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The ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Arboretum recently announced that it will build an Oak Discovery Trail in the Shields Oak Grove and launch education programs focused on oaks -- all with a two-year, $150,000 grant from the federal government's Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The oak grove "kind of feels more like a forest right now," said Emily Griswold, assistant director of horticulture at the arboretum. "I think to some extent that scares people away from it, because they're not sure if they'll get lost or be able to find their way out.

"Our goal is to make it a more visitor-friendly place, and I think the pathway will encourage more people to come and explore the grove."

Arboretum Director Kathleen Socolofsky said the grant will allow the arboretum to build on the work begun by former Director John M. Tucker, a world-renowned oak expert who helped develop the Shields Oak Grove -- using acorns collected in his research.

"Dr. Tucker envisioned the oak collection as a resource for education, research and conservation," Socolofsky said in a news release. "We are proud to continue his legacy with this exciting new project."

The Shields Oak Grove, established in 1962 near the arboretum's west end, already stands proud as a charter member of the Oak Group of the North American Plant Collections Consortium. Fifteen university and institutional botanic gardens and arboretums comprise the Oak Group, preserving important germplasm and maintaining oaks for international teaching and research.

Arboretum officials said the new trail will feature plant labels and interpretive signs presenting information on oak biology and ecology, the importance of oaks in human history and culture, their significance in mythology and lore, and the challenges facing oak populations worldwide. The trail project also includes benches.

Trail construction is scheduled in the summer of 2009, with associated planting in the fall and winter following. Griswold said most of the new plantings will serve to create an understory of native grasses, bulbs and wildflowers. She said some new oaks will be planted in open areas, to add to the 304 trees that stand there today.

Art, science mural

The grove's trees represent 87 taxa, including some not found in any other collection in the country, said Griswold, who leads the national Oak Group.

The arboretum's oak education project also calls for a ceramic mosaic mural depicting the fauna and flora of a California oak woodland ecosystem. The mural is planned for the south wall of the restroom building between the arboretum gazebo and the Shields Oak Grove.

Arboretum officials said the mural will be a project of ºÙºÙÊÓƵ' Art-Science Fusion Program, with the artists to include university students and kindergarten through 12th-grade students from surrounding communities, along with arboretum volunteers and other people from the community.

The Art-Science Fusion Program produced the Tree of Life mural for the restroom building's east wall two years ago.

The oak education programs will include talks by ºÙºÙÊÓƵ scientists, plus guided tours, according to a news release from the arboretum.

Officials said the grant also will support the development of scientific resources, including digital maps, an online database, and pressed and dried specimens of the arboretum's oak collection, with the specimens to be housed at the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Center for Plant Diversity.

Specifically, the specimens will go in the center's J.M. Tucker Herbarium, named after the botany professor who served as the herbarium director for 39 years and as the arboretum's director for 12 years. He died July 5 at the age of 92.

Heritage, culture, learning

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

The institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

The $150,000 award to the arboretum is from the institute's Museums for America grant program, which supports educational projects and activities that share "our nation's treasures and our nation's history," said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, the institute's director.