Breathe Easy

By Lee Latimer

Oxygen. You use it every moment of every day. In fact, you couldn’t live without it. Yet how often do you consider the place from which it comes, or the process by which it’s made?

We here at the George Landis Arboretum take our responsibility of providing you with this vital resource seriously. From May to September, every inch of our over 300 acres is running at full capacity to fulfill this commitment. Even the rest of the year, during off peak production, our evergreens are hard at work.

We operate by using a system known as photosynthesis, a process that converts light energy into chemical energy. Carbon dioxide and water are converted, using light energy, into carbohydrates such as sugars that the plant uses to grow. Fortunately, a by-product of this action releases oxygen into the air. Even some air pollutants are removed during this activity.

We take pride in the fact that our oxygen factory is totally environmentally friendly. Indeed, our strict production standards ensure that we are:

  • Entirely solar powered
  • Completely organic
  • All natural
  • Rich in biodiversity
  • Ecologically sustainable
  • Rainwater fed
  • Esthetically pleasing
  • A protector of wildlife
  • Biodegradable
  • 100 % recyclable
  • Artificial preservative free<

Please come and see our facilities in operation. We are open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. When visiting please tread lightly, keep our facilities enjoyable for all. Dogs are welcome, but they must be on a leash (to protect them and our wildlife). Bags are provided to clean up after them. Do not pick or eat the trimmings, but be sure to stop and smell the flowers.

So remember us the next time you take a breath. It’s facilities like ours that keep you going. George Landis Arboretum – serving the community since 1951.


Spring 2020

Volume 38 , Number 1

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