Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary (16.5 acres), also known as the Hartshorn Arboretum, is an arboretum
and bird sanctuary located at 324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills
, in Essex County
, New Jersey
. Its trails are open to the public daily without charge. Various programs are also offered for children, families, and adults.
The arboretum was begun by Miss Cora Hartshorn in 1923 on undeveloped woodland of oak
s, tulip trees, dogwood
, and beech
. She designed a system of roads and walking paths; by 1938 there were 3 miles (4.8 km) of paths. In 1958 she donated the arboretum to the township.
The arboretum contains 45 species of trees, including 275-year-old tulip trees, as well as rare fern
s, over 150 species of wildflower
s, and 100 species of birds.
In 2006, this addition was removed and replaced with a more modern extension and a renovation of the interior of the original stone house. The main part of the stone house was left intact due to its status as a historical building. Modifications included a bird-viewing area with video cameras, basement storage and interior remodeling for a more natural habitat.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and bird sanctuary located at 324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills
Short Hills, New Jersey
Short Hills is an unincorporated area located within the township of Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. It is a popular commuter town for residents who work in New York City...
, in Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Its trails are open to the public daily without charge. Various programs are also offered for children, families, and adults.
The arboretum was begun by Miss Cora Hartshorn in 1923 on undeveloped woodland of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s, tulip trees, dogwood
Dogwood
The genus Cornus is a group of about 30-60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods. Most dogwoods are deciduous trees or shrubs, but a few species are nearly herbaceous perennial subshrubs, and a few of the woody species are evergreen...
, and beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
. She designed a system of roads and walking paths; by 1938 there were 3 miles (4.8 km) of paths. In 1958 she donated the arboretum to the township.
The arboretum contains 45 species of trees, including 275-year-old tulip trees, as well as rare fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, over 150 species of wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s, and 100 species of birds.
Animals
The stone house is filled with animals from various backgrounds, these are some, if not all, of them:Reptiles
- Leopard GeckoLeopard geckoThe leopard gecko is a nocturnal ground-dwelling lizard naturally found in the deserts of southern Central Asia, and throughout Pakistan, to the northwestern parts of India. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos possess movable eyelids...
s - IguanaIguanaIguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena...
<-- Deceased - Chinese box turtleChinese box turtleThe Chinese box turtle is a species of Asian box turtle with several names. Its common names include Chinese box turtle, 食蛇龜 Snake-eating turtle, Yellow-margined box turtle, and Golden-headed turtle. Taxonomically, it has been called Cistoclemmys flavomarginata, Cuora flavomarginata, and Cyclemys...
s - Eastern Painted TurtlePainted TurtleThe painted turtle is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to Louisiana and northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The turtle is the only species of the genus Chrysemys, which is part of the pond turtle...
s - Ball PythonBall pythonPython regius is a nonvenomous python species found in Africa. This is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade. No subspecies are currently recognized. They are also known as royal pythons or ball pythons. The name ball python refers to the animal's tendency to curl into...
Invertebrates
- Rose hair TarantulaTarantulaTarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
- Tropical MillipedeMillipedeMillipedes are arthropods that have two pairs of legs per segment . Each segment that has two pairs of legs is a result of two single segments fused together as one...
- Hissing CockroachesCockroachCockroaches are insects of the order Blattaria or Blattodea, of which about 30 species out of 4,500 total are associated with human habitations...
Additions
Around 1970, an addition to the "Stone house" was added as there was a need for more office space.In 2006, this addition was removed and replaced with a more modern extension and a renovation of the interior of the original stone house. The main part of the stone house was left intact due to its status as a historical building. Modifications included a bird-viewing area with video cameras, basement storage and interior remodeling for a more natural habitat.