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The Longenecker Horticultural Gardens 
    by Edward R. Hasse/kus a USDA Regional Plant been published. Whitespire
  The first lilac was planted on Introduction project in which Japanese birch
and Wisconsin 
Good Friday 1935. This marked more than 475 taxa of landscape creeping juniper
have been 
the beginning of the Arboretum's plants have been cooperatively introduced
to the nursery industry 
horticultural plantings for the evaluated in twelve north-central as new
cultivars. 
display and testing of trees and states.   As I look back over the past 
shrubs for Wisconsin and  During the ' 60s the Tree Display five decades,
I feel we have 
midwestern conditions. Executive area was developed. Among the reached or
exceeded the visions of 
Director and Professor G. William first plantings was a collection of our
founders. The Longenecker 
Longenecker, landscape architect North American oaks received Horticultural
Gardens has joined 
and horticulturist, designed and from the Michaux Quercetum of the ranks
of the respected 
executed these plantings with the Morris Arboretum in horticultural arboreta
of North 
special emphasis on lilacs. Funds Philadelphia. The Autumn Purple America.
Longenecker's master 
for planting stock were generously white ash was introduced into the plan
assured that the plant 
supplied by the Madison Garden nursery industry by Longenecker. collections
provided all visitors 
Club. During the ' 30s, the Civilian In June 1967, the horticultural with
an esthetic experience, while 
Conservation Corps constructed plantings were dedicated as the G. at the
same time providing the 
maintenance buildings, roads, William Longenecker Horticultural serious student
or researcher with 
stone walls and fences, and Gardens in honor of their creator. an educational
opportunity. 
provided the labor for planting   Progress during the ' 70s   In forty-nine
years, the lilac 
and maintaining the new plantings. included the development of the plantings
have grown to a total of 
  A flowering crabapple collection Pinetum and the construction of more than
300 taxa — certainly 
was begun in 1942 with the the McKay Center. Printed guides one of the top
lilac collections in 
financial assistance of Madison's to the lilac, crabapple and North America.
Though not the 
Westside Garden Club. Their viburnum collections were largest, the flowering
crabapple 
support continues to the present. prepared by Ken Wood. All of the collection
is among the most up- 
  Highlights of the ' SOs included plants in the Longenecker Gardens to-date
and the most studied in 
the development of the viburnum were labelled with permanent the United States.
In the early 
collection along Manitou Way and record labels for the first time. An years,
planting stock was acquired 
the Shrub Display Garden. A explosion of the Arboretum's deer from any convenient
nursery 
master plan of the remainder of population resulted in massive source, with
little or no knowledge 
the horticultural gardens was damage to valuable plants from 
prepared by Longenecker in 1957. browse and antler rubbing. John 
He skillfully created pleasing vistas C. Van Camp, of Rockford, 
and a series of enclosed spaces Illinois, made a significant 
intended to lure the visitor from contribution of trees and funds for 
one area into another. About the the development of the Tree 
same time a young man named Display area. The Royal Botanical 
Eugene Moran began his career Garden, Hamilton, Ontario, 
here at the Arboretum. He and his helped update the "geriatric" lilac 
crews have worked diligently collection by providing rooted 
through the years to ensure the cuttings from their world famous 
success of this venture. William G. collection. Students began to 
McKay's bequests to the discover the Longenecker Gardens 
Arboretum and the Department of in larger numbers as enrollment 
Horticulture not only provided a soared in dendrology and 
vital facility, but provides landscape plants courses. 
continuing support for the   So far in the decade of the ' 80s, Edward Hasseikus
is Professor of 
evaluation of landscape plants. evaluations of the ground cover Horticulture
at- the University of 
Since 1954 we have participated in junipers and the potentillas have Wisconsin-Madison.
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