importance of
trees to our global health and wellbeing.
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This was my rudimentary theory.
This was my goal: to establish these
groupings in some sort of a tree garden. I
explained much of this to the
Bickelhaupts. They enthusiastically
endorsed my stance. Although their
underlying philosophy for creating their
arboretum may have been different than
mine, they understood and told me to do
it: create my vision.
But they also offered me some
strong advice, which I heeded. Internal
Revenue Service clearance was needed to
move forward. This had been a lengthy
and expensive process for Bob and Fran,
who paid accountants and lawyers. They
gave me their two-inch-thick file to use as
a model. Fortunately, by now, the 1990s,
the process of getting a 501(c)(3)
clearance had been simplified. Dave
Midtlyng, my accountant, saw no
problems as long as the proposed arboretum
was open to the public on a regular basis. This was really the main test for clearance and resultant
tax deductibility when it came to contributions to the new organization.
This image is a close-up of the grid system established to
position and record tree locations throughout the arboretum.
Fran and Bob also strongly encouraged me to hire a landscape architect to create a master
plan before I turned the first shovel of dirt. I had made contact with others, but they suggested
Anthony “Tony” Tyznik of the Morton Arboretum. This became a profoundly important referral.
The Bickelhaupts were also emphatic that I understand the watering needs of young plants.
Bob’s rule was to water all trees that had been in the ground for two years or less with one gallon of
water per foot of height on any given week in which rainfall was less than one inch. This was
maintained until the soil froze. Although we learned to modify this fine rule, depending on the
species and other conditions, it also has become our regime.
The Bickelhaupts next encouraged me to create a land grid system that would make it easier
for staff and visitors to find plantings in the field. Then they told me to visit other arboreta to gather
ideas. Through all of this, I was learning what an arboretum was. My initial idea of a tree garden
featuring a series of native species, separately arranged in individual, distinct groupings, was
evolving into a broader concept. I now was envisioning an arboretum with an expanded palate of
trees and shrubs, including some non-natives. I wanted to plant what would grow, but retain the
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idea of individual clusters of similar types.
Throughout this period, I talked to and learned from a number of people, including Peter
van der Linden, the original director of the Iowa Arboretum who became a Brenton Arboretum
board member. The Iowa State Horticultural Society organized the 378-acre Iowa Arboretum in
Madrid, Iowa, in 1966. Thirty years later, when Peter and I first spoke, he was plant curator of the
Morton Arboretum. He and Dr. Don Farrar of Iowa State University had co-authored the book
Forest and Shade Trees of Iowa. I read it, was influenced by it, and was excited to talk with him.
Peter introduced me to Tony Tyznik, who had been so important to the Morton Arboretum.
After more than three decades there, Tony had recently retired as the resident landscape architect.
At that time, what you saw at the Morton Arboretum was largely his design. I had been warned that
he was cautious and discreet and disliked modern communication, including the phone! When I met
Tony in early November 1996, his wife had just passed away and he was working part-time for his
son, David, who owned a nursery business 30 miles west of Chicago. I told Tony, who held a
landscape architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin, about my property and vision. In a
very soft, cautious voice he said he would consider coming over and would call back. Luckily, he
did call back and said he would visit the property that same month.
During this time, Peter was also sensitizing me to the need to keep records certifying the
origin and condition of what we planted. If I wanted The Brenton Arboretum to have a scientific
basis, we had to know the provenance of our trees. Kathie Bonislawski of the American Public
Gardens Association (formerly the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta) later
repeated this thought. She helped me understand the differences between a botanical garden (more
herbaceous plantings) and arboreta (more woody material). She also reinforced the absolute
View of the Arboretum
before the planting began.
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necessity of keeping thorough research records of all plantings, including origin, condition, and a
continuous update of status after planting. Only with this background information would the
arboretum be able to enter the world of scientific study.
I liked the idea of scientific study for our plants. Such study, I somehow felt, would be
useful to the scientific community, help set us apart, and lead to the public benefit of understanding
the characteristics of tree types grown in central Iowa.
Many people offered other insights. David Dahlquist, a Des Moines landscape designer,
explained to me that a certain tree—no matter what species—would only thrive if it were properly
sited with the correct soil, protection, sun, wind, etc. Remarkably, this was a new idea to me. He
also suggested that if I bought very small trees, they might best be started in a protective nursery
before being planted in the open. This thought began a debate in my mind over the numerous pros
and cons of planting small trees, those an inch or two in diameter, as opposed to larger stock.
Pam Nagel, an acquaintance of many years at Miller Nursery in Johnston, Iowa, prompted
me to look beyond Des Moines for tree sources. She believed that my arboretum site was high,
unprotected, and mostly exposed, thus narrowing the range of species that would do well there.
Later we discussed how to plant trees, hole sizes, watering needs, staking, and mulching. It became
apparent that in order to water, I was going to need a large water tank, a wagon to set the tank on,
and a truck or tractor to pull the water wagon. I hired Pam to advise and help me with all of these
matters.
During the last three months of 1996, I
spoke with an assortment of people, all of whom
furthered my knowledge, gave me ideas, and
offered services: Tom Dunbar, a Des Moines area
landscape architect, provided thoughts on master
planning. Dale Inglett, a tree nursery specialist
from Ames, Iowa, visited my site and was the first
person to suggest staking each of our small trees
during planting. Dwight Hughes had a successful
tree nursery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was
founder and board member of the Iowa Arboretum.
We discussed having him provide native and nonnative
trees and supervise their planting but
ultimately agreed distance made it too impractical.
Mark Ackelson, head of the Iowa Natural
Heritage Foundation, referred me to Dr. Herbert
Kersten of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Kersten had planted
thousands of walnut trees from collected seeds and
cuttings for more than 20 years on his 200-acre tree
To this day, newly planted trees are typically
staked. They are also caged to prevent damage
from deer and rabbits.
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farm west of the city. While not directly able to help me, his vast knowledge of selection and
variability within a species was eye opening. He gave me the idea to conduct observational
research, a concept we later initiated that has become so important to us.
I also talked with Jeff Rousch, a nationally known landscape architect. He quoted me a price
for visiting the arboretum to provide his initial thoughts. I didn’t think I had the budget to do it, but
looking back, his proposal was very reasonable. He had a lot of experience with master planning
that could have been valuable.
Mown trail through the elm (Ulmus sp.) collection.
6. Ann was the great-granddaughter of Henry ("Uncle Henry") Wallace and Nancy Cantwell Wallace, founders and
editors of the agricultural journal, Wallace's Farmer. Her family, along with other Iowans, founded Pioneer Hi-
Bred Seed Corn Company.
7. In 1999, well into the third decade of the creation of their public garden, Frances Bickelhaupt wrote a book, A
Private Couple Creates a Public Garden, to document the challenges and successes of this environmental project
she and her husband undertook in their retirement. She died July 27, 2013.
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Thanks to the Bickelhaupts and many others, I finally had a model for creating an arboretum.
Now I needed to act. I still had a lot to do if I wanted to plant in 1997. It was fall 1996, and I
needed a master plan from a landscape architect and a source, or sources, to buy trees. Time was
short. It was also dawning on me that I was 63 years old and I was starting an endeavor that by its
nature is long range and slow to fruition. Putting that aside, I focused on the fact that this could be
of benefit to others.
While waiting for Tony’s visit, I got busy. Brad Harrison, a federal area representative for the Soil
Conservation Service of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Adel, Iowa (now the Natural Resources Conservation
Service), helped get my original 80 acres of land into the Conservation Reserve Program. Forty more acres would
eventually be added but I would have to wait on that until I could purchase it from my nephew, Charlie Brandt. 8
Getting into the CRP program insured our arboretum could receive some federal grant payments in
exchange for keeping acres of farmland out of production and in natural habitat. As part of this
effort, the Farm Service Agency also provided aerial photos of our land.
Again, I resumed talking to people in and around Des Moines looking for just the right
source for trees. Bob Rennebohm, owner of Heard Gardens, 9 said he could supply me with trees
from known sources. Joe Oppe, formerly a manager of a small arboretum in Florida and now an
employee at Des Moines Parks and Recreation, offered to help with initial planting and oversight in
his spare time. He also advised me to stake, water, and mulch my plantings. He felt that with such a windy, exposed
site a windbreak to the west might be needed to give the smallest trees three to five feet of protection or we should
start some of the more tender species in a nursery.
Scott Stouffer, a Des Moines architect with Charles Herbert and Associates who designed
the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, offered advice and later provided architectural work for
the arboretum. Finally, Jeff Logsdon, director of the Dallas County Conservation Board, felt
strongly that I needed to write down in some detail my thoughts about the land and why I wanted to
do this project. He thought that such a treatise would give the project a philosophy to guide it as it
evolved. He was a visionary. I took his advice. He also introduced me to satellite imaging of the
land, which proved to be very useful as the master plan was developed.
On November 22, 1996, Tony Tyznik arrived in Dallas Center to take a look at the
arboretum site. This was an exciting development that occurred just a few days before
Thanksgiving. We spent the day talking and walking the land. It was a very muddy day for
walking; thankfully he bought rubber boots for the occasion. Tony is completely to my liking: a
modest outdoorsmen, sure of himself, very careful, pensive, and extremely knowledgeable about
tree characteristics, master planning, and proper siting. After all, landscape planning and design had
Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) at dawn.
