The many colors of fall

Arb full of life in fall

Leaves fade from soothing green to fiery shades of orange and red. Students run through paths, sometimes chased by a pack of friendly dogs.

In the fall season, the crisp beauty of Nichols Arboretum is a peaceful refuge for students stressed out by the rigors of higher education.

With entrances at Geddes Avenue and Washington Heights, the Arb can sometimes feel like a world away.

"It's nice that we have this nature here, to get away from campus life," said LSA sophomore Faith Bishop.

EMILY NATHAN/Daily Canoers make their way down the Huron River, near Nichols Arboretum. The Arb is a tranquil spot for many University students, and will soon be full of color as autumn hits its peak.

Inger Schultz, a development officer for the Arb, said a visit can connect people with the simple pleasures in life.

"There are always things happening in the Arb that are wonderful," she said. "Just being able to watch colors change and see the water move is big."

The Arboretum is operated by the School of Natural Resources and Environment. Most of the land was given as a gift, and students appreciate it as such.

"It's a nice place to go to reflect on your thoughts," said visitor Corie Smala. "Escaping into the wilderness for a brief moment, getting out of the realities of the world."

Students visit the Arb to study, exercise or just to relax and enjoy nature.

"It's just peaceful," said LSA junior Mike Im. "The sky is open, you're surrounded by trees. You can bring your dogs, watch the squirrels. It's relaxing not to have the people in your house bothering you."

One visitor said the Arb is a great place to bond with pets - even if they're not his own.

"It's fun to run through here because you always get chased by dogs. I ran through here and I had a pack come after me," said Rackham graduate student David Karjanen. "I had four dogs chasing me to Geddes."

The Arb makes the rigors of exercise a little less painful, one student claimed.

"I concentrate on the scenery when I run, so I don't really feel like I'm exercising," said a Kinesiology senior who asked not to be named.

The Arb has trails for people to run, bike and walk. There is a scenic path alongside the Huron River, with clear water flowing over stones. In the fall season, leaves have adopted various hues of red and orange.

"I like the fact that it's enjoyable, and its beauty. It feels like you're in the middle of nowhere," said Rackham graduate student Bianet Castellanos.

Bishop said the Arb's atmosphere puts her in a meditative state of mind.

"I came here to study and ended up writing," Bishop said. "It's a really nice place to let out your thoughts and relax."

But the Arb doesn't just take care of itself - a group called Friends of the Arb consists of people who look after the grounds, providing manual labor and financial support. The group includes some students.

"Students play a very important role at the Arboretum," said Inger Schultz, Arb development officer. "It's a really special place, and it's nice to have people who care to take care of it."

Schultz said the Arb is usually full of activity.

"There were several different things going on," she said. "There was a wedding in the the prairie, there was the planting of a tree, the Korean Student Association held a picnic, Indian American Student Association members volunteered to remove overcrowding plants, and ... presidents of different organizations were having a retreat and volunteered to clean up the Arboretum."

Public tours of the Arb are held on the third Sunday of every month. The Docent Program allows volunteers to lead tours of the Arb.

Schultz said the history of the Arboretum's landscape will be explained Sunday at 2 p.m., when a power walk presenting "Rooms with a View" is going to start at the Washington Heights entrance.

A workshop titled, "Hazardous Tree Evaluation and Treatment," is also planned for Oct. 25, at 9 a.m.

A major Arb project on which the School of Natural Resources and Environment is working is the Burnham House, which Schultz described as "like a visitor house" that will host educational programs. The house is registered as a historic home in the Ann Arbor city registery. Built in 1837, it's the oldest house in Ann Arbor.

Once the house is moved from its Wall Street location to the Washington Heights entrance of the Arb, it will be used as a place to hold workshops, lectures and other educational programs for the public.

If students are interested in volunteering some of their time, every second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon, a volunteer environmental restoration work day is held.

"We're going to continue offering more," Schultz said. "We're thinking of have an 'Arts in the Arb' series. ... We're thinking about having other people lead special tours."

Organizers also are contemplating the idea of forming a writers' workshop at the Arb.

Schultz said the Arb has changed much in the last 10 years, noting that it has put a bigger "emphasis on education."

Schultz encouraged students to take advantage of the Arboretum. Despite a "No Sledding" sign, many students use the Arb for this exact purpose. But sledding is prohibited in the Arb because it is dangerous and ruins plants, Schultz said.

"Students have broken legs. One student got paralyzed," Schultz said.

Despite such injuries, the Arb remains a happy place for Schultz.

"People come to me and tell me that the Arboretum is where they proposed," she said. "A lot of weddings have occurred there. It's a place where people can sit and dream big."

To find out more about the programs offered and the events held, call the Docents Office at 763-5832 or visit the office's page on the world wide web at http://www.umich.edu/~snrewww/arb/.

10-16-97