Ghurye Arboretum

The Ghurye Arboretum is nestled in the Marlin Hills neighborhood on Bloomington’s far north side. Charlotte Ghurye, who had lived in a house next door, left this 1.4-acre property to Sycamore Land Trust in her will along with a bequest for its stewardship. Ms. Ghurye always welcomed neighbors onto her land, and she wanted it to be preserved as a natural area in the middle of her neighborhood.

After receiving the property in 2004, Sycamore decided to honor Ms. Ghurye’s intentions by creating a demonstration arboretum in the back field for recreational and educational use by the neighborhood’s families. The arboretum has a short walking path and a sampling of 70 trees and shrubs native to Indiana, with pines for winter color.

Volunteer stewards who live nearby mow the walking trail and the road frontage along Audubon Drive several times each year. Efforts to control non-native invasive plants are ongoing. The property has been recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Foundation.