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Tony Tyznik’s original landscape design
would be modified and updated
continuously throughout his partnership
with the Arboretum.
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een his world at the Morton Arboretum for years. Tony was in his early 70s and vigorous. I would
come to learn he was also an artist. He paints master plans in his mind and then assigns them to
paper. It is his art form. He later gave Sue and me six large, wonderful prints of his pen-and-ink
line drawings of trees that we gave to the arboretum. Tony saw great potential in this land, its
significant relief, its bowl effect, its water, and its openness.
He concurred that I needed to acquire my nephew’s 40 acres. He also thought I should
create a lake or pond in the center of the property. He wanted an aerial map with two-foot scale that
would give him the detail he needed to paint his design for the master
plan. His ideas, Tony knew from experience, would spring to
life from studying this map.
He also wanted soil samples with pH readings and a
soil map with soil porosity characteristics. 10 Tony was ready to
go, and I could have found no better person. He dined with our
family, and then we made an agreement. He would charge a
very reasonable fee and go to work
immediately after receiving the aerial
map with close contour lines. We
were moving! This project was his
from 1997 until 2011 when he
retired. It was a near perfect match.
We shared a deep reverence for the
natural world, and Sue and I became
his good friends.
Tony Tyznik was a
gifted landscape
architect and artist.
His series of Tree
Portraits illustrates
his profound talent.
8. Charlie Brandt is the son of my deceased sister, Mary Elizabeth Brenton Brandt.
9. Heard Gardens was a garden center and nursery established in 1928 in Johnston, Iowa, later acquired by Wright Tree
Service.
10. Soil porosity refers to the amount of pore or open space between soil particles. Pores are created by the contacts
made between irregular shaped soil particles. Fine-textured soil has more pore space than coarse textured because
you can pack more small particles into a unit volume than larger ones. Fine textured clay soils hold more water
than coarse textured sandy soils.
27

28

I had one piece of the puzzle in place. But I kept coming back to the same questions. What would
I plant, and from whom would I buy? Developing a tree list was convoluted. I had my own
simplistic ideas about what I wanted. This was shaped by my first-hand walking knowledge and by
a number of books that proved to be valuable resources. The books included Michael Dirr’s
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants; Preston’s North American Trees; Ellins’ Trees of North
America; Grimm’s The Book of Trees, (the book from Jane Eddy that was my inspiration); and
Native Trees of Iowa. Of these, Dirr’s book is and was the most useful to me, particularly for nonnative
species. Its breadth and depth included extensive commentary on growth habits, disease,
geographic range, and, very importantly, Dirr’s own comments as to his impression of appearances.
I combined insights from all of these books with information I had received from experts and
supporters already mentioned as well as from anyone else I could catch!
The initial tree list featuring Peter van der Linden’s comments evolved and became the list
you can find on pages 36 and 37.
Tony now had his list, but where could I find the trees? In early 1997, (already pretty late to
order trees for 1997 spring planting as I later found out) I decided to go with Heard Gardens. Bob
Rennebohm quoted me a price based on his cost plus a reasonable markup. He seemed fully
capable and able to acquire most of the trees I wanted for my first year’s planting.
All of this was a relief, but what had started out as a “tree garden” was now developing into
a full-fledged and extensive arboretum. I was still trying to get my arms around what that meant. I
needed to put my thoughts in writing. This plan needed to be carefully communicated to Tony
before he proceeded with the master plan.
In January and February 1997, I summarized my thoughts, quoted here from my notes:
The arboretum concept grew out of a love of trees. Therefore, my thought is to have
trees be the main event of the arboretum. If, over time, I have the planting space and
knowledge or both, hired or acquired, for planting non-woodies, shrubs and an
understanding of small trees, I will move in those directions also.
The central idea is to create an arboretum using loose clusters, mainly in specimen
array, for 24 to 36 species of larger canopy trees hardy in central Iowa. Each cluster
would have its own design and be able to be viewed separately or independently. It is
my thought that knowledge and awareness and love of trees may best come from the
Alder Bridge crosses the stream in the alder (Alnus glutinosa) collection.
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impact of the viewing of one species all at once in a major grouping. Therefore, I
would propose to use 10 to 20 similar trees in each loose grouping.
It may be that a closely related species or two within the same genus might be in
close proximity to this main species cluster, but the integrity of the one species per
cluster would be maintained as much as possible.
In addition to providing much pleasure to me, the arboretum needs to be for public
entry, study, learning, and enjoyment. Space then needs to be set aside for a building
or two for class, lectures, convening of groups, as well administration, and a
separate adjoining area for storage and machines.
Although I plan to fund the arboretum, I think that it might be owned as an adjunct to
our family Brenton Farm Company, or as a private operating foundation, or attached
to a public institution or foundation.
I project that the operating budget for the next 10 years or so, exclusive of the cost of
materials and capital expenses, should be in the $25,000 per year area. But with the
ability to use existing farm machinery and labor to some extent, this should be the
equivalent of $40,000 or so per year of operating costs. (Note: This proved to be too
low once we got going.)
The arboretum should be laid out with numerous roads and walkways and parking
areas. It would seem that its location in central Dallas County is ideal because of its
proximity to the Des Moines area, more so all the time as Des Moines expands to the
west.
View to oak (Quercus) collection in summer; the difference and variety within the genus is apparent.
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The chief purpose of the arboretum is education and awareness. It is hoped that the
public, as they visit the arboretum, will leave the experience with a clear idea of the
differences and distinctions in shape, texture, feel, and use of different tree species. It
will be our goal to help shape and implant in the visitor the clear and distinctive
differences and individual identity of each species.
To accomplish this, in addition to a brochure, the design of the arboretum will group
trees of one species in sufficient quantity and individual display arrangements so that
there is a visual impact brought about by the commonality of the entire similar
group. Each group of single or closely related and appearing species should be in its
own design and be able to be viewed in its entirety from one or several physical
places so as to strengthen the impression of their identity and characteristics. Most of
the trees, then, within the arranged design will need to be sufficiently set apart from
one another to allow for full and uninhibited growth and development.
This, then, is the hope: that like a fine arts retrospective by one artist, an
understanding of each species will come about as the visitor experiences the feeling
of seeing the multi-tree design of a distinctive species of a dozen or so trees in display
form.
By early February I was facing a number of situations that needed quick attention. Tony
could not complete his work, and thus we could not plant trees, until he received firm boundary
markers for the small-scale topographical arboretum map provided by Aerial Photographics of
Cedar Falls. Unfortunately, we were going to have to wait until the snow cover was gone to make
that happen. It was not until March 3 that Tony received this information. Now, he could work.
Reality was setting in. We were actually doing this. And now I had to deal with a few
practical matters, some of which I knew very little about. Deer are plentiful in Iowa and they enjoy
grazing or browsing on young trees. Browsing and buck rubbing can severely injure, deform, or
even kill young trees.
We had to explore the best way to protect the trees, and we had to do it quickly because
planting was just around the corner. We also needed to resolve the issues of how we were going to
get water to the trees and where the large quantities of mulch would come from. And then there was
the aforementioned grid system. We couldn’t plant the trees until we determined known locations,
and without a grid we wouldn’t be able to find them on a map after we planted them!
This was a busy time. I have always enjoyed keeping a log of my activities regarding the
arboretum and I’ve done so from Day One to the present. Looking back, it’s interesting to see the
many notes I logged in the early part of 1997 leading up to the first tree planting on May 11.
Starting in January, I met with Vic Scott, an area nurseryman, about using his company for tree
purchasing and planting. The next day, I received a master planning proposal from Tom Dunbar of
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Des Moines and shortly thereafter, I spoke with Arnold Webster in Cedar Falls about getting a
valuation of our existing trees. They turned out to have very little value, but it was a step.
I also needed to know how much the land was worth. I spoke with Bob Davis of Hertz Farm
Management who appraised it from $2,000 to $2,500 an acre. It was very helpful to have this
informative estimate. A few months later, John Walkowiak of the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources came out to inventory our existing native tree stock. The land had Siberian elm, box
elder, willow, green ash, red cedar, and walnut trees, most of which are still there as of today.
I spoke again with Pam Nagel, and she offered a helpful reminder that finding a source of
water for the trees should be at the top of my to-do list. On January 18 I drilled a hole through the
ice in what we now call Overlook Pond to determine its depth and resultant capacity to supply
water. It was 10 feet at the deepest point. Just a few days later, I met with William Harold “Bill”
Brenton, who manages Brenton Brothers and is my brother Bob’s son. Some of Brenton Brothers’
land is adjacent to the arboretum. Bill’s office is in Dallas Center, making it convenient for me to
stop over and talk to him as questions arose. This time, we discussed ways to get water to my site.
He offered to help me find field help for planting, watering, etc. He also found a four-wheel drive
used Ford pickup truck for me to purchase for the arboretum as well as a 475-gallon water tank and
The original water wagon is still in use today.
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a small water pump. The tank and pump would fit on the water wagon Brenton Brothers was
fashioning for me from a hayrack chassis. Early on, Bill also helped us pull the abandoned barbed
wire and other debris out of my nephew Charlie’s ditch on the east side of the entry road.
Throughout this process, it became clear that it didn’t hurt to have Brenton Brothers next door
running a farm operation.
