Sowing Seeds Gave Life to Polly Hill Arboretum
Polly Hill was famous for her cultivation of North Tisbury azaleas.
Polly Hill was famous for her cultivation of North Tisbury azaleas.
Vineyard native, blue-eyed grass is becoming increasingly hard to find.
Vineyard native, blue-eyed grass is becoming increasingly hard to find.
Cucumber magnolia bearing its fruit.
Cucumber magnolia bearing its fruit.
Presentations, classes and talks are held in the Far Barn.
Presentations, classes and talks are held in the Far Barn.
The view outside to the meadow from the Far Barn.
The view outside to the meadow from the Far Barn.
Plant specimens are catalogued and pressed at the arboretum.
Plant specimens are catalogued and pressed at the arboretum.
A Korean oak with its unusual acorns.
A Korean oak with its unusual acorns.
A bit of whimsy in the monkey puzzle tree.
A bit of whimsy in the monkey puzzle tree.
Polly's Play Pen was designed to keep deer out.
Polly's Play Pen was designed to keep deer out.
The presses used to preserve plants.
The presses used to preserve plants.
Executive director Tim Boland.
Executive director Tim Boland.
Walking paths meander through the grounds of the arboretum.
Walking paths meander through the grounds of the arboretum.
Polly Hill was an amateur botanist who began work on the West Tisbury farm that is now the arboretum in 1958. Rare trees are set among stone walls, meadows, and fields. Polly Hill grew most of her plants from seed and has introduced over 80 cultivars. Scientists are keeping an eye on a small herbarium at the arboretum to monitor climate change.