In the heart of Augusta, you'll discover its soul

Deirdre Fleming, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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Trail name: Arboretum Nearest town: Augusta Region: Kennebec Length: 5 miles of trails Difficulty: Beginner Elevation gain: n/a Other: Its trails are open every day, sunrise to sunset. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Directions, trail map and more are available on the Arboretum Web site. Directions: The Pine Tree State Arboretum is located on Route 9 across from the Augusta Mental Health Institute. Maps: Get driving directions from MapQuest. Staff photo by Doug Jones Darcy Whittemore, right, guides members of Augusta's Den Four, Pack 603 of the Cub Scouts, past the Johnson Learning Center at Maine's Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta. This little-known woodland haven is open to the public without charge for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Roughly two miles from Memorial Bridge in Augusta, across the Kennebec River from the Capitol, there are five miles of trails, 224 acres of field and woodlands and rolling hills with views of the Capitol dome. Who'd a thought it?

"This is little known," said Stephen Oliveri, executive director of the nonprofit Pine Tree State Arboretum. "And because people think this is a state department, it's difficult to raise money."

The state arboretum has only existed as a nonprofit entity since 1982. By comparison, the Arnold Arboretum in Boston is 130 years old. Much of what Maine's arboretum provides - from its trails to its various gardens - is the work of volunteers. Oliveri, formerly of the Department of Conservation, has only been its full-time director since 1997.

Yet the young arboretum is more than trees. On the site of the State Mental Health Institute's old farm, it's still got part of the piggery that was in operation before 1940. It's the site of an old cistern that is now drained of water and used as an amphitheater-style wilderness classroom, serving bus-loads of children who tour the trails.

"My estimate is about 10,000 visits are made here. Our records show we have 3,000 students who visit each year," Oliveri said.

Small, chattering children were inspecting the refurbished apple orchard while Oliveri was walking the grounds Wednesday. Their participation in the discussion of the old apple trees and wetlands at Viles Pond indicated the arboretum educational program is as interesting to them as the natural displays were to casual fall hikers. The program that is offered to all school-age children teaches about forestry practices, wildlife habitat, wetland studies and tree identification.

"Our primary purpose is education," Oliveri explained.

But to someone visiting the city on business, the arboretum can offer more. It's got ideal trails for outdoor activities of every season.

In the spring, May migrants turn the pastures and trees into a homecoming fo r many diffe rent birds. Oliveri said the arboretum is listed in "A Birder's Guide To Maine" and is the site of the Augusta Christmas Bird Count.

"There are over 100 nesting (Eastern) bluebirds here and six nesting pairs. This is the best place to see bluebirds. I don't know any other place in Maine that has six nesting pairs," said Oliveria, who first came to know the arboretum grounds when he was leading birding tours there more than 20 years ago.

In the summer the rhododendron grove, the hosta garden and the Daughters of the American Revolution garden are blooming with many varieties of plants.

"There are 140 varieties of hosta. It has an avid following among Maine gardeners," Oliveri said. "This garden is a nice example of what one of our volunteers does."

The fall, perhaps the best season to visit any living tree museum, is awash with a multi-colored landscape - as the scenery last week proved. The crisp autumn weather brought hikers, lunchtime runners and casual photographers.

In the winter there are trails to snowshoe and a ski loop that has been kept for years. This year the 5K ski trail will benefit from a new groomer and feature a repeat of last year's inaugural "Super Sunday Ski Tour."

"We hold it with the Cony High Boosters on Super Bowl Sunday," Oliveri said. "We have it then so people can get off the couch before the game."

The arboretum, if nothing else, is the perfect place to leave State House hearings behind and escape for a bit of tree-lined tranquility, whether you go with a pair of hiking shoes, skies, snowshoes or your birding binoculars.

The Pine Tree State Arboretum is located on Route 9 across from the Augusta Mental Health Institute. Its trails are open every day, sunrise to sunset. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at: dfleming@pressherald.com