In February, I met with Rae Boysen, manager of the Iowa Arboretum. She felt that we
should start our plants in a nursery and encouraged me to create a windbreak for the property by
planting trees on the north and northwest perimeter to reduce the impact of strong winds. She
offered to help purchase trees for us at reduced cost and explained how to buy our trees at
wholesale prices once the arboretum received not-for-profit status from the I.R.S. This was most
helpful.
My next meeting, which happened just
a few days before Valentine’s Day, was course
setting. I had the pleasure of speaking for the
first time with Dr. George Ware of the Morton
Arboretum. George, now deceased, was a
world-renowned plantsman who specialized in
the elm genus. He collected elm seeds from all
over the world, particularly China, then grew,
crossed, and bred them at Morton. He wanted
to give me some of these little trees for our
arboretum. He set aside 40 elm saplings and a
few other small tree species in pots. I drove
over and put all of these in my station wagon
and headed home. The larger trees were planted
at the arboretum that spring and the seedlings I
over-wintered at my home in Des Moines. This
started a new, cordial, and valuable
relationship. Over the years, we have planted
many of George’s elms, which helped us
establish a substantial elm tree collection.
Dr. George Ware discusses elms (Ulmus spp.) with
visitors at The Brenton Arboretum.
Later that month, much to my relief, I
was able to order mostly from Heard Gardens all of the trees that would be planted that spring.
Owner Bob Rennebohm then led me to Wright Tree Service of Des Moines for wood chip mulch.
They stocked their chips just west of Waukee, close to Highway 6, which meant I could borrow a
truck from Brenton Brothers and pick them up free of charge. I also bought a number of field
supplies, such as shovels, hoses, and wheelbarrows.
I enjoyed getting my hands dirty, but soon I was back in the office. This time I was calling
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Jim Hocksteller, a local surveyor, to get the exact land boundaries Tony still needed. We finally got
the aerial shots and land surveys Tony needed to do his work. This was very good news! Now I was
ready to intensify talks with my nephew about his land. It was becoming clear I fervently needed to
purchase Charlie’s 40 acres or trade some of my land for his in order to complete the arboretum. He
was willing, but still needed time to consider it all. Despite not having reached an agreement, I told
Tony to include those 40 acres in the master plan. I would try not to plant on them until a purchase
took place.
Highlighted in red on the county assessor’s map, it’s easy to see how crucial the purchase
of land from Charlie Brandt was to the overall Arboretum.
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Spring was in bloom, but there was an issue with some of the trees we had ordered for our
first planting. I was a bit discouraged. I met with Bob Rennebohm to try to determine which of the
trees we had already ordered would actually be coming and which would not. Over the years, I’ve
now learned that wholesale nurseries change their availability of stock depending on many factors,
including winter weather conditions and the resultant condition of plant stock in the spring. In this
case, we had to pare our spring planting list down to about 300 trees with the hope of planting more
in the fall. Others had already spoken to me about the dangers of fall planting for certain species,
which was another reason I was disappointed we couldn’t get all of the trees for spring. We did end
up planting some trees in the fall of 1997, which set a future pattern of planting both in the spring
and fall. And, in the years to come, we learned to get an earlier start on tree ordering, which helped
us with the issue of availability.
Looking ahead, I had another, quite daunting, issue to consider. Turning my attention from
trees to bridges, I met with Charlie Rhinehart of Dallas Center. Charlie’s family had been life-long
friends of my extended family going back three generations. His aunt, Helen Rhinehart, had worked
with Dad as a senior Brenton Bank holding company officer for many years. Charlie and I
discussed building a bridge over Hickory Creek, which at that time separated the east and west
sections of the arboretum. It had become clear this was an absolute necessity because, as we started
planting, the only vehicle access to the west side of the proposed arboretum was through Brenton
Brothers farm. That was a time-consuming and inefficient way to get work done at the arboretum.
We had identified the problem, but it would take months to build the bridge.
The North Bridge, near the willows, was built low to the ground ensure that it would
blend into the landscape. In this picture the structure practically disappears.
35

Buz’s original plant list with comments and additions from Peter van der Linden.
36

37

38

Planting day was near. Now I needed to place the trees as detailed in the master plan at the correct
locations in the ground. But our 200-foot x100-foot grid system would not be developed until next
year. I was going to have to do this the old-fashioned way: I went into the field and measured with
a long tape. Using a compass for direction from known locations on the master plan (i.e. bridge,
road, tree, pond, stream), I found the approximate spot for each planting. This method worked
pretty well, but I wouldn’t recommend it to others. Some errors inevitably occurred, and we found
them later, but I needed to get going! And it did get us going.
On May 11, we planted our first tree, a white spruce, labeled as number 97-001. That spring
we also planted American beech; Chinese chestnut; burr, swamp, pin, shingle, and red oaks;
tuliptree; sycamore; green and white ash (‘Patmore’ and ‘Autumn Purple’ cultivars); gingko;
Colorado blue, white, Serbian, and Black Hills spruce; Canadian hemlock; white (concolor) fir;
Kentucky coffeetree; and Ohio buckeye.
We had a wonderful group of people who helped with our first plantings. Bob German, a
former Brenton Bank president; Bill Scott; my son Ken Brenton; Emily Hicklin; John Mortimer of
Dallas Center; Mike Thomas; and Pam Nagel all helped in this effort. 11 It was a very exciting day.
Bob German used a small tractor-mounted tree spade to pre-dig all of the tree holes I had staked
earlier. We also had our newly acquired water wagon on hand and plenty of wood chips for mulch.
The procedure for planting the trees worked well: German dug the hole, and once the tree was
planted (not too deep!), we refilled the hole with dirt, then watered, mulched, and staked.
Two hundred trees were planted this way. By early June we had finished planting trees for
the spring. Plantings included seven elms from the Morton Arboretum; 10 chinkapin oaks, six
tuliptrees, six red maples, and 12 sugar maples. By fall, we added a total of about 50 trees,
including white ash, hop hornbeam, silver maple, hackberry, lindens and white cedar. The rains
came just right for us. Within the next year, we added honey locust, hackberry, ginkgo, hemlock,
more Black Hills spruce, white pine, sugar maple, catalpa, and white oak.
After our initial planting in June 1997, I left for the entire month of July on a sailing trip
from Alaska to Seattle. Bill Scott agreed to look after the trees while I was away, watering and
restaking as needed. Bill did it for his love of trees and respect for the project. I am so appreciative.
He had much more productive things to do. I also hired Clem Evans, an area resident and jack-ofall-trades,
to help, and both continued on after I returned. The rains did come during summer 1997,
but Bill and Clem watered also and gave the trees very careful attention. The help was invaluable.
Clem worked six years after that.
Black walnut (Jugans nigra) near Walnut Bridge.
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The first day of planting, May 11, 1997, included Kenneth Brenton, John Mortimer, Bob German, and Pam Nagel.
There were many matters to work on upon my return. It soon became apparent that the deer
had found our trees. A decision on fencing was immediately needed. I decided to place 5-foot-high
9-gauge woven wire around each tree for deer protection. This method of tree protection was used
for a number of years on many tiny trees, and in fact is still in limited use today. That summer and
fall of 1997 we ringed all of 200 of our trees.
At the same time, talks continued with Charlie Brandt. By 1998, he had fully agreed to sell
his 40 acres for $2,000 per acre and some participation in development profits of adjoining Brenton
land should this occur. Looking back it’s clear nothing could have been more important than
acquiring this land. Charlie’s willingness to sell was never questioned, but issues about the way to
do it, the careful negotiations, and the thoroughness with which he approached the sale made for
much communication over many months. It was so important for the arboretum to have this land.
To finally have it behind me made a huge difference in my energy to move on with so much more.
The sale took place in August 1998.
A series of things happened at the end of 1997 and into 1998, all of which had a great
impact on the arboretum’s future:
Tony Tyznik designed and we built a cement bridge to connect the east and west arboretum
land. It has worked well.
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We built a road through the arboretum. Per Tony’s direction, I staked it out in October of 1998.
His plan also called for us to create a small lake by damming the stream from the north (the
west branch of Hickory Creek). I started to talk to engineers about accomplishing this.
We established a small tree nursery along the protected east side of “Charlie’s Ditch.” The
nursery would temporarily hold small trees we would later plant and also hold excess trees we
purchased. This was all completed in 1997.
We started talking with professional turf people. I knew I wanted to get rid of quite a bit of the
brome and alfalfa ground cover (most of the arboretum land had been a pasture) in order to
plant native prairie grasses. These ideas were just forming.
The 200-foot x 100-foot grid system was completed in the fall and the red marker caps went on
stakes soon thereafter. Next, a tree numbering system, much like the one used by the
Bickelhaupts, was started. The first tree, 97-001, was a white spruce.
Here Buz is planting a conifer on the western side of the property.
In December of 1997, we got the wonderful news that The Brenton Arboretum was now a
public arboretum. It was incorporated under I.R.S. rules as a private operating foundation. The
original board consisted of myself as chair, plus Sue Brenton and our three children, Kenneth,
Lockie, and Julie Ann, as the first officers. Soon after, we received I.R.S. tax-exempt status so any
donations would be deductible for tax purposes.
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Tony returned to the arboretum to discuss his master plan. He agreed to give me a grading
plan for the proposed lake (first called Ziba’s Lake, named for my deceased sister, Mary “Ziba”
Elizabeth, but later changed to Lake Homestead). He also provided designs for footbridges that
would take visitors over streams and along walking paths, and he created tree-planting plans for
1998. He also helped me think through issues of groundcover. Tony’s opinion was that he favored
shorter prairie grasses over taller.
Andy Schmitz and Jon Judson of Diversity Farms prepare to seed the tallgrass prairie.
Within the year, we consulted with Dr. Dorothy Berringer, a noted Iowa grasses expert. We
discussed planting short prairie grasses on the west side and taller prairie grasses on the east side.
This discussion led to the planting of buffalo and blue grama grasses on the west side and little blue
stem and sideoats grama on the east along with small numbers of prairie forbs. These ground turf
plantings were completed in 1998.
While Tony was at the arboretum, we started a serious discussion about building a lake. The
two of us met with Tim Daugherty, a local earthmover and grader, but Tim felt the job was
probably too big for him. Within the year, we set up another meeting with Rick Baumhover of the
engineering firm Kirkham Michael. In looking at our land, he said it was apparent that the west
branch of Hickory Creek, which flowed from the north through the arboretum, would at flood stage
discharge too much water into Lake Homestead for it to contain. The water surge would not only
inundate the small lake from time to time, it would also cause silt to build up over a few years. The
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three of us decided to use the smaller flow of water from the east creek and divert the west branch
of Hickory Creek around and to the west of our lake. This would create a better balance between
the size of the lake and the water flowing into it. As it has turned out, we continue to have siltation
problems emanating from the east creek.
But in 1998, these water flow changes seemed the only way out of our dilemma. Diverting
the west branch of Hickory Creek around the lake was a big and costly undertaking, calling for an
additional $100,000. This was our plan, however, and we followed through in creating the lake
using the smaller stream as a water source. The U.S. Corps of Engineers required the three large
discharge culverts through the dam on the west side of the lake so that the dam could withstand the
standard 100-year flood.
As our first year came to a
close, I met Jeff Iles, director of
horticulture at Iowa State University,
later head of the Department of
Horticulture. This meeting would
prove to be one of the most useful and
satisfying relationships I have had at
the arboretum. He encouraged me. He
taught me. He gave me time and
attention and later joined our board of
directors. As of 2015, he is still a board
member. His knowledge of trees is
second to none. This was just one more
reason why the first year of the
arboretum’s existence would turn out
to be as exciting a year and as
important a year as any in my life.
Dr. Jeff Iles discusses one of his favorite ornamental trees, the
crabapple (Malus sp.). The Arboretum has an impressive collection of
crabapples, each selected with his expert advice.
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44

The year began with a bang. We were close to opening The Brenton Arboretum to the public. We
planted 350 more trees in the spring, mostly from Heard Gardens. Bob German dug the holes. Bill
Scott and Clem Evans continued working part-time helping me get the arboretum ready. Bill and
Clem relieved me of many daily chores. I continued to plant and water trees, but Clem and Bill
made the difference.
In April that year we turned our attention back to building a road through the arboretum.
Charlie Rhinehart laid out woven, synthetic fabric for the base of the road along a path I had staked.
He altered the position a bit from the master plan at several places, but essentially it was put in as
designed by Tony. The bridge was by now usable so the full length of the road was operable.
Crushed limestone rock was spread 12 feet wide over the cloth for the entire length of the road.
This finished the job and very little grading was needed.
It had become clear we also needed permanent tree tags. I used the Bickelhaupt tag as a
model, and after some thinking and talking with others, I designed a heavy plastic 6-inch tag. The
tag incorporated the common and scientific tree name as well as the individual tree number.
American Awards in Des Moines made the tags, which were quite similar to those at the
Bickelhaupt Arboretum. Several hundred trees received tags that year. Those tags lasted ten years
but now have been replaced with metal tags.
Next, we had to figure out how to get rid of some of the existing grasses in the area. In early
June, Charlie Rhinehart’s crew applied SELECT herbicide over a large area on the west side. This
was done twice and, it turned out, did a pretty good job of killing the existing grasses, which we
thought were primarily brome. We learned later that further treatments were needed. This herbicide
allows the non-grass plants called forbs to live. Then, per instruction from Dorothy Berringer, we
planted about 10 acres of buffalo and blue grama grasses on the west side.
In developing a vision for the arboretum, I had all along wanted to avoid the park or golf
course feel of bluegrass, which is mostly non-native yet widely planted. I wanted a more native and
informal feel, and I wanted to escape a lot of mowing and fertilizing. Buffalo grass, although
slightly out of native range in central Iowa, seemed to be the answer. Dorothy picked a mix for us
she felt would work in our area. And so we planted. Looking back it probably was a mistake, for
we have had to interseed with a fescue or entirely replace it because of weedy conditions. Although
we escaped the bluegrass look, we did not escape fairly high maintenance costs, weedy conditions,
and the need for replacing or augmenting.
‘Sunburst’ honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) in spring.
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That wasn’t the only issue. Our recently completed bridge, although plenty sturdy, would
not accept the heavy rush of water flowing under it during times of flooding. Water would flow
over the bridge, and although it might only happen for short periods of time, would wash out gravel
on top of the bridge and along the sides. We corrected this in 2011 by cementing the bridge’s
approaches and surface. We were learning that the west branch of Hickory Creek, which comes
from the north, bisects the arboretum from east to west, and drains about 1,400 acres, could be
extremely powerful at flood stage.
I was beginning to realize the scope (and cost) of what I had gotten myself into. I needed
someone to help manage the arboretum. I hired Andy Schmitz, who had just graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Iowa State University. He was from a large Waterloo family
and wanted, if possible, to stay in Iowa. This association proved exceedingly beneficial and
satisfying for Andy, the arboretum, and me. He continues to grow and prosper.
Now I had the time, the energy, a plan for the funding, and Andy with whom to work. I was
learning that Andy’s technical ability, work ethic, and commitment to the arboretum was a very
significant factor in our early successful evolution. I was very fortunate to have him. Everything
was now in place for the official grand opening of the arboretum.
Andy Schmitz, Tony Tyznik, and Buz Brenton pose by the newly installed sign.
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On July 28, 1998, The Brenton Arboretum opened without fanfare. It was, however, a real
milestone for us. Not long after we opened, we erected an entrance sign designed by Tony Tyznik
that is still in use. By October, we hosted our first formal event. The Dallas Center High School
cross-country team started to use the arboretum for training, which it—and others—still does.
It was now apparent Andy needed an office, but there were no buildings on the grounds.
Bob German gave us office and meeting space at no cost at the Brenton State Bank in Dallas
Center. How nice!
Andy and I met with several grade school teachers brought together by the superintendent
of the Dallas Center-Grimes school district, Gary Sinclair. Our goal was to jointly devise a
curriculum around the beginning study of trees, soil, and water. This would evolve into field study
at the arboretum and be directed at children in grades one to three. We named it “Knee-High
Naturalists.” This was our first effort in the educational area, now one of our cornerstones. I chose
to concentrate on the younger children, thinking that their minds would be very open to new ideas,
perhaps more so than older children. Some progress was made, but it would take a year or so to get
our educational efforts off the ground.
In 1999, for the first time, Andy and I were wondering about the need for tree pruning. Over
the years, Andy has become very skilled at pruning the trees in our collection both for health and
aesthetic appearance, but back then we were novices. Jerry Swim, a pruning consultant from
Ankeny, toured the collection with us. His advice, which we have followed and built on ever since,
was not to prune small trees for two or three years after planting, unless there were broken or
seriously crossing branches. Later on we would learn how to prune a tree based on its desired
scaffolding, starting with the lowest desired limbs and the separation of limbs as they grow up the
trunk.
That year we planted about 400 trees, including groups of pear trees, Osage orange,
shellbark, Ohio buckeye, scotch pine, and swamp white oak. These plantings were all done in
accordance with the master plan. But now we had another small, nasty problem. Musk thistle was
emerging all over the arboretum. This was a real problem for five years or more. We had to cut or
pull it each year. Also, pocket gophers were burrowing around some of our oak trees and eating
roots. Several trees died from this. The pocket gopher problem persisted for many years.
Problems aside, we started to focus on our collection philosophy. Although we didn’t adopt
it as a formal policy until later, our philosophy was emerging in terms of the type of woody plants
we wanted to grow. Our goal was to plant all of the trees and shrubs outlined in the master plan.
This immediately put us in the business of planting many non-native as well as native trees. We had
become, by default, a place for a very diverse woody plant collection, well beyond a concentration
of native species. Some of the non-native trees (such as American chestnut, dawn redwood,
sweetgum) would have trouble thriving. After all, redwoods, sweetgums, and a number of others
would be well out of their natural growing range. In the case of the redwood, we lost them all for
four or five years before finally succeeding.
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Castanea dentata, American chestnut at The Brenton Arboretum.
The American chestnut had been eliminated from the eastern hardwood forest in the early
years of the twentieth century because of a lethal blight, but as of 2015 ours are still growing.
We also wanted to have a physical concentration of Iowa native trees so we designated an
area to the north as our Iowa Collection. Here we planned to plant all the Iowa trees and shrubs that
would grow on the site. Forest and Shade Trees of Iowa by van der Linden and Farrar was most
helpful in guiding our species selection in that area. The Iowa Collection still remains, and now a
looped walking path meanders through it.
I also was eager to try as many non-native trees as possible so we kept planting them. Most
are making it and thriving. Some, as mentioned, just exist and are likely to be taken out. The
bottom line is that the collection grew from what we wanted and was later codified.
By 2000, the board of directors, established three years earlier, had expanded and was fully
engaged. We held two meetings that year, with special meetings interspersed. In the year 2000,
board members included Buz Brenton, chairman; Sue Brenton, vice chair, Julie Brenton Galbraith
and Ken Brenton, secretary and treasurer; Lockie Brenton Markusen; Bob German; Dr. Jeff Iles;
Peter van der Linden; and Jim Van Werden. 12 This board was active. Copies of the minutes of the
two board meetings in 2000 follow.
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49

50

51

52

In August, we printed our first
general arboretum brochure. Ray Hansen of
Hansen Printing printed these and many
subsequent items for us. Between the
brochure and a new front entrance sign, I
was starting to believe that this place was
“for real” and might indeed become a
substantial public institution with real
public use. This was a good feeling.
12. Van der Linden worked in arboretums and botanical gardens in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan before becoming
executive director of Iowa Lakeside Lab in 2007. He retired in 2013. Iles is professor and chair of the Department
of Horticulture at Iowa State University. Van Werden is a noted lawyer in Dallas County who served on the
Brenton Bank Board in Adel. German lives close to Dallas Center, was the former president of the Brenton Bank
there, and a tree farmer in his own right.
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Late in 2000, Crow Construction Company completed a $200,000 building to serve several
purposes. Scott Stouffer of Des Moines was the architect. In addition to office and meeting space,
the building contained separate spaces for a workshop, tool storage, machinery, and chemicals. All
of this has proved quite functional.
About this time, C.J. Stephens of Des Moines was hired as an outreach, education, and
volunteer director on a part-time basis. This was a first and expanded our permanent staff to about
one and one half. C.J. helped the arboretum make great strides over the next few years, organizing
adult classes, and getting our youth-based “Knee-High Naturalist” classes going.
Now it was time to address the prairie grass. In 2000, we planted a short grass prairie on the
west side consisting of buffalo and blue grama grasses, with a sprinkling of forbs, or herbaceous
flowering plants. The idea was to minimize ground maintenance and give a natural feel to the place.
However, as previously mentioned, over the years we have found that this buffalo grass prairie,
native to Kansas, Nebraska, and western Iowa was not very vigorous and has since been mostly
inter-seeded with hardier grasses. A warmer, drier climate is needed for buffalo grass.
On the west side, our tallgrass prairie of forbs mixed with little blue stem and sideoats
grama gives us a beautiful bloom in the spring. We have a sea of black-eyed Susans. What joy!
The deer were still outwitting us so we needed to make changes. We decided to install an
electric deer fence around the entire arboretum, purchased from Premier 1 Sheep Supplies in
Washington, Iowa. To test it, we fenced three acres on the southwest side of the arboretum. I
wanted to see if this system composed of four lines attached to fiberglass poles would work. Its
height was about five feet. The deer were supposed to train themselves away from it because of the
electrical shock. For the summer, this experiment proved positive. In 2001, we fenced the entire
arboretum. We no longer needed to individually surround most trees with protective wire.
In December of 2000 the temperatures hit 20 below zero at the arboretum. This is very cold
for central Iowa and would test some of our non-native plantings in the coming year. I was
apprehensive. We survived the winter.
In July, I invited Mark Kane to visit the arboretum. Mark was the garden editor of Better
Homes and Gardens magazine and later became a member of the arboretum board of directors.
Mark expanded my understanding of the land and its potential by pointing out that what we have
here is a huge bowl with water running through it, affording sweeping views across its rim from
many vantage points. I had never fully seen this. Its overall effect is the central and defining land
Flowers of blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium).
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characteristic of the arboretum, bringing drama and sweep to what we have here. Mark’s eye was
fresh and sharp.
The basin topography of the Arboretum creates several opportunities for dramatic views and sweeping vistas.
Despite the trees and the views, people were not flocking to the new Brenton Arboretum.
Numbers were low. A few cars a day would drive through and even fewer people walked the new
trails. These facts caused me to think deeply about the value of the project and the nature of our
audience. The vast majority of people, I realized, respond to and wish to visit places with blooming,
colorful plants in an easily accessible setting with attractive landscape, plantings and amenities
such as seating areas, water features, etc. Here we had a mostly woody experience, accessed by a
drive and mowed paths. We didn’t have a lot of color for much of the year. We did have a brochure
that showed the layout. Our appeal was mainly for those who wanted a serene experience where
one could walk the paths, see and learn about the trees, sit on a bench with a view, and take it all in.
Signage and tagging was there for identification and learning but was kept to a minimum.
At that time, a smaller percentage of people, perhaps 5 to 10 percent, wanted to get out of
their cars and walk so they could learn and experience things first hand. It was those people to
whom we wanted to appeal. We felt that we should work at getting this population to learn about
us. We wanted the word (mostly word of mouth at that time) to spread. We were creating a place of
serenity and quiet enjoyment, giving people the opportunity to learn about trees and some shrubs.
We had a fairly narrow focus. “Quiet enjoyment” became one of our three main themes. As the
trees grew, as we added a few amenities, as our paths and bridges developed, I felt sure that a
certain type of person would find us, support us and become involved. And to some extent they did,
and they have.
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It would have been disappointing to try to entice a mass audience to the arboretum for we
would have failed. Our focus was too narrow. We had to hold to our vision and hope to draw a
certain segment of the area’s population.
As I sat down to write about the making of the arboretum, I relied on information from the
notes I’ve kept over the years as well as minutes from our board meetings. But the overall
momentum of this project is not captured there. Stepping back and thinking about it, I feel that it
was about 2000 when we changed from a glorious experiment to a fairly well-grounded, permanent
institution. The arboretum was becoming institutionalized: the board, the staff, the trees with good
records, the building, and the growing number of people (albeit still small) recognizing us. We
were established!
Benches and chairs situated to provide serene spots for quiet enjoyment
have been a part of The Brenton Arboretum since the beginning.
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We formally dedicated the arboretum on Saturday, September 28, 2002. The event was held under
a tent on the site of what would later become the Pavilion. It was well attended. Jim Van Werden
was master of ceremonies. Bob Helmick read remarks written by Tony Tyznik, who was in the
hospital. I spoke and so did former Governor Robert D. Ray. The ceremonial tree planting of a
swamp white oak in honor of Governor Ray, a reception, and a hayrack ride tour of the arboretum
followed. Although I do not like ceremonies, this one felt good. So much had been done leading up
to this event. It was a glorious fall day.
Looking back, four significant events during these years stand out in my mind. They are key
factors in defining us.
Lake Homestead, which had taken so long to design and then redesign by Tony Tyznik, was
graded out by McAninch Company of Des Moines and completed in 2001. The small lake sits in
the center of the arboretum. Rick Baumhover of Kirkham Michael determined that the stream from
the north, the west branch of Hickory Creek, was ill suited for our small lake. Its watershed was
about 1,500 acres. At flood time, there would be an inundation. It was decided to change the course
of that creek a bit to the west in order to bypass our small lake, and use the water source from the
smaller stream flowing from the east. This all was redesigned by Tony Tyznik and reengineered by
Baumhover, but the moving of the stream was done not without future erosion problems. Also,
because we displaced small wetlands in the excavation process, we were required by the U.S. Corp
of Engineers to create a new wetland of equal size. This we did in two places: the northwest corner
of the lake and a wetland to the north of and adjoining the arboretum. This later wetland we built
with the cooperation of Brenton Farms, Inc., which eventually gave us three acres not only for this
but for more prairie, which we restored.
Our last hurdle in building the lake was to verify for the state of Iowa that there were no
Indian burial grounds on any of the land. Thankfully, there were none. By the summer of 2002 the
lake project was complete and the lake was full of water. This really changed the feel of the entire
arboretum. The lake gave the arboretum a dominant focal point and created an overall unity.
Our second big development came in 2002, when the arboretum signed an agreement with
Iowa State University and the Landscape Plant Development Center (LPDC) in Chanhassen,
Minnesota, in which we would grow and evaluate ten uncommon (for Iowa) conifer species in
order to determine how they would thrive on an exposed site in central Iowa.
To do this, we reached an agreement with Brenton Brothers Inc., our families’ historic farm
A view of Lake Homestead from the tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera).
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corporation, whereby we could use about one half acre to plant these trees in rows. The agreement
with Iowa State University and LPDC specified that we would plant and maintain the trees, which
they would help us select and evaluate over a ten-year period. Jeff Iles, our board member, and
Harold Pellett, founder and head of LPDC, were our partners. My brother Bob and his son Bill,
officers of Brenton Brothers, Inc., graciously let us use their land for this evaluation.
Why did the arboretum enter the conifer research project? The answer is simple. Early on, it
seemed that the public might benefit from some sort of research or evaluation project at the
arboretum. The board agreed with the concept. I felt that tree evaluation and research could lead to
a public service (research is in our mission statement). It also could lead to our becoming a more
serious member of the larger botanical garden and arboretum community. We, in short, needed to
do serious evaluation that could be scientifically conducted with careful record keeping as to
provenance and growth characteristics. We could set ourselves apart in a tangible way from many
institutions if we carefully recorded and published what we found. With ISU and the LPDC as our
partners, we would (and did) maintain thorough records with careful evaluation and were able to
publish some of our findings. This is why we got into the research business: to be taken seriously as
an institution by our peers as well as to perform a public service.
Our board felt that conifer research was a good fit because of the scarcity of conifers
growing as natives in central Iowa, the health problems with some commonly used species (scotch
and red pine for example), and, in our opinion, the over reliance on several very common species
such as eastern white pine.
The ideas was that if we could
demonstrate over ten years the livability,
under harsh conditions, of certain littleused
conifer species, they might find their
way into general use. If we could publicize
this information, we could increase the
variety of conifers planted and decrease the
vulnerability of reliance on just a very few
species.
We decided to focus our conifer
research on the species in the table to the
right, which were the recommendations of
Jeff Iles and Harold Pellett.
The third significant change began
in the spring of 2002, when our educational
program began to take root. Education
about trees, the natural world, and its interconnectedness is part of our mission and central to what
we want to do. Nowhere is this more important than with young schoolchildren. With Anne
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Riordan as our lead, we reached out to all of the surrounding school districts, inviting children in
kindergarten through third grade to the arboretum to experience our Knee-High Naturalists
Program. This had been worked out with the schools under C.J. Stephen’s direction. This program
was a combination of games and simple study that encourages students to observe and to be
outdoors. Anne assembled teachers and students from a half dozen school districts, and we were
off. Amanda Benbow of Woodward, Iowa, was hired to get us going in adult programming. We
created field workshops on tree identification and planting, birding, water life, butterflies, prairie
grasses, and more. More than a dozen classes drew small groups of adults to the arboretum. Our
educational programs for young and old were growing.
Finally, we had a number of infrastructure changes. In the spring of 2002, a flash flood
inundated the west branch of Hickory Creek and washed away three of five wooden bridges that
had only been in existence for a few years. Two were bridges along walking trails and the south
bridge was a wider vehicle bridge. It happened overnight, and it was a small disaster. A number of
small trees were also uprooted. The first order of business was to save the trees, which Andy
Schmitz did in almost every case. We then set about finding a design for a cement bridge that when
topped would stay in place. It would need extensive foundations. Larsen and Larson Construction
of Des Moines designed and rebuilt these three bridges and they have lasted.
In 2001, Terry Shepherd, a Dallas Center resident and avid amateur ornithologist, began a
yearlong survey of the birds seen or heard at the arboretum. These identifications were then turned
into a printed arboretum checklist of birds that is available to visitors year-round.
One of the original wooden bridges couldn’t withstand the force of flooding rain that inundated the stream.
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This led to birding field identification classes that have continued ever since. Terry, a great
friend and volunteer, died in 2003. There is a bench with inscriptions in his memory along the road
on the west side.
In 2002 we created a Leaf Walk inspired by one I saw at the Holden Arboretum east of
Cleveland, Ohio. This is a self-guided walk over the east side of the arboretum in which visitors
identify 22 tree species. We created an accompanying brochure to allow people to compare the leaf
The first birding checklist was
extensive and has grown to nearly
100 types of birds since.
with a key of identification characteristics. Studying trees in this way develops awareness of the
many differences and some similarities in the leaves of each species, thus bringing the participant
to a fuller understanding of the endless variety of trees.
As our trees and prairie grasses developed, I became aware of certain difficulties in what we
were trying to do. We were mixing native grasses with woody plants on the same land. Usually one
sees native prairie separated from groups of trees, but not here. This remains experimental. Prairie
and woody plants have been fighting each other for space and dominance throughout millennia.
Fire plays an important role because it suppresses the growth of trees but invigorates the prairie.
We practice prescribed prairie burning and cordon off the trees.
Tree shade tends to diminish the vigor of the prairie grasses. So, as our trees mature we may
have problems. I tell people to stay tuned to this one. As of 2015, it is working fairly well on the
east side where taller prairie grasses are located. The visual effect can be striking and has helped us
meet our earlier goal of staying away from a golf course feeling of trees on grass turf.
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As noted earlier, we knew the very cold temperatures of December 2000 would bring a
higher than normal death loss to our small trees in 2001. And so it happened. By the time May
rolled around, we saw its extent. We lost many of our non-native plantings: sweet gums, tuliptrees,
native sycamores, katsura, sassafras, and, of course, dawn redwood. After a little soul searching and
listening to the opinions of others, we decided to go ahead and replant with the belief that once
these trees were fairly well established, most would withstand adverse weather. This has proven to
be true.
In 2002 an informational kiosk for visitors designed by Tony Tyznik was constructed close
to the entrance. In addition to shelves to hold brochures, events, and maps, we created a space for
visitors to sign in and offer comments and feedback. We also installed a car counter road tape at the
entrance. The kiosk has served us well.
The informational kiosk near the entrance welcomes guests with maps and information.
C. J. Stephens, whom I had hired part-time to organize education efforts and outreach, left
our employ in the spring of 2002. She had led the way in establishing our youth and adult classes.
Tony had designed a large crabapple collection featuring about 95 trees. Jeff Iles, a true
expert of the genus Malus, guided us through the process of ordering the cultivars and selecting a
variety of sizes and shapes that would possess vigor and disease resistance. We now have planted
some 109 trees representing 32 types. After inspection, Jeff pointed out that some of our small trees
were planted too deeply. This is a common mistake made by novices. In 2001 and continuing in
2002 we raised and replanted more than 100 of the small trees. Almost all of them survived. Andy
and I learned a valuable lesson.
And so ended our fifth year. So much done. So much learned. So much to do.
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64

The next four years would lead the arboretum to its 10th anniversary. I know it doesn’t make
sense, but on one hand I never doubted we would get there and on the other, never thought it would
be possible.
During this phase of the arboretum’s life, operating expenses were growing, largely the
result of salaries. In addition to increasing summer field help, Kay Meyer of Perry, Iowa, was hired
first as an instructor and then as director of education, membership, and outreach. This became a
full-time job in 2006. From the beginning, the bulk of our operating costs had been met from family
funds. This was doable, but always a concern. As we moved along, our costs were partially covered
by unsolicited contributions and, beginning in 2006, membership dues as well. Just to clarify, we
relied on unsolicited contributions because I didn’t want to ask others to help fund a project so
closely associated with my family and me. This was my personal preference.
In 2005, our beautiful Pavilion was completed, featuring a limestone wall with fireplace—a
gift from our children—and an arched, living green roof. A variety of sedums, grasses, and forbs
add texture and beauty to the roof. The plant roots hold and filter storm water that would otherwise
run off to other areas. This new structure, available for rental by members, brought further family
outlays in terms of finances. It had been planned for and anticipated but demanded a deeper family
commitment.
The prairies, which had been intended to be largely maintenance free, were proving to be
otherwise, particularly the buffalo and blue grama short grass prairie on the west side. These stands
of reconstructed prairie were being invaded by weedy species, often in patches. Eventually,
interseeding the buffalo grass with fescues and planting more forbs in the tall grass prairie
stabilized this situation, but the ground turf has always been a real source of concern to Andy and
me through the years.
Our visitor use was still lower than I wished. Car counts at the gate indicated a few hundred
cars a week in summer. The arboretum had been designed and planned for people who wanted a
tranquil, serene experience with a good road and walking trails. It had been established for those
interested in and wishing to learn about trees. The beauty, quiet, and drama of the views mainly
drew outdoor people from a fairly broad area in and around Des Moines, but it would take time for
the place to become better known.
I lamented the modest public use of the place, but on the other hand I welcomed it. The
visitor numbers over time have fulfilled our public role but, in a way, we don’t want too many
These walnuts (Juglans nigra) were planted by Buz’s great-great-grandfather William H. Brenton. The land these trees live on
was gifted to the Arboretum by Harry Stine in 2004.
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The Arboretum’s unique green roof Pavilion is a popular destination for visitors.
people on the grounds and in cars at any one time. This could diminish the powerfully tranquil
experience of the place. This is a bit of a contradiction: to be of good public service, we need
members and visitors to increase revenue, but we don’t want too much going on at one time, which
could be distracting.
It turned out something else was about to become a bigger distraction. In 2003, our central
Iowa utility company, MidAmerican Energy, proposed to run a new high power line through our
area from the west and along the south side of the arboretum. They wanted to do this to satisfy the
growing demand for power in the western Des Moines suburbs, which were expanding vigorously.
This I saw as a real threat to our goals and the overall quality of the experience at the arboretum. It
would create, so I reasoned, a repugnant visual blight and detract from our potential as a place for
quiet, serene enjoyment. It would diminish us. Specialized lawyers were hired to argue our case
before the Iowa Commerce Commission. With the help of many other landowners, we prevailed.
Another real discussion took place beginning in these years, both at the staff and board
levels, as to the nature of our collections. At the outset, trees of many species were planted in
accordance with the master plan. We had created a museum of living plants; in this case, trees and
shrubs. We started to ask ourselves more questions. What determines the quality of the collections
in this museum? What should the collections include? How do we measure the quality, and what
difference do the collections make in our pursuit to create a place for quiet enjoyment and
education?
These questions took thought. We undertook a management assessment program sponsored
by the American Association of Museums, now called the American Alliance of Museums, which
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helped. But how much should we be concerned with the uniqueness of our collections and their
standing in the world of arboreta? It would take time to answer these questions and, in reality, they
will never be fully answered. What we know is that there needs to be a balance between what the
general public wants, what we can afford, the scientific excellence of our collection, and our overall
purposes.
In more recent years we have strived to continuously improve the diversity, quality, and
usefulness of our woody plant collections by collecting wild seed, taking cuttings, and through the
selection of native species and superior commercially available cultivars. The board of directors
overwhelmingly felt then, and feels now, that the general purpose of our collections is to provide a
setting for quiet enjoyment and education. That means the work that goes into our special
collections, including detailed record keeping, should not dominate our resources but at the same
time will always be a central part of what we do. We want the public to feel that they can see here
what they might wish to know more about or plant.
In 2004, at my invitation, Guy Sternberg, a well-known tree man who lectures nationwide,
came to the arboretum. He operates Starhill Farms near Springfield, Illinois, and is the founder of
the International Oak Society. Sue and I later visited him at Starhill where he grows arguably the
world’s most diverse collection of oaks amassed from seeds he collected or that others sent him. I
wanted him to comment on our collections and goals.
Guy taught Andy and me that in order to
set The Brenton Arboretum apart from others, we
need to be highly
selective as to the
provenance of our
plantings and plant
seeds or young trees
from only superior
stock. This attitude
is now ingrained in
us. In recent years,
Andy has gone on
many seed collection
trips. Guy also was
emphatic that we
pursue one or more
signature or special
collections, which in
time could become
nationally
Female Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) produce
distinctive large and heavy fruits in the fall.
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ecognized and serve as the most important compilation of the species anywhere. To get started, he
urged us to look at the Osage-orange, a tree found mostly, but not completely, in the central parts of
our country and containing only one species in the genus, Maclura pomifera. Because of this
singular genus, we all felt it would be easier to get our arms around and plant this single species at
the arboretum. No one else appeared to be doing this. Dr. John Pair of Kansas State University had
been collecting Osage-orange there for years but he had died and his collection was, we were told,
not getting much attention. Sternberg urged us to pick it up, and we agreed. Andy collected cuttings
sent or taken by him from Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Wyoming, and Oklahoma over
the next several years. Together, with cuttings from the John C. Pair Research Station at Kansas
State, we started. The project would last many years. The cuttings were planted in the collection in
2012 and 2013.
The work with the Osage-orange was a departure from past activity, and we liked it. It hit at
the heart of our research goal, because it was more observational and not basic research. It also was
something we could afford to do and had the ability to do in house. We had the land available for
planting. The Osage-orange has many variations over its range. We wanted to bring those
variations together and show them here. Sternberg gave us the vision on how to be different and
more than just a pretty place. This had substance. Guy continues to advise us.
In 2004, Harry Stine, a substantial landowner and owner of the national seed research
distributor Stine Seeds, gave us 20 acres adjoining the arboretum on the southwest. This marvelous
gift afforded us some very desirable space along the west branch of Hickory Creek flowing from
our land through his. The topography is diverse. It would take us another nine years to figure out
how to use it.
About this time, Frederick Franck, a deep humanist, philosopher, writer, painter, and
sculptor, from Warwick, New York, and his wife, Claske, became friends of Sue’s and mine. We
had visited their beautiful oasis called Pacem in Terris, a wooded corridor running along a creek
with sculptures peeping out. We loved one in particular titled St. Francis and the Birds. Well over
90 years old then, Frederick most kindly agreed to make a replica St. Francis for us, cutting the
duplicate image from a 10-foot-high steel plate. This St. Francis icon, with head and arms upraised
to a whirlwind of birds, was installed in 2004 as a gift from Sue dedicated to the memory of her
parents, Dorothy and Max Rutledge. It has a great presence in its prominent location at the
arboretum.
During this time, we also planted new, larger trees as a threshold for our main entrance,
hoping to create a clearer separation between the outside world and the arboretum. Our entrance
road, flanked by trees, has already become evident as a portal to the arboretum.
With trees growing, Andy had to devote more of his attention to pruning. Leader
straightening was part of this process as was the very important job of creating the major elements
of the tree scaffolding. Now was the time to identify the permanent lower limbs and to prune up to
them. This was an ongoing job, but it greatly accelerated in 2004 and 2005.
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By the end of 2006, the arboretum was ready to mark 10 years, and while we had not
completed all of the master plan, what one saw on the grounds pretty well defined its look and feel
for the future. We had accomplished quite a bit. More than 2,000 plantings were made. Most
improvements, such as buildings, bridges, and signage were in place. Although they were still
young and small, the trees were beginning to define the shape and texture of the place. There was
much more to come, but the early years were behind us.
St. Francis
and Birds by
Fredrick
Franck.
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When I started this history, I thought that writing about the early years might encompass the
first 10 growing seasons or so. I wanted to adhere to this, but as I reach the end, I am compelled to
bring this account to 2015, because much continues to happen.
In 2006, we completed an institutional assessment sponsored by the American Association
of Museums, now called the American Alliance of Museums. This culminated in a visit from
Charles Gleaves, director of the Kingwood Center, Mansfield, Ohio. 13 His report was quite
complimentary. He saw potential here. What follows are excerpts from his report:
I was intrigued by the integration of prairie plant communities into the arboretum
coupled with the expressed ambition to manage the site with a special emphasis on
conservation. I have never seen a public garden make a similar attempt to merge the
horticultural style of management that is used for the collection with the techniques
of native plant community management, which are being used, in part, for the spaces
in and around the collections. This holds great promise as a pioneering approach.”
In 2007, we completed the fourth walking bridge across the west branch of Hickory Creek.
This wooden bridge allowed us to complete the originally planned loop of walking paths intended
to cross the stream in several places.
We also built a floating platform or dock on the north side of Lake Homestead. This was an
important addition. It allowed visitors to get out over the water to sit and look. This gave a new
arboretum experience. It is well used and an important feature.
Through the years it was becoming increasingly apparent that the location of The Brenton
Arboretum in the center of Dallas County, just west of Des Moines and its rapidly growing suburbs,
was destined to become less rural and more residential. I knew this at the beginning, but with the
explosion of growth, particularly in Waukee and Grimes, change was upon us faster than we could
have imagined. Although the arboretum is situated with farmland all around and accessed by a
gravel road, this inevitably will change. I imagine what that means for the arboretum is that it will
get more use as people discover it as the oasis it is. I guess this bodes well. While we want, need,
and appreciate visitors, I have always worried that too many people with cars at one time would
diminish the tranquility of the place. Tranquility is one of the arboretum’s most salient qualities,
and it must be preserved. These trends most likely will happen slowly, but I think inevitably.
In 2008, the arboretum presented its first chamber music concert, the first of a recurring
series. Pianist Gilda Biel, a musician extraordinaire who lived then in Des Moines, helped us
Spruce at sunset.
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develop the program, bringing in professional musicians of high quality. These events proved very
popular and sometimes drew more than 100 people.
In December of 2008, Andy began collecting Kentucky coffeetree seeds (as well as other
types of trees and shrubs) from around its growing range. As of 2015, he has collected Kentucky
coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) from 15 states and 97 locations. He makes these collection trips
with a representative of the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames,
and they are funded (except for salaries) by the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System
Plant Exploration/Exchange Office.
Many of the seeds collected are
started in containers. The first seedling
was planted in 2013. This puts us well
beyond our established Kentucky
coffeetree collection of nine trees in the
display area. This activity will lead, we
hope, to national recognition for Andy
and the arboretum for having a noted
collection and certification by the North
American Plant Collections
Consortium. 14 It is at the heart of our
current research. Just where we will
plant all of these trees may be a
problem. They may have to be placed in
several different groups throughout the
Andy Schmitz and Jeff Carstens hike out of the woods
arboretum. The Brenton Brothers, Inc.
loaded with bags of seed pods from Kentucky
land runs along the east creek on its
coffeetrees (Gymnocladus dioicus).
north side and is not suitable to be row
cropped, so the arboretum now has an agreement with Brenton Brothers, Inc. to allow us to plant
Kentucky coffeetrees on about three acres of their land.
In the meantime, siltation partially filled Tear Drop Pond, just east of and connected to Lake
Homestead. The car bridge passes between the pond and the lake. We didn’t know how much silt
was in the pond, but we suspected it was quite a lot. We discussed hiring someone to measure it,
but instead, one day I decided to put on my swimsuit and wade into the pond to measure it myself.
It didn’t take long to confirm that we indeed had a problem. Looking back, we knew it was
inevitable that this would happen, given the silt running from the 400 acres of mostly cropland
comprising the drainage area. Some of this is Brenton land and some owned by others. We have
twice dredged Tear Drop and are putting forth a major effort to permanently address erosion in the
entire 1,400-acre watershed. Meetings are being held with landowners and other interested parties
to find a long-term solution to this real problem. In a broader sense, it is Iowa’s problem.
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Our special collections were becoming an important part of the arboretum and helping to
define us. The crabapple collection was essentially complete with 110 individual trees representing
32 cultivars and seven species.
The elm collection now totaled 79 trees comprising 43 different cultivars, hybrids, and
species, one of the largest and most diverse display of elms in the country.
Many small Osage-orange saplings were growing on display and in the nursery although
they struggled during cold Iowa winters. The collection includes most of the named selections, of
which only two are available in the nursery trade.
As already discussed, many Kentucky coffeetree seeds were now sprouting in grow bags.
Planting started in 2013. All this was very satisfying.
In 2011, the road through the arboretum was extended and curved to form a loop through
most of the arboretum and its plantings. The extension, starting on the west side, crossing the
bridge, continuing up the hill on the southwest, and ending just north of the main gate, gives the
visitor a much broader look at the arboretum. The new road opens up important vistas for the
driving guest who does not want to walk the trails. The road itself, made from crushed concrete, is
one way and only 12 feet wide. It makes a light footprint on the land.
In 2011, the O’Brien Nature Play Area was completed, dedicated to Carolyn Brenton
O’Brien, my sister, and Sam O’Brien her husband, both deceased. All the materials are natural,
such as a fallen tree, tree bark, and hay bales. The intent is to introduce children to creative uses of
natural materials, enhancing their imaginations, motor skills, and physical and cognitive abilities. It
is one of only a handful of certified Nature Explore Classrooms in Iowa.
Staffing continues to evolve. Lynn Kuhn was hired part time in 2011 to begin taking over
my duties as overall director.
Lynn, a landscape architect by
training with managerial skills,
was named executive director
in 2013, while I remained
chairman of the board. She left
our employ in 2014. The
Arboretum’s first full-time
executive director, Melissa
Burdick, began her work in
October 2015.
Kids enjoy playing on a fallen tree in
the O’Brien Nature Play Area.
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Kay Meyer, who had capably served the arboretum as head of education, membership and
outreach, left in 2013. Lee Goldsmith, a graduate of Iowa State University with a master’s degree in
horticulture, was hired as a replacement, followed by Elizabeth “Beth” Wingert in 2014.
The collections have continued to grow and become more beautiful with many plantings
from known provenances.
A gradual increase in visitors is underway with an estimate of 14,000 in 2014. As of June
2015 we have 350 members, up 60 from year’s end. 15
Dog owners use the arboretum so much that we have instituted a dog policy that provides
members with a yearly pass. Day passes can also be purchased for non-members to exercise their
dogs.
We expanded our reception center with an addition in the fall of 2011, adding a beautiful
meeting room, called the Vista Room, to be used and rented for events, classes, meetings, and
receptions. The addition also includes extra office space, bathrooms, and storage.
Two large glass cases are located in the entrance area, showing arboretum information and
Brenton family and banking displays.
In the basement we’ve created an archival
room filled with historic items from the Brenton
family and the banks. Sally Bloodgood of Des
Moines curated the material, making it useable
for both research and display. In 2015, we
experienced a flood of 12 inches of water in the
basement. This was caused, we are told, by an
improper installation of the sump pump during
initial building. Some Brenton family and
banking records were destroyed.
A changing exhibit of Brenton Bank historical
materials from the archive are on display in the
administration building.
Our master plan continues to evolve. In
2012 and continuing in 2013, the Washington,
D.C. landscape architectural firm of Oehme, van
Sweden & Associates created a master plan for
the Stine addition, which includes a river walk in
honor of the Jane Brenton Eddy and John Eddy
family. A generous Eddy Foundation grant made
the master plan possible. The exact name of the
development area is undecided. If built, it will
take several years, but this feature will bring to
the arboretum a new and wonderful outdoor
experience. The Eddys will continue to help with
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The Vista Room offers sweeping views of the Arboretum and ample space for classes and small rental events.
the funding of the project that will expand us once again and should offer the public something
quite unique. The Eddy Glen Project continues to be on hold mainly because the town of Dallas
Center contemplated changes in water policy that would have brought more water through the
arboretum. This potential problem is now behind us. We hope to move forward with the project in
2016.
Oehme, van Sweden & Associates of Washington, D.C. is set to update our master plan,
funded by a grant from the Dahl Charitable Trust of Des Moines. 16
The years 2013 to 2015 have been a period of concentration on governance and
permanency. The board now meets four times a year instead of twice, has been significantly
enlarged, and is now run by committees. Only four of the 16 board members are immediate
Brenton family. The committees are: Finance; Marketing and Membership; Endowment;
Collections; Development; and Nominating. As of 2015, officers are myself as chairman; Vice
Chairman Fred Weitz; Treasurer Bob Jester; and Secretary Deb Wiley. As of 2015, the other board
members are: Ray Bening, Bill Brenton, Buz Brenton, Julie Brenton, Sue Brenton, Doug Burnett,
Phil Harrington, Jeff Iles, Mark Kane, Lockie Markusen, Tina Mowry Hadden, Bob Rennebohm,
and Mike Simonson. Past board members include: Kenneth Brenton, Bob German, Harry Stine,
Carol Michalek, Peter van der Linden, and Jim Van Werden. 17
The board has instituted a fundraising program under Fred Weitz. This is augmenting
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operating income materially and will allow the mission of the arboretum to move forward.
The board executed a strategic plan for 2014-2018 with the assistance of Mark Ackelson,
retired president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and then-director Lynn Kuhn. The key
points include: engagement of the community, local professionals and key constituencies;
education, especially for children; conservation; relaxation; and growth in terms of visitors,
volunteers and donors.
At this point I feel a need, for the good of the Arboretum, to turn some of my duties at the
board level over to others. This is being done and will continue.
The Brenton Arboretum will continue to be a dynamic, growing institution, one with a life
of its own, and one that I hope will live on for decades to come.
Finally, I again want to thank Sue for her support for this major odyssey in my life. It would
not have come to be without her interest, involvement, and encouragement. It is an exciting time.
13. Built in 1926 for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kelley King, the 47-acre estate opened as a public garden in 1953.
14. The Arboretum’s Kentucky coffeetree collection was awarded accreditation in October 2016 by the American
Public Gardens Association Plant Collections Network, formerly the North American Plant Collections
Consortium.
15. In 2017 the Arboretum welcomed approximately 16,000 cars for an estimated 32,000 visitors. At the end of 2017
the Arboretum’s membership included 600 individuals and households.
16. The landscape architecture firm Didier Design Studio was hired in 2017 to complete the master plan update.
17. The Arboretum’s board members in 2018 included: Mike Simonson (Chair), Dr. Bill Niebur (Vice Chair), Robert
Jester (Treasurer), Deb Wiley (Secretary), Ray Bening, Michelle Book, J.C. ‘Buz’ Brenton, Doug Burnett, Bob
German, Dr. Jeff Iles, Hannah Inman, David Mackaman, Tina Mowry Hadden, Fred Weitz, and Dr. David
Wilkerson.
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Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) at the Arboretum.

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1995 Winter: Buz first considers this property for his project
1996 November 22: Tony Tyznik visits Arboretum site
Fall:Buz consults with other arboreta, plantsmen, and nurserymen to create initial tree list
1997 February (or May 27): Dr. George Ware gifts seven elm seedlings to Buz
Spring: Buz marks out tree locations according to Tyznik plan
May 11 (or 15): First 79 trees planted. About 200 planted between now and June
Summer: Deer discover the young trees!
Fall: Electrified fence goes up and all 200 trees are caged to prevent damage from deer
December: Arboretum officially granted 501(c)(3) status
1998 Spring and Fall: 417 trees planted
July 28: Arboretum officially opens to the public
August: Arboretum acquires 40 acres of land from Brandts
Throughout the year: gravel road staked out and built
1999 February 1: Andy Schmitz joins the Arboretum
Spring and Fall: 438 trees planted
2000 Early: First full board meetings
Fall: Office, garage, and shed built
First shrubs planted
2001 Lake Homestead completed and wetlands created
Kiosk built
Six wooden bridges installed
2002 May: Three of six wooden bridges destroyed by flood
Fall:T hree concrete bridges replace destroyed wooden ones
Spring 2003: 15-year conifer research collaboration begins
2004 Donation of Stine land (to become Eddy Woods)
Deer fence installed around entire property
2006 First full-time education, membership and outreach coordinator, Kay Meyer, hired
Pavilion completed
2007 Floating Dock installed
2008 May: Andy receives 26 elms from Dr. George Ware
December: First coffeetree collections made
2011 Road extended to create a full loop
O’Brien Nature Play completed and dedicated in June
Vista Room added
First part-time Executive Director, Lynn Kuhn, hired
2015 October: Melissa Burdick joins the Arboretum as first full-time executive director
2016 Kentucky coffeetree collection granted accreditation through the American Public Garden Association
2017 June: June Moon 20 th Anniversary Celebration
Fall: Didier Design Studio of Fort Collins, Colorado hired to update Master Plan
2018 Spring: 550 trees planted in Eddy Woods Upland Woodland
August – Master Plan Update Completed
Northern red oak (Quercus rubra).
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I want to thank my dear friend Melinda Pradarelli for editing, formatting
and help in the structuring of this book. Melinda is the author of Brenton:
The people, history, and legacy of Iowa’s Brenton Bank.
Deb Wiley, a Brenton Arboretum board member, proofed this book and
found a number of errors. She also helped edit. Thank you Deb.
Annabel Wimer designed the first edition of this book, and it is very
pleasing I believe. (This is a second and altered edition of the original.).
Sunrise over the Arboretum.